David's Last Words

INTRO

We’ve already saw David’s last words to the people in 2 Samuel 23. These verses were the last words David had for his son Solomon as he took over as king. What we see throughout scripture and especially in these verses is actions have consequences, forgiveness is required, and trust is earned. You will be surprised by the amount of grace shown in this chapter. Today, we are going to see how all the pieces of this chapter fit together, from David to Solomon.

TEACHING

1 Kings 2:1-3: The first four verses from David were a spiritual charge for Solomon, urging him to obey God’s word.¹These were key verses for Solomon. David’s encouragement was for Solomon to keep what the Lord required. Why was this important? Because obedience leads to blessing. There is no substitute for a lifestyle of obedience to God’s Word. The same is true for us. Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).

1 Kings 2:4: Solomon was David’s son and God had promised David an everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:14-16). But this everlasting kingdom continually depended on obedience to God’s word. It has often been debated whether this promise to David was conditional or unconditional. There is a tension raised that only Jesus Christ can resolve. Solomon, like his father and other kings to come, would fail. Yet, God would keep His promise in Jesus Christ.

1 Kings 2:5-9: These verses served as a political charge to Solomon.²There were serious threats to the kingdom. David had unfinished business. Consider these individuals mentioned here:

Joab was full of contradictions––victories and grief, and a lack of self-control.

• Joab was David’s nephew (1 Chronicles 2:13-17).
• He murdered Abner out of revenge for killing Joab’s brother . . . but after Abner made a pledge to David and received forgiveness (2 Samuel 2).
• He killed Absalom in disobedience to David’s orders (2 Samuel 18).
• He treacherously murdered Amasa, his own cousin (2 Samuel 20).
• He gave good advice against David’s sin (2 Samuel 24).
• He was a conspiracy member with Adonijah (1 Kings 1).
• David instructed that there was to be no peace for Joab (v.6).

Brazillai was loyal. He was to be given royal pension, which meant he was to eat at the king's table (v.7). Brazilliai’s decedents were mentioned in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Shimei was a man David wanted Solomon to keep an eye on, because Shimei had cursed David but later asked for mercy. The question is, did David really give him mercy? Shimei was wicked and went unpunished, but David wanted Solomon to punish him. Shimei was from the tribe of Benjamin.

1 Kings 2:10: David died. David’s tomb is located on modern, not historical, Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Most historians and archeologists do not consider this tomb David’s actual resting place. We don’t know where he was buried, but we know he was with his fathers.

1 Kings 2:11-12: 1 Kings 1––4 described the golden age of Israel. David had ruled for 40 years and Solomon ruled for 40 years. We are now in the middle of the golden age. Solomon carried out David’s instructions in verses 13-46.

1 Kings 2:13: Solomon had hardly begun his own tenure as king when Adonijah visited Bathsheba with a shady proposal. Remember, Adonijah had attempted a coup to make himself king in 1 Kings 1 and Bathsheba was Solomon’s mother.

1 Kings 2:14-18: Adonijah went to Bathsheba and asked for her daughter Abishag’s hand in marriage. She was stunningly beautiful. Adonijah wanted to marry the newly widowed Abishag, and he asked Bathsheba to convince Solomon that it was a good idea. Bathsheba agreed to help him.

1 Kings 2:19-22: When Bathsheba presented Solomon with Adonijah’s request, Solomon refused. When a king died, all his possessions (including his wives and concubines) belonged to the heir to the throne. In 2 Samuel 16:20-22, Absalom slept with his father’s concubines in full view for all to see his rebellion and his attempt to claim the throne. Adonijah taking Abishag as his wife would have amounted to a claim on the throne.

1 Kings 2:23-24: Solomon determined that Adonijah would have to die. 1 Kings 1:52 states, “Then Solomon said, ‘If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground, but if evil is found in him, he dies.’” This was the last mention of Bathsheba, other than in Psalm, “David’s sin with her…” This was also the last mention of Abishag. Some have suggested, since she was a Shunammite, Abishag was the Shulamite of the Song of Solomon (Song 6:13), but this is unlikely. What a bizarre love triangle!!

11 Kings 2:25: Adonijah was killed by one of Solomon’s servants.

Kings 2:26-27: Abiathar the priest, another fascinating character, was dealt with. His issue was conspiracy. He was loyal to David against Saul, and David against Absalom––but sided with Adonijah in his conspiracy. He served as a joint high priest functioning under David with Zadok. Solomon banished him.

1 Kings 2:28-46: Joab heard of Solomon’s action and fled to the horns of the alter wanting to be saved. Because Joab was not innocent, salvation did not come and he was killed. Actions have consequences. Shimei was given grace only if he stayed in Israel. He left and then came back, and was killed for his disobedience.

CLOSING

Debate about this passage continues. Did Solomon act justly or unjustly? We don’t know. The writer of Kings simply tells the events without saying whether these actions were necessary or even condoned. The writer does say that Solomon was King and that these rivals had been eliminated. Tony Merida wrote, “Perhaps this is a story of mixed motives, much like the story of our lives. This doesn’t justify injustice, but it does highlight human weakness in leadership and the need for a perfectly just King and a better kingdom. Thankfully, God, by His grace, made good on His promise and gave us the Ruler we need in Christ.”³