I Kings 2

מלכים א׳ פרק ב׳

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Kings | Chapter: 2 of 22 | Day: 102 of 742

Date: May 24, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

If chapter 1 was the architecture of succession — coronation, anointing, shofar — chapter 2 is its forensic completion. The kingdom has been transferred ceremonially; now it must be transferred substantively, and the verses move with the cool deliberation of a state ledger being settled. The chapter falls into two great movements: Dovid’s deathbed charge to Shlomo (verses 1-12), which yokes the soaring covenantal language of Sefer Devarim (“חֲזַק וְהָיִיתָ לְאִישׁ”) to a sequence of pointedly political instructions about Yoav, Barzillai, and Shimi ben Gera; and Shlomo’s actual consolidation (verses 13-46), in which Adoniyahu, Evyatar, Yoav, and Shimi each meet the fate the chapter has been quietly preparing for them. The book that began with a king who could not be warmed ends this chapter with a sentence that has the ring of a coronation completed at last: “וְהַמַּמְלָכָה נָכוֹנָה בְּיַד שְׁלֹמֹה” — “and the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Shlomo.”

The deathbed charge is one of the most disputed passages in Tanakh, and the classical commentators take its difficulty head-on. The first half of the speech is unimpeachable: walk in the way of the Lord, observe His statutes and ordinances as written in the Torah of Moshe, and the Lord will fulfill His word that David’s descendants will not be cut off from the throne of Israel. But then, abruptly, the political ledger: Yoav’s blood-debts for Avner and Amasa “וְשַׂמְתָּ אֶת־דַּם־הַמִּלְחָמָה בְּשָׁלוֹם” must be settled; the sons of Barzillai HaGiladi who fed Dovid in his exile are to eat at Shlomo’s table; Shimi ben Gera, who cursed Dovid on the road from Bachurim, must not be allowed to die in peace. Radak and Ralbag treat these instructions not as personal vendettas but as unfinished judicial business that Dovid had been politically unable to execute in his own reign. Yoav’s killings of Avner (II Shmuel 3) and Amasa (II Shmuel 20) had been crimes against the kingdom; Shimi’s curse, though forgiven for Dovid’s lifetime under oath, remained an unprosecuted crime of treason against the state. The dying Dovid, the commentators argue, hands his son the cases that justice required but his own complicated reign could not deliver.

Adoniyahu’s request, which opens the chapter’s second movement, is the chapter’s most psychologically searching scene. Approaching Bat Sheva — and through her, Shlomo — he asks for Avishag the Shunammite as his wife, framing the request with what at first reads as quiet acceptance of his loss: “אַתְּ יָדַעַתְּ כִּי־לִי הָיְתָה הַמְּלוּכָה … וַתִּסֹּב הַמְּלוּכָה וַתְּהִי לְאָחִי כִּי מֵיהוָה הָיְתָה לּוֹ.” But in the cultural grammar of ancient Near Eastern royal courts, claiming a former king’s concubine was equivalent to claiming the throne itself — Avner’s taking of Ritzpah (II Shmuel 3:7), Avshalom’s public taking of Dovid’s concubines (II Shmuel 16:21), and Reuven’s act with Bilhah (Bereishit 35:22) all carry the same juridical valence. Shlomo, whose response begins with a piercing irony — “וּמַדּוּעַ אַתְּ שֹׁאֶלֶת אֶת־אֲבִישַׁג הַשֻּׁנַמִּית לַאֲדֹנִיָּהוּ, וְשַׁאֲלִי־לוֹ אֶת־הַמְּלוּכָה” — reads the request precisely for what it is: a renewed claim on the kingdom dressed as a private petition. Rashi and Metzudat David emphasize that the conditional pardon Shlomo had offered Adoniyahu in the previous chapter (“if he proves himself a worthy man”) has now been activated in the negative: wickedness has been found in him, and the verse-of-record has been pronounced.

The executions that follow are choreographed as a single deliberate sequence in which Shlomo performs the role he had not yet been able to perform — that of an actual reigning king. Evyatar the priest, demoted to his ancestral lands at Anatot, is spared on Dovid’s account but loses his office, and the narrator pauses to observe that this fulfilled the ancient prophecy against the house of Eli at Shilo (I Shmuel 2:31-33) — a stunning reach back across two and a half centuries to remind the reader that everything that happens in this chapter has been anticipated by the prophetic word. Yoav, hearing the news, flees to the altar and grasps its horns exactly as Adoniyahu did in chapter 1, but Shlomo — through Benayahu son of Yehoyada — refuses the asylum protection, citing the precedent of Shemot 21:14 that the altar does not protect a willful murderer. Yoav is struck down inside the Tent itself, and Benayahu replaces him as commander of the army; Tzadok is installed as kohen in Evyatar’s place, formalizing the priestly-military pivot of the new reign. Each move is a structural act: the new administration is being assembled with the precision of a coronation continued into governance.

The chapter closes with the case of Shimi ben Gera, and here the literary economy of the narrator is at its most concentrated. Shlomo grants Shimi a form of suspended sentence — house arrest in Yerushalayim, with death the moment he crosses the Kidron — and Shimi accepts with what reads as relief and gratitude. For three years he keeps the terms; then two of his servants flee to Achish king of Gat, and Shimi mounts up and rides after them. The phrasing is deliberate: he goes to Gat, recovers his servants, and returns. Shlomo summons him, charges him with violation of the oath, and quietly recalls the entire history of the curse on Dovid at Machanayim — “אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֵת כָּל־הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ לְדָוִד אָבִי” — before ordering Benayahu to strike. The chapter’s last sentence is its summary: וְהַמַּמְלָכָה נָכוֹנָה בְּיַד שְׁלֹמֹה. With those four words the long succession crisis that opened in II Shmuel and continued through I Melakhim 1 reaches its end. The kingdom is firm; the prophet’s word against the house of Eli has been fulfilled; the founders of Dovid’s reign have been replaced by the founders of Shlomo’s. Sefer Melakhim has cleared its stage, and the Temple-builder can now begin his work.

פרק ב׳ · Chapter 2

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְרְב֥וּ יְמֵֽי־דָוִ֖ד לָמ֑וּת וַיְצַ֛ו אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃

English:

When David’s life was drawing to a close, he instructed his son Solomon as follows:

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

אָנֹכִ֣י הֹלֵ֔ךְ בְּדֶ֖רֶךְ כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְחָזַקְתָּ֖ וְהָיִ֥יתָֽ לְאִֽישׁ׃

English:

“I am going the way of all the earth; you will be the man in charge—if you act with determination.ayou will be the man in charge—if you act with determination Or “be strong and show yourself a man.”

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֞ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת ׀ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ לָלֶ֤כֶת בִּדְרָכָיו֙ לִשְׁמֹ֨ר חֻקֹּתָ֤יו מִצְוֺתָיו֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו וְעֵדְוֺתָ֔יו כַּכָּת֖וּב בְּתוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֑ה לְמַ֣עַן תַּשְׂכִּ֗יל אֵ֚ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְאֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּפְנֶ֖ה שָֽׁם׃

English:

Keep the charge of the ETERNAL your God, walking in God’s ways and following God’s laws, commandments, rules, and admonitions as recorded in the Teaching of Moses, in order that you may succeed in whatever you undertake and wherever you turn.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

לְמַ֩עַן֩ יָקִ֨ים יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־דְּבָר֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֣ר עָלַי֮ לֵאמֹר֒ אִם־יִשְׁמְר֨וּ בָנֶ֜יךָ אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֗ם לָלֶ֤כֶת לְפָנַי֙ בֶּאֱמֶ֔ת בְּכׇל־לְבָבָ֖ם וּבְכׇל־נַפְשָׁ֑ם לֵאמֹ֕ר לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֤ת לְךָ֙ אִ֔ישׁ מֵעַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

Then GOD will fulfill the promise that was made concerning me: ‘If your descendants are scrupulous in their conduct, and walk before Me faithfully, with all their heart and soul, your line on the throne of Israel shall never end!‘byour line on the throne…shall never end Lit. “there shall never cease to be a man of yours on the throne,” i.e., ruling on your behalf. Cf. 2 Sam. 7.12–16.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וְגַ֣ם אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֡עְתָּ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁר־עָ֨שָׂה לִ֜י יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֣ה לִשְׁנֵֽי־שָׂרֵ֣י צִבְא֣וֹת יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל לְאַבְנֵ֨ר בֶּן־נֵ֜ר וְלַעֲמָשָׂ֤א בֶן־יֶ֙תֶר֙ וַיַּ֣הַרְגֵ֔ם וַיָּ֥שֶׂם דְּמֵֽי־מִלְחָמָ֖ה בְּשָׁלֹ֑ם וַיִּתֵּ֞ן דְּמֵ֣י מִלְחָמָ֗ה בַּחֲגֹֽרָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּמׇתְנָ֔יו וּֽבְנַעֲל֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרַגְלָֽיו׃

English:

“Further, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s forces, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether: he killed them, sheddingcshedding Meaning of Heb. uncertain. blood of war in peacetime, staining the girdle of his loins and the sandals on his feet with blood of war.dstaining … with blood of war I.e., Joab had thus brought bloodguilt on David’s house; see 2 Sam. 3.27; 20.10.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וְעָשִׂ֖יתָ כְּחׇכְמָתֶ֑ךָ וְלֹֽא־תוֹרֵ֧ד שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּשָׁלֹ֖ם שְׁאֹֽל׃

English:

So act in accordance with your wisdom, and see that his white hair does not go down to Sheol in peace.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וְלִבְנֵ֨י בַרְזִלַּ֤י הַגִּלְעָדִי֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־חֶ֔סֶד וְהָי֖וּ בְּאֹכְלֵ֣י שֻׁלְחָנֶ֑ךָ כִּי־כֵן֙ קָרְב֣וּ אֵלַ֔י בְּבׇרְחִ֕י מִפְּנֵ֖י אַבְשָׁל֥וֹם אָחִֽיךָ׃

English:

“But deal graciously with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, for they befriended me when I fled from your brother Absalom; let them be among those that eat at your table.ethat eat at your table I.e., for whose maintenance you provide; see 2 Sam. 19.32ff.

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וְהִנֵּ֣ה עִ֠מְּךָ֠ שִֽׁמְעִ֨י בֶן־גֵּרָ֥א בֶֽן־הַיְמִינִי֮ מִבַּחֻרִים֒ וְה֤וּא קִֽלְלַ֙נִי֙ קְלָלָ֣ה נִמְרֶ֔צֶת בְּי֖וֹם לֶכְתִּ֣י מַחֲנָ֑יִם וְהֽוּא־יָרַ֤ד לִקְרָאתִי֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וָאֶשָּׁ֨בַֽע ל֤וֹ בַֽיהֹוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִם־אֲמִֽיתְךָ֖ בֶּחָֽרֶב׃

English:

“You must also deal with Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim. He insulted me outrageously when I was on my way to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan,fhe came down to meet me at the Jordan See 2 Sam. 16.5ff.; 19.17ff. and I swore to him by GOD: ‘I will not put you to the sword.‘

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תְּנַקֵּ֔הוּ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ חָכָ֖ם אָ֑תָּה וְיָֽדַעְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לּ֔וֹ וְהוֹרַדְתָּ֧ אֶת־שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּדָ֖ם שְׁאֽוֹל׃

English:

So do not let him go unpunished; for you are a shrewd man and you will know how to deal with him and send his gray hair down to Sheol in blood.”

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב דָּוִ֖ד עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּעִ֥יר דָּוִֽד׃ {פ}

English:

So David rested with his ancestors, and he was buried in the City of David.

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וְהַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָלַ֤ךְ דָּוִד֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַרְבָּעִ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה בְּחֶבְר֤וֹן מָלַךְ֙ שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֔ים וּבִירוּשָׁלַ֣͏ִם מָלַ֔ךְ שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וְשָׁלֹ֖שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃

English:

The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וּ��ְׁלֹמֹ֕ה יָשַׁ֕ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֖א דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֑יו וַתִּכֹּ֥ן מַלְכֻת֖וֹ מְאֹֽד׃ {ס}        

English:

And Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֞א אֲדֹנִיָּ֣הוּ בֶן־חַגִּ֗ית אֶל־בַּת־שֶׁ֙בַע֙ אֵם־שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַתֹּ֖אמֶר הֲשָׁל֣וֹם בֹּאֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שָׁלֽוֹם׃

English:

Adonijah son of Haggith came to see Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. She said, “Do you come with friendly intent?” “Yes,” he replied;

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר דָּבָ֥ר לִ֖י אֵלָ֑יִךְ וַתֹּ֖אמֶר דַּבֵּֽר׃

English:

and he continued, “I would like to have a word with you.” “Speak up,” she said.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַ֤תְּ יָדַ֙עַתְּ֙ כִּי־לִי֙ הָיְתָ֣ה הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה וְעָלַ֞י שָׂ֧מוּ כׇֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם לִמְלֹ֑ךְ וַתִּסֹּ֤ב הַמְּלוּכָה֙ וַתְּהִ֣י לְאָחִ֔י כִּ֥י מֵיְהֹוָ֖ה הָ֥יְתָה לּֽוֹ׃

English:

Then he said, “You know that the kingship was rightly mine and that all Israel wanted me to reign. But the kingship passed on to my brother; it came to him by GOD’s will.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁאֵלָ֤ה אַחַת֙ אָֽנֹכִי֙ שֹׁאֵ֣ל מֵֽאִתָּ֔ךְ אַל־תָּשִׁ֖בִי אֶת־פָּנָ֑י וַתֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו דַּבֵּֽר׃

English:

And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.” She said, “Speak up.”

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אִמְרִי־נָא֙ לִשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֥י לֹֽא־יָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־פָּנָ֑יִךְ וְיִתֶּן־לִ֛י אֶת־א��בִישַׁ֥ג הַשּׁוּנַמִּ֖ית לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

English:

He replied, “Please ask King Solomon—for he won’t refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.”

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַתֹּ֥אמֶר בַּת־שֶׁ֖בַע ט֑וֹב אָנֹכִ֕י אֲדַבֵּ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

English:

“Very well,” said Bathsheba, “I will speak to the king in your behalf.”

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַתָּבֹ֤א בַת־שֶׁ֙בַע֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה לְדַבֶּר־ל֖וֹ עַל־אֲדֹנִיָּ֑הוּ וַיָּ֩קׇם֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ לִקְרָאתָ֜הּ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֣חוּ לָ֗הּ וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ וַיָּ֤שֶׂם כִּסֵּא֙ לְאֵ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַתֵּ֖שֶׁב לִימִינֽוֹ׃

English:

So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him about Adonijah. The king rose to greet her and bowed down to her. He sat on his throne; and he had a throne placed for the queen mother, and she sat on his right.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שְׁאֵלָ֨ה אַחַ֤ת קְטַנָּה֙ אָֽנֹכִי֙ שֹׁאֶ֣לֶת מֵֽאִתָּ֔ךְ אַל־תָּ֖שֶׁב אֶת־פָּנָ֑י וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֤הּ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שַׁאֲלִ֣י אִמִּ֔י כִּ֥י לֹא־אָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־פָּנָֽיִךְ׃

English:

She said, “I have one small request to make of you, do not refuse me.” He responded, “Ask, Mother; I shall not refuse you.”

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַתֹּ֕אמֶר יֻתַּ֖ן אֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֣ג הַשֻּׁנַמִּ֑ית לַאֲדֹנִיָּ֥הוּ אָחִ֖יךָ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

English:

Then she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as wife.”

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֩עַן֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאִמּ֗וֹ וְלָמָה֩ אַ֨תְּ שֹׁאֶ֜לֶת אֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֤ג הַשֻּֽׁנַמִּית֙ לַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ וְשַֽׁאֲלִי־לוֹ֙ אֶת־הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה כִּ֛י ה֥וּא אָחִ֖י הַגָּד֣וֹל מִמֶּ֑נִּי וְלוֹ֙ וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וּלְיוֹאָ֖ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָֽה׃ {פ}

English:

The king replied to his mother, “Why request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Request the kingship for him! For he is my older brother, and the priest Abiathar and Joab son of Zeruiah are on his side.”gand the priest Abiathar and Joab son of Zeruiah are on his side Lit. “And for him and for Abiathar and for Joab son of Zeruiah.” Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַיִּשָּׁבַע֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה בַּיהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֣ה יַֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י בְנַפְשׁ֔וֹ דִּבֶּר֙ אֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה׃

English:

Thereupon, King Solomon swore by GOD, saying, “So may God do to me and even more, if broaching this matter does not cost Adonijah his life!

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּ֗ה חַי־יְהֹוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֱכִינַ֗נִי (ויושיביני) [וַיּֽוֹשִׁיבַ֙נִי֙] עַל־כִּסֵּא֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔י וַאֲשֶׁ֧ר עָשָׂה־לִ֛י בַּ֖יִת כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר כִּ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם יוּמַ֖ת אֲדֹנִיָּֽהוּ׃

English:

Now, as GOD lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of my father David and who has provided himhhim Heb. “me.” with a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this very day!”

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה בְּיַ֖ד בְּנָיָ֣הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע וַיִּפְגַּע־בּ֖וֹ וַיָּמֹֽת׃ {ס}        

English:

And Solomon instructed Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck AdonijahiAdonijah Heb. “him.” down; and so he died.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֨ר הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֲנָתֹת֙ לֵ֣ךְ עַל־שָׂדֶ֔יךָ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ מָ֖וֶת אָ֑תָּה וּבַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה לֹ֣א אֲמִיתֶ֗ךָ כִּֽי־נָשָׂ֜אתָ אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ לִפְנֵי֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔י וְכִ֣י הִתְעַנִּ֔יתָ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־הִתְעַנָּ֖ה אָבִֽי׃

English:

To the priest Abiathar, the king said, “Go to your estate at Anathoth! You deserve to die, but I shall not put you to death at this time, because you carried the Ark of my Sovereign GOD before my father David and because you shared all the hardships that my father endured.”

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ אֶת־אֶבְיָתָ֔ר מִֽהְי֥וֹת כֹּהֵ֖ן לַיהֹוָ֑ה לְמַלֵּא֙ אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֛ר עַל־בֵּ֥ית עֵלִ֖י בְּשִׁלֹֽה׃ {פ}

English:

So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from his office of priest of GOD—thus fulfilling what GOD had spoken at Shilohjwhat GOD had spoken at Shiloh Cf. 1 Sam. 3.14. regarding the house of Eli.

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וְהַשְּׁמֻעָה֙ בָּ֣אָה עַד־יוֹאָ֔ב כִּ֣י יוֹאָ֗ב נָטָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אֲדֹנִיָּ֔ה וְאַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם לֹ֣א נָטָ֑ה וַיָּ֤נׇס יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יְהֹוָ֔ה וַֽיַּחֲזֵ֖ק בְּקַרְנ֥וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

English:

When the news reached Joab, he fled to the Tent of GOD and grasped the horns of the altar—for Joab had sided with Adonijah, though he had not sided with Absalom.

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

וַיֻּגַּ֞ד לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה כִּ֣י נָ֤ס יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֖ה אֵ֣צֶל הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה אֶת־בְּנָיָ֧הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֛ע לֵאמֹ֖ר לֵ֥ךְ פְּגַע־בּֽוֹ׃

English:

King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the Tent of GOD and that he was there by the altar; so Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go and strike him down.”

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֨א בְנָיָ֜הוּ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יְהֹוָ֗ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ צֵ֔א וַיֹּ֥אמֶֽר ׀ לֹ֖א כִּ֣י פֹ֣ה אָמ֑וּת וַיָּ֨שֶׁב בְּנָיָ֤הוּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ דָּבָ֣ר לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּֽה־דִבֶּ֥ר יוֹאָ֖ב וְכֹ֥ה עָנָֽנִי׃

English:

Benaiah went to the Tent of GOD and said to him, “Thus said the king: Come out!” “No!” he replied; “I will die here.” Benaiah reported back to the king that Joab had answered thus and thus,

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֲשֵׂה֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֔ר וּפְגַע־בּ֖וֹ וּקְבַרְתּ֑וֹ וַהֲסִירֹ֣תָ ׀ דְּמֵ֣י חִנָּ֗ם אֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁפַ֣ךְ יוֹאָ֔ב מֵעָלַ֕י וּמֵעַ֖ל בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי׃

English:

and the king said, “Do just as he said; strike him down and bury him, and remove guilt from me and my father’s house for the blood of the innocent that Joab has shed.

פסוק ל״ב · Verse 32

Hebrew:

וְהֵשִׁיב֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֶת־דָּמ֜וֹ עַל־רֹאשׁ֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּגַ֣ע בִּשְׁנֵֽי־אֲ֠נָשִׁ֠ים צַדִּקִ֨ים וְטֹבִ֤ים מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ וַיַּהַרְגֵ֣ם בַּחֶ֔רֶב וְאָבִ֥י דָוִ֖ד לֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע אֶת־אַבְנֵ֤ר בֶּן־נֵר֙ שַׂר־צְבָ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־עֲמָשָׂ֥א בֶן־יֶ֖תֶר שַׂר־צְבָ֥א יְהוּדָֽה׃

English:

Thus GOD will bring his blood guilt down upon his own head, because, unbeknown to my father, he struck down with the sword two men more righteous and honorable than he—Abner son of Ner, the army commander of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, the army commander of Judah.

פסוק ל״ג · Verse 33

Hebrew:

וְשָׁ֤בוּ דְמֵיהֶם֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹאָ֔ב וּבְרֹ֥אשׁ זַרְע֖וֹ לְעֹלָ֑ם וּלְדָוִ֡ד וּ֠לְזַרְע֠וֹ וּלְבֵית֨וֹ וּלְכִסְא֜וֹ יִהְיֶ֥ה שָׁל֛וֹם עַד־עוֹלָ֖ם מֵעִ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

May the guilt for their blood come down upon the head of Joab and his descendants forever, and may good fortune from GOD be granted forever to David and his descendants, his house and his throne.”

פסוק ל״ד · Verse 34

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֗עַל בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וַיִּפְגַּע־בּ֖וֹ וַיְמִתֵ֑הוּ וַיִּקָּבֵ֥ר בְּבֵית֖וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

English:

So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down. And he was buried at his home in the wilderness.

פסוק ל״ה · Verse 35

Hebrew:

וַיִּתֵּ֨ן הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־בְּנָיָ֧הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֛ע תַּחְתָּ֖יו עַל־הַצָּבָ֑א וְאֶת־צָד֤וֹק הַכֹּהֵן֙ נָתַ֣ן הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תַּ֖חַת אֶבְיָתָֽר׃

English:

In his place, the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army, and in place of Abiathar, the king appointed the priest Zadok.

פסוק ל״ו · Verse 36

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיִּקְרָ֣א לְשִׁמְעִ֔י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ בְּֽנֵה־לְךָ֥ בַ֙יִת֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֖ שָׁ֑ם וְלֹא־תֵצֵ֥א מִשָּׁ֖ם אָ֥נֶה וָאָֽנָה׃

English:

Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and stay there—do not ever go out from there anywhere else.

פסוק ל״ז · Verse 37

Hebrew:

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בְּי֣וֹם צֵאתְךָ֗ וְעָֽבַרְתָּ֙ אֶת־נַ֣חַל קִדְר֔וֹן יָדֹ֥עַ תֵּדַ֖ע כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת תָּמ֑וּת דָּמְךָ֖ יִהְיֶ֥ה בְרֹאשֶֽׁךָ׃

English:

On the very day that you go out and cross the Wadi Kidron, you can be sure that you will die; your blood shall be on your own head.”

פסוק ל״ח · Verse 38

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שִׁמְעִ֤י לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ ט֣וֹב הַדָּבָ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּר֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כֵּ֖ן יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב שִׁמְעִ֛י בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃ {ס}        

English:

“That is fair,” said Shimei to the king, “your servant will do just as my lord the king has spoken.” And for a long time, Shimei remained in Jerusalem.

פסוק ל״ט · Verse 39

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֗י מִקֵּץ֙ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים וַיִּבְרְח֤וּ שְׁנֵֽי־עֲבָדִים֙ לְשִׁמְעִ֔י אֶל־אָכִ֥ישׁ בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ גַּ֑ת וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לְשִׁמְעִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֥ה עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ בְּגַֽת׃

English:

Three years later, two slaves of Shimei ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath. Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.”

פסוק מ׳ · Verse 40

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֣קׇם שִׁמְעִ֗י וַֽיַּחֲבֹשׁ֙ אֶת־חֲמֹר֔וֹ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ גַּ֙תָה֙ אֶל־אָכִ֔ישׁ לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־עֲבָדָ֑יו וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שִׁמְעִ֔י וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־עֲבָדָ֖יו מִגַּֽת׃ {ס}        

English:

Shimei thereupon saddled his donkey and went to Achish in Gath to claim his slaves; and Shimei returned from Gath with his slaves.

פסוק מ״א · Verse 41

Hebrew:

וַיֻּגַּ֖ד לִשְׁלֹמֹ֑ה כִּי־הָלַ֨ךְ שִׁמְעִ֧י מִירוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם גַּ֖ת וַיָּשֹֽׁב׃

English:

Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and back,

פסוק מ״ב · Verse 42

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וַיִּקְרָ֣א לְשִׁמְעִ֗י וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הֲל֧וֹא הִשְׁבַּעְתִּ֣יךָ בַיהֹוָ֗ה וָאָעִ֤ד בְּךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בְּי֣וֹם צֵאתְךָ֗ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֙ אָ֣נֶה וָאָ֔נָה יָדֹ֥עַ תֵּדַ֖ע כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת תָּמ֑וּת וַתֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלַ֛י ט֥וֹב הַדָּבָ֖ר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי׃

English:

and the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not adjure you by GOD and warn you, ‘On the very day that you leave and go anywhere else, you can be sure that you will die,’ and did you not say to me, ‘It is fair; I accept’?

פסוק מ״ג · Verse 43

Hebrew:

וּמַדּ֕וּעַ לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔רְתָּ אֵ֖ת שְׁבֻעַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֶת־הַמִּצְוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּ֥יתִי עָלֶֽיךָ׃

English:

Why did you not abide by the oath before GOD and by the orders that I gave you?”

פסוק מ״ד · Verse 44

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־שִׁמְעִ֗י אַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָדַע֙ לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתָ לְדָוִ֣ד אָבִ֑י וְהֵשִׁ֧יב יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־רָעָתְךָ֖ בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ׃

English:

The king said further to Shimei, “You know all the wrong, which you remember very well, that you did to my father David. Now GOD brings down your wrongdoing upon your own head.

פסוק מ״ה · Verse 45

Hebrew:

וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בָּר֑וּךְ וְכִסֵּ֣א דָוִ֗ד יִהְיֶ֥ה נָכ֛וֹן לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָֽם��

English:

But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before GOD forever.”

פסוק מ״ו · Verse 46

Hebrew:

וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֶת־בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וַיֵּצֵ֕א וַיִּפְגַּע־בּ֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה נָכ֖וֹנָה בְּיַד־שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃

English:

The king gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada and he went out and struck ShimeikShimei Heb. “him.” down; and so he died.Thus the kingdom was secured in Solomon’s hands.

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