blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and upon his shoes that were upon his feet.

Do according to thy wisdom, that thou bring not down his gray hairs with peace unto hell.

Thou shalt also shew mercy unto the children of Barzillai the Gileadite, that they may eat at thy table. For so they did unto me, when I fled from Absalom thy brother.

And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, the son of Jemini of Bahurim, who cursed me shamefully at the time that I went to Mahanaim. And he came down to meet me by Jordan. And I sware unto him by the LORD, saying: I will not kill thee with the sword.

But let him not be innocent: for thou art a wise man, and knowest well what thou oughtest to do unto him, that thou mayest bring down his gray hairs with blood into hell.

So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. Seven years was he king in Hebron, and thirty and three years in Jerusalem.

And Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was very established.

And Adonijah the son of Hagith came in unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou also with peace? And he said, Yea.

And said: I have come to speak with thee. And she said, Tell me.

And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel was set upon me to be king: but now the kingdom is turned, and is become my brother’s; from the LORD it is become his.

Now I make a request of thee, that thou put not my face to shame. And she said unto him, Tell me.

And he said, Speak unto king Solomon, (for he will not put thy face to shame,) that he give me Abi sag of Sunem to wife.

And Bathsheba said, Well, I will speak unto the king for thy sake.

And Bathsheba came in unto king Solomon, to speak with him concerning Adonijah. And the king arose, and went to meet her, and worshipped her, and sat upon his throne. And a seat was set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right hand.

And she said: I make a small request of thee, that thou shalt not shame my face. And the king said unto her, Please, my mother, I will not shame thy face.

And she said, Let Abishag of Sunem give Adonijah thy brother to wife.

And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, Why askest thou Abishag of Sunem the Adonite? Ask him the kingdom also; for he is my greatest brother, and hath Abiathar the priest, and Joab the son of Zeruiah.

And king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do this unto me, and this unto me: Adonijah hath spoken this against his life.

And now, as the LORD liveth, which hath confirmed me, and made me to sit upon the throne of David my father, and hath made me an house, as he spake, this day shall Adonijah die.

And king Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, which smote him, and he died.

And the king said unto Abiathar the priest, Go to Anathoth unto thy field: for thou art dead.
But I will not kill thee this day: for thou hast borne the ark of the LORD before David my father, and hast suffered where my father suffered.

So Solomon put away Abiathar, that he should not be the priest of the LORD, that the word of the LORD might be fulfilled, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

And the rumour came before Joab: for Joab was attached to Adonijah, though not to Absalom. And Joab fled into the tabernacle of the LORD, and took hold on the horns of the altar.

And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled to the tabernacle of the LORD: and, behold, he stood by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, smite him.

And when Benaiah was come to the tabernacle of the LORD, he said unto him, Thus saith the king, Go forth. And he said, Nay, I will die here. And Benaiah told the king these things again, saying, Thus spake Joab, and thus answered he me.

And the king said unto him, Do as he hath spoken, and smite him, and bury him, that thou mayest put away from me the blood which Joab hath shed for nought, and from my father’s house,

And let the LORD pay him for his blood upon his head, because he smote two men more
righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword: and David my father knew not any thing of it, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host over Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host over Judah;

And their blood shall be paid upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: and David, and his seed, and his house, and his throne, shall have peace in the sight of the LORD for ever.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and smote him, and slew him. And he was buried in his house in the wilderness.

And the king set Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his stead over the host: and the king set Zadok the priest in the stead of Abiathar.

And the king sent and called Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house at Jerusalem, and dwell there; and go not out thence, either hither or thither.

When thou goest forth, and passest over the brook Kidron, know that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thy head.

And Shimei said unto the king: This is a good opinion; as my lord the king hath spoken, so shall thy servant do. So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem a long time.

And it came to pass about three years, that two servants ran away from Shimei to Achish the son of Maechah king of Gath. And it was told Shimei, Behold, thy servants are at Gath.

And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants. And when he was come, he brought his servants from Gath.

And it was told Solomon, saying, Shimei is departed from Jerusalem unto Gath, and is come again.

And the king sent and called Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not swear unto thee by the LORD, and testify unto thee, saying, What day thou shalt go forth, and go hither or thither, and know that thou must surely die? And thou saidst unto me, I have heard a good report.

Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment which I commanded thee?

And the king said unto Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness that thine heart is conscious of, which thou hast done unto David my father: the LORD hath paid thy wickedness upon thy head.

And king Solomon is blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD
for ever.

And the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and smote him, and he died. And the kingdom was established by the hand of Solomon.
(1 Kings)
Chapter 3
Solomon’s marriage, prayer and judgment.

And Solomon made friends with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had enlarged his house, and the house of the LORD, and the walls about Jerusalem.

But the people sacrificed yet in the high places: for there was not yet a house built unto the name of the LORD until that time.

And Solomon loved the LORD, and walked after the manner of David his father, without sacrificing and burning incense in the high places.

And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there: for that was a glorious high place. And Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon the same altar.

And the LORD appeared unto Solomon in Gibeon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David thy servant my father, as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart before thee: and thou hast kept this great mercy unto him, and hast given him a son to sit upon his throne, as it is now.

Now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king in the stead of David my father. I am
a little child, and know not my way out, nor my way in.

And thy servant is great among the people whom thou hast chosen, that no man can number them, nor describe them before the multitude.

Then give thou thy servant an obedient heart, that he may judge thy people, and understand what is good and what is evil. For who is able to judge this mighty people of thine?

And it pleased the LORD that Solomon asked such a thing.

And God said unto him, Because thou askest these things, and askest not for long life, nor for riches, nor for the soul of thine enemies, but for understanding to hear judgment, 12. Behold, thus have I done according to thy words. Behold, I have given thee a heart of wisdom and understanding; there was none like thee before thee, neither shall there be any like thee after thee.

Forasmuch as thou hast not asked, I have given thee riches and honour: there is none like thee among kings in thy days.

And if thou wilt walk in