1 Reis 2
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Reis 2
NJB (MT versing) David's Charge to Solomon David's Instructions to Solomon The Death of David and the Elimination of Rivals to the Reign of Solomon David's Last Instructions to Solomon David's Testament 2:1-4 2:1-9 2:1-4 2:1-4 2:1-4 2:5-9 2:5-9 2:5-6 2:5-9 2:7 2:8-9 Death of David Death of David The Death of David Death of David 2:10-12 2:10-12 2:10-12 2:10-12 2:10-11 The Death of Adjonijah Solomon Executes Adonijah The Death of Adjonijah 2:12 2:13-18 2:13-18 2:13-18 2:13-16 2:13-25 2:17 Adonijah Executed 2:18 2:19-25 2:19-25 2:19-25 2:19-20 2:21 2:22-24 2:25 Abiathar Exiled, Joab Executed Abiathar's Banishment and Joab's Death The Fate of Abiathar and Joab 2:26-27 2:26-27 2:26-27 2:26-27 2:26-27 Joab Executed 2:28-35 2:28-35 2:28-35 2:28-30 2:28-35 2:31-33 2:34-35 Shimei Executed Shimei Executed The Death of Shimei Disobedience and Death of Shimei 2:36-38 2:36-38 2:36-38 2:36-37 2:36-38 2:38 2:39-46 2:39-46 2:39-46a 2:39-45 2:39-41 2:42-46 2:46b 2:46 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS David admonishes his son, Solomon, to walk in the Mosaic covenant. If he does (notice the conditional element, v. 4), then the promise of 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17 will come to pass. David asks Solomon to take care of some unfinished issues with people. Joab ‒ 1 Kgs. 2:5-6, 28-34 Barzillai ‒ 1 Kgs. 2:7 Shimei ‒ 1 Kgs. 2:8-9,36-46 Solomon is forced to deal death to both Adonijah (vv. 19-25) and Shimei (vv. 36-46), as well as exile to Abiathar (vv. 26-27). In light of other ANE cultures, Solomon acted very compassionately toward his enemies.
1 Reis 2:1-4
2:1 This verse implies both a divine plan and knowledge of the time of death for David. Death is in the hand of YHWH, not Satan. To those who know YHWH, death is a friend, not a foe (i.e., Ps. 116:15)! 2:2 "I am going the way of all the earth" This is an acknowledgment of the common experience of death for all fallen mankind (i.e., Josh. 23:14). Only two escaped it. Enoch (Gen. 5:21-24) Elijah (2 Kgs. 2:11-14) There are three deaths mentioned in the Bible. spiritual death ‒ Gen. 2:17; 3; Isa. 59:2; Rom. 7:10-11; James 1:15 physical death ‒ Gen. 2:16-17; 3:4-5; 5 eternal death ‒ Rev. 2:11; 20:6,14; 21:8 ▣ "Be strong" This VERB (BDB 304, KB 302, Qal PERFECT with waw) was used by Moses to Joshua ‒ Deut. 31:7,23 by YHWH to Joshua ‒ Josh. 1:6,7,9,18 by Joshua to Israel ‒ Josh. 10:25 by YHWH to David ‒ 1 Chr. 22:13 by David to Solomon ‒ here; 1 Chr. 28:20 by Azariah to Asa ‒ 2 Chr. 15:7 by Hezekiah to Judah ‒ 2 Chr. 32:7 by Isaiah to the weak-faithed ‒ Isa. 35:4 by an angel to Daniel ‒ Dan. 10:19 by Haggai to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people ‒ Hag. 2:4 by Zechariah to returning Judah ‒ Zech. 8:9,13 The people of faith's strength is in the promises and presence of their covenant God. It is a faith worldview! 2:3 The covenant has both promises (v. 4; 1 Kgs. 3:14; 1 Chr. 22:13) and requirements. It is conditional (notice the "if" of v. 4; also note the conditional implications of Deut. 4:40,44-45; 5:1,33; 11:1-17; 17:14-20). See SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT. A good way to illustrate this is in 1 Sam. 2:30, where YHWH promises Eli that his house will serve Him "forever," but because of several things that happened with Eli's sons and descendants, that promise is abrogated in 1 Kgs. 2:26-27. This is the same type of theological issues that occur when assurance texts are quoted without any reference to the obedience and perseverance texts. Biblical faith is both a promise from God and a lifestyle faith/faithfulness (i.e., James 2:14-26). ▣ "keep" See SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP. ▣ "the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ "to walk" This is a biblical idiom of faithful living out of one's covenant faith. YHWH's covenant requirements were like a well marked path. Stay on the path! ▣ "ways. . .statutes. . .commandments. . .ordinances. . .testimonies" These are all synonyms for YHWH's guidelines. SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION ▣ "according to what is written in the Law of Moses" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MOSES' AUTHORSHIP OF THE PENTATEUCH 2:4 This warning reflects YHWH's words to David in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17. Notice the conditions. careful to walk before YHWH in truth/ faithfulness with all their heart with all their soul/life There are positive or negative consequences to lifestyle choices (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; Psalm 1). This is called "the two ways" (cf. Deuteronomy 30).
1 Reis 2:5-9
2:5 The day of reckoning for Joab's past inappropriate murderous acts has come. Abner ‒ 2 Samuel 3; 1 Kgs. 2:32 Amasa ‒ 2 Samuel 20; 1 Kgs. 2:32 The last phrase of this verse could mean Joab gloried in his actions Joab's actions brought guilt and accusations to David It was one thing to kill in battle but quite another to plan premeditated murder. SPECIAL TOPIC: MURDER 2:6 "Sheol" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEOL. 2:7 The kindness of Barzillai, the Gileadite, is recorded in 2 Sam. 17:27-29; 19:31-38. For "kindness" (hesed, BDB 338) see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed). 2:8-9 The account of Shimei's violent cursing is found in 2 Sam. 16:5-8. He tried to apologize in 2 Sam. 19:18-23. For the sake of unity among the tribes, David decided to accept it. 2:8 "violent curse" "malicious curse" NRSV, NJB "terrible curse" TEV, REB "cursed me bitterly" "insulted me outrageously" "painful curse" "grievous curses" The MT has a VERB (BDB 886, KB 1103, Piel PERFECT plus a Hiphil PARTICIPLE). It could refer to the accusation that David was behind the murder of Ishbosheth and possibly Abner David's family being cursed (i.e., his kingdom) with blood guiltiness 2:9 The king was YHWH's representative, and the ultimate judicial authority.
1 Reis 2:10-12
2:10 "slept with his fathers" Sleep is a euphemism for death. It is not intended to be taken literally. Some have tried to assert that it refers to "soul sleep" between death and resurrection day. The Bible must be interpreted in light of its day and the original author's intent. For one to "sleep with his fathers" usually denoted a person who died peacefully and was buried in his family tomb (David was the first in this location). Since the Israelites believed in a conscious afterlife, it denoted a fellowship. See Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 127-129. Josephus, Antiq. 7.15.3, gives a historical account about how Solomon buried David with great wealth but later in Israel's history (i.e., Maccabean period) the money was taken by Hyrcanus to buy off the seige of Jerusalem by Antiochus by Herod the great SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD? ▣ "the city of David" Although Joshua conquered Jebus, the central citadel was not captured until David's reign. David moved the capital from Hebron in Judah to the border of Judah and Benjamin (i.e., more centrally located for all of the tribes). 2:11 This verse and 2 Sam. 2:4-5, give us David's age at this time as 70½ years. David reigned 40 years, as did Solomon (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:42). Acts 13:21 says Saul reigned forty years. The number 40 is sometimes literal and sometimes symbolic. SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #7
1 Reis 2:13-18
2:13-25 These verses describe the attempt of Adonijah to claim the throne by asking for the young woman who kept David warm (1 Kgs. 1:1-4). She was not a wife (1 Kgs. 1:4) but was a part of David's harem. Solomon saw through the request immediately but his mother, Bathsheba, did not. 2:15 "for it was his from the Lord" This is either an attempt at subterfuge or Adonijah was not guilty of treason. He was simply acknowledging YHWH's choice of Solomon (cf. 1 Chr. 28:5). Moderns cannot psychoanalyze the motives of biblical people. Only a clear text can do this. This is not one of them. However, Solomon thinks it is treason (vv. 22-24).
1 Reis 2:19-25
2:23 This is a common oath in the historical books, cf. Ruth 1:17; 1 Sam. 3:9,35; 19:13; 1 Kgs. 2:23; 15:2; 20:10; 2 Kgs. 6:31. In a sense, it is a curse on oneself if that person does not do what he/she promised. 2:25 "he fell upon him" This VERB (BDB 803, KB 910) usually means "encounter," but it is used six times in this chapter to denote Benaiah, the new chief of the army, killing someone (i.e., vv. 25,29,31, 34,46) at Solomon's request or of Joab killing Abner and Amasa (v. 32).
1 Reis 2:26-27
2:26-27 Solomon removes Abiathar, one of David's High Priests, from office and exiles him to his hometown of Anathoth. As verse 27 notes, this fulfills the prophecy of 1 Sam. 2:27-36, about Eli and his family. 2:26 "you deserve to die" This idiom is literally "man of death" (cf. 2 Sam. 19:28). A similar form is "son of death" (cf. 1 Sam. 20:31; 26:16; 2 Sam. 12:5). Abiathar deserved death for his support of Adonijah, but Solomon spared his life, yet removed his priestly duties. ▣ "the ark of the Lord God" The covenant chest which represented YHWH's personal presence and covenant promises and requirements goes by several, but related, names. the ark of the testimony ‒ in Exodus and Numbers the ark of the covenant ‒ mostly Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges (only three times in 1 Samuel 4) the ark of the Lord ‒ Joshua and 1 Samuel the ark of God ‒ 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT
1 Reis 2:28-35
2:28 "took hold of the horns of the altar" This is exactly what Adonijah did (cf. 1 Kgs. 1:50). It was a place of refuge and safety. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE 2:29 "the tent of the Lord" This refers to the tent that David erected in Jerusalem to house the ark of the covenant (cf. 2 Sam. 6:17; 1 Chr. 15:1; 2 Chr. 1:4). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT ▣ "beside the altar" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE. 2:33 (twice) "forever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam). ▣ "peace" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE (OT). 2:34 Joab was given a proper burial in his family tomb near Bethlehem (cf. 2 Sam. 2:32, where Asahel was buried). 2:35 "Zadok" See Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 372-376; AB, pp. 1034-1036; NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1300-1302.
1 Reis 2:36-38
2:37,42 "you will know for certain that you shall surely die" This is a double emphatic grammatical construction of an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root ("know," BDB 393, KB 390, and BDB 559, KB 562). This same form is repeated in v. 42. 2:37 "your blood shall be on your own head" Blood guiltiness was an important theological issue (cf. vv. 31-33,37; Gen. 4:10).
1 Reis 2:39-46
2:45 This reflects YHWH's conditional promise of 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17. It is difficult to assert that the Davidic covenant is conditional because it is related to the promise of Messiah. Yet remember, the Babylonian exile removed the seed of David from the Judean throne! YHWH has a plan for mankind's redemption. It cannot be effected by human actions and choices, but whether a particular individual is a part of this redemptive plan is based (to some degree) on his/her choices and actions! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION/PREDESTINATION AND THE NEED FOR A THEOLOGICAL BALANCE