Biblion Bible Commentary
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The Charge of a Dying King
1 Kings 2:1-12
1 Now the days of David came near that he should die; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying, · WEB
David's last words to his heir: keep the law and the promise stands — and then a list of two men to deal with, which is harder to read.
"I am going the way of all the earth. You be strong therefore, and show yourself a man" 1 Kings 2:2.
The charge opens where Joshua's did Joshua 23:14, and its first half is unimpeachable. Keep the instruction of Yahweh, walk in his ways, keep the statutes according to that which is written in the law of Moses 1 Kings 2:3 — a king pointed at a text rather than at his own judgment, exactly as the law required of him Deuteronomy 17:18–19.
"Then Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your children are careful of their way... there shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel'" 1 Kings 2:4.
And here David states the covenant in its conditional form. This needs care, because the promise of 2 Samuel 7:16 was unconditional — a house established forever, with discipline rather than rejection for sin. The two are not in conflict: the dynasty's existence is guaranteed, and any given generation's occupancy of the throne is not. History proved both halves. David's line was never cut off, and it also stopped ruling for centuries. What David presses on his son is the part Solomon can affect.
"Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me... Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don't let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace" 1 Kings 2:5–6.
Then the second half, and readers should feel its difficulty rather than explain it away. Joab's case is a real charge with a real basis: he murdered Abner and Amasa in peacetime under a pretense of friendship 2 Samuel 3:27 2 Samuel 20:10, and shed the blood of war in peace — unpunished blood-guilt that the law says defiles the land and attaches to the house that tolerates it Numbers 35:33 Deuteronomy 21:8–9. David admits by this charge that he never did his duty; he is handing his son a debt he was too weak to collect 2 Samuel 3:39.
"Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man... and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood" 1 Kings 2:9.
Shimei is harder still. David swore not to put him to death 2 Samuel 19:23 and keeps the letter of that oath by dying first — and the instruction leaves the method to Solomon's wisdom, which is what Solomon takes it as 1 Kings 2:36–37. It is legally deft and morally uncomfortable, and the account offers no defense of it. Between the two charges stands a third that is nothing but gratitude: kindness to Barzillai's sons, who fed him in the flight from Absalom 1 Kings 2:7 2 Samuel 17:27–29. All three are on the same deathbed list, and the man who wrote them is the same man throughout — this history's refusal to tidy him up is why it can be trusted.
David slept with his fathers, and was buried in David's city 1 Kings 2:10. Forty years, seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem , and the epitaph the rest of the book will use as its ruler: kings are measured, from here on, against David.
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