Study Desk

but several important men did not join Adonijah. They were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and King David's special guard.

But he did not invite his brother Solomon, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, or the men in the king's special guard.

You and your son Solomon are in danger, but I will tell you what to do to save yourself.

Now, you don't know this, but Adonijah is making himself king.

He is giving a big fellowship meal. He has killed many cattle and the best sheep, and he has invited all of your sons to the meal. He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of your army, but he did not invite your faithful son Solomon.

But he did not invite me, or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your son Solomon.

But Jonathan answered, "No, it is not good news for you! King David has made Solomon the new king.

So Solomon answered, "If Adonijah shows that he is a good man, I promise that not a hair on his head will be hurt. But if he does anything wrong, he will die."

"I am about to die, like all men must. But you are growing stronger and becoming a man.

Use your wisdom, but don't let him die peacefully of old age.

"And remember, Shimei son of Gera is still around. He is the Benjamite from Bahurim who cursed me when I ran away to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I made a promise to him before the Lord that I would not kill him.

Now, don't leave him unpunished. You are a wise man. You will know what you must do, but don't let him die peacefully of old age."

Adonijah said, "You know that at one time the kingdom was mine. All the people of Israel wanted me to be their king. But things have changed, and now my brother is the king. The Lord chose him to be king.

But now I have one thing to ask you. Please don't refuse me." Bathsheba answered, "What do you want?"

Then King Solomon said to Abiathar the priest, "I should kill you, but I will let you go back to your home in Anathoth. I will not kill you now because you helped carry the Holy Box of the Lord God while marching with my father David. And I know that you shared in the hard times with my father."

Joab had supported Adonijah, but not Absalom. But when Joab heard what happened to Abiathar, he was frightened and ran to the tent of the Lord to hold onto the horns of the altar.

Benaiah went into the Lord 's Tent and said to Joab, "The king says, ‘Come out!'" But Joab answered, "No, I will die here." Benaiah went back to the king and told him what Joab had said.

Joab killed two men who were much better than he was. He killed Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah. He did this without my father's knowledge. But now the Lord will punish Joab for the men he killed.

He and his family will always be guilty for their deaths. But the Lord will bring peace to David, his descendants, his family of kings, and his kingdom forever."

But three years later, two of Shimei's slaves ran away. They went to King Achish of Gath, who was the son of Maacah. Shimei heard that his slaves were in Gath,