Bible in 90 Days
19 When my enemies came for me on the day of my destruction,
the Eternal stepped in to support me.
20 He led me out onto a broad plain;
He delivered me because of His delight in me.
21 The Eternal One rewarded me because I sought righteousness;
He rewarded me because I kept my hands clean.
22 He rewarded me because I kept the ways of the Eternal
and have not walked away from my True God in wickedness.
23 For all His laws were there before me,
and I did not push His statutes away.
24 I made myself blameless before Him;
I kept myself from guilt and shame.
25 That’s why the Eternal has rewarded me for seeking righteousness;
He’s rewarded me because He sees I have remained pure.
26 To the good, You show Your goodness;
to the blameless, You prove to be blameless;
27 To the pure, You show Your purity;
to the crooked, You make Yourself twisted.
28 For You rescue weak people,
but the proud You bring low.
29 You are the lamp who lights my way, O Eternal One,
the Eternal, who lights up my darkness.
30 With Your help, I can conquer an army;
with Your help, I can vault over walls.
31 God has made an upright way;
the promise of the Eternal rings true;
He stands and shields all who hide in Him.
32 Who is the True God except the Eternal One?
Who stands like a rock except our God?
33 The True God who circled me with strength
puts the upright on His way.
34 He made me sure-footed as a deer
and placed me high up and safe.
35 He teaches me to fight
so that my arms can bend a bronze bow.
36 You have given me the shield of Your salvation,
and Your support has made me strong.
37 You taught me how to walk with care
so my feet would not slip.
38 I pursued my enemies and defeated them
and did not stop until all were destroyed.
39 When I eliminated them, they fell down beneath my feet
so they could not rise again.
40 For You equipped me with strength for battle,
and You made my enemies fall beneath me.
41 You made my enemies turn and run,
and all who hated me, I destroyed.
42 They looked everywhere, but no one came to save them;
they asked the Eternal for help, but He did not answer them.
43 I beat them until they were as small as the dust of the earth;
I flung them away and beat them down like mud in the gutters.
44 You delivered me from conflict with the peoples;
you raised me up to rule over nations;
people whom I did not know came to serve me.
45 Strangers came to me, cringing and afraid;
as soon as they heard about me, they obeyed me.
46 Strangers had their courage shrivel before them
and came fearfully to me from behind their high walls.
47 The Eternal One is alive! May my Rock be blessed;
and the True God, the Rock of my deliverance be exalted,
48 The God who avenged me
and tamed the peoples under me,
49 Who rescued me from all my foes.
You raised me up above my enemies;
You saved me from the violent ones.
50 For this, I will praise You, O Eternal One, among the nations
and sing praises to Your name.[a]
51 He is a tower of salvation for His king
and shows His loyal love to His anointed,
to David and his descendants, continually.[b]
23 Here are the last words of David, son of Jesse: the words of the one raised up, the anointed one of Jacob’s True God, the sweet songwriter of Israel.
2 David: The Spirit of the Eternal speaks through me;
His voice emerges from my mouth.
3 The God of Israel has talked to me;
and the Rock of Israel said,
“One who rules people with justice
and who leads them in the fear of God
4 Is like the morning light,
the sun rising on a cloudless morning,
and the shining grasslands brought up from rain.”
5 Isn’t this how God has raised up my house?
Because He has made a perpetual covenant with me,
well-ordered and secure,
Won’t He make all things to grow and prosper,
save me, and give me all I desire?
6 But the wicked are like thorns cut off and tossed away
that can’t be picked up with your hands;
7 No, to touch them, use the iron tip
on the shaft of a spear.
They are burned up on the spot.
David has been brought up from his position as a lowly shepherd, the youngest son in the household, to the pinnacle of success by his faith in God and his own willingness to follow God. It has been an adventure fraught with danger and intrigue, and marked with loss and heartbreak along the way. David’s own failings find themselves reflected—and magnified—in his children. But here is one of the high points of the story of the people of God, united at last under a powerful and beloved king, and victorious against their enemies.
8 Here is a list of the warriors who fought for David:
Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was the most powerful of David’s three most-honored warriors; he took up his spear[c] and killed 800 in one battle.
9 The next of David’s three mighty men was Eleazar, son of Dodo of Ahohi. Eleazar stood with David when they defied the Philistines who had gathered there to fight. The Israelites retreated, 10 but Eleazar stood his ground. He killed Philistine soldiers that day until his arm grew tired, but he never dropped his sword. The Eternal One gave them a decisive victory that day; and then the people came back, only to pillage the fallen.
11 Last of these top three was Shammah, son of Agee of Harar. The Philistines gathered at Lehi[d] where there was a field full of lentils, and the Israelites fled from them. 12 But Shammah stood in the center of the field and fought, killing many Philistines; and the Eternal gave His people a great victory.
13 At the beginning of harvest, these top three of David’s thirty chief warriors joined David at the cave of Adullam. A group of Philistines was camped in the valley of Rephaim, 14 David was hiding in his safe place, and the main force of the Philistines was quartered in Bethlehem.
David (with longing): 15 I wish someone would bring me some water to drink from the well of Bethlehem by the gate!
16 So these three mighty men broke through the nearby camp of the Philistines, drew water from the Bethlehem well that was by the gate, and brought it back for David. But he would not drink it; instead he poured it out, although he was parched with thirst, as a drink offering to the Eternal One.
David: 17 O Eternal God, I have no right to drink this water. It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives for it!
So he did not drink it. This is the kind of thing the three mighty men did for David.
18 Besides the three highest ranking soldiers, there was Abishai (Zeruiah’s son and the brother of Joab), who was commander of the elite force of 30.[e] With his spear he killed 300 men in battle and won honor as the three did. 19 Abishai was the most honored of the 30 and became their commander, but he did not become one of the three.
20 And there was Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son), son of a great man from Kabzeel, who also did great deeds. He struck down two lionhearted heroes of Moab. Benaiah also killed a lion in a pit one snowy day, 21 and he killed an Egyptian who was a powerful-looking man. The Egyptian was armed with a spear while Benaiah had only his staff, but he took the spear away from him and killed the Egyptian with his own weapon. 22 These were the kinds of feats Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, performed that won him a name equal to the three mighty men for bravery. 23 He was famous among the 30, but never became one of the three. David made him the captain of his personal guard.
24 These are the warriors who were counted among the 30: Asahel, Joab’s brother; Elhanan, son of Dodo of Bethlehem; 25 Shammah of Harod; Elika of Harod; 26 Helez the Paltite; Ira, son of Ikkesh of Tekoa; 27 Abiezer of Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite; 28 Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai of Netophah; 29 Heleb, son of Baanah of Netophah; Ittai, son of Ribai of Gibeah in Benjamin; 30 Benaiah of Pirathon; Hiddai of the waters of Gaash; 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth of Barhum; 32 Eliahba of Shaalbon; Jashen the Gimzonite; Jonathan, son of 33 Shammah of Harar; Ahiam, son of Sharar of Harar; 34 Eliphelet, son of Ahasbai of Maacah; Eliam, son of Ahithophel the Gilonite; 35 Hezro of Carmel; Paarai the Arbite; 36 Igal, son of Nathan of Zobah; Bani the Gadite; 37 Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai of Beeroth; the armor-bearer of Joab, Zeruiah’s son; 38 Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite; 39 Uriah the Hittite—37 men in all who were counted among the 30.
24 Once again the Eternal grew angry with Israel; so He used David against them, telling the king to go and count the people of Israel and Judah. 2 David spoke to Joab, the commander of his army who was with him.
David: Travel to all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and take a census of the people. I want to know how many there are.
3 But Joab cautioned the king.
Joab: May the Eternal God increase the number of your people a hundred times while you are still alive to see it. But why on earth would you desire to do this, my king?
4 But the king’s order held, and Joab and the other leaders of the army left the king’s presence and went out to count the people of Israel. 5 To begin, they went over the Jordan River and camped at Aroer south of the city that is in the middle of the valley there. Then they moved on toward Gad and Jazer. 6 After that, they traveled to Gilead and to Tahtim-hodshi; then they traveled on north to Dan-jaan, and from Dan they went west to Sidon 7 and then to the fortified city of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. Then they went south to the wilderness of Judah at Beersheba. 8 At last, when they had traveled through all the land, they came back to Jerusalem after 9 months and 20 days. 9 Joab reported these astonishing numbers to the king: Israel had 800,000 soldiers and Judah had 500,000.
10 After he heard this, David was overwhelmed with guilt for counting his subjects. He prayed to the Eternal One.
David: I have committed a great wrong against You. But please, O Eternal One, take away the guilt I feel, for I have done a stupid thing.
11 When David rose the next morning, he was met by the prophet Gad, David’s seer, who had received a message from the Eternal.
Gad: 12-13 I am supposed to tell you this: “The Eternal says, ‘I will offer you three choices. Pick one, and that will be what I will do to you.’”
Do you want to have seven[f] years of famine in the land? Would you rather be on the run from your enemies for three months? Or shall a plague rage for three days through the land? Make a choice, and tell me what answer to give to the One who sent me.
David: 14 This is horrible! But I would rather fall by the hand of the Eternal, because He is merciful, than fall into human hands.
15 So the Eternal One sent a great plague that morning and for three days. It swept through Israel from Dan in the far north to Beersheba in the desert south, killing 70,000 people. 16 But when the heavenly messenger prepared to destroy Jerusalem, He relented; and He commanded the heavenly messenger who had brought the epidemic.
Eternal One: Stop. That is enough.
The heavenly messenger then paused beside the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite; 17 and when David saw him there, the one striking the people, he spoke to the Eternal One.
David: Look, I am the one who offended You, the only one who has done wrong. What have these innocent sheep done? If someone is going to be punished for what I did, it should be me and my family. Punish us.
18 Later that day, the prophet Gad approached David.
Gad: Go, and build an altar to the Eternal on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
19 So David went to perform this task the Eternal had given him through Gad. 20 Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, so he went out into the road and bowed low before him in the dust.
Araunah: 21 Why has my lord, the king, come to see your servant?
David: I have come to buy your threshing floor. We must build an altar to the Eternal there so that this epidemic will be lifted from the people.
Araunah: 22 My lord and king, take and offer what seems right. Here are the oxen you need to make the burnt offering. Take the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for firewood. 23 I will give you all these things, my king. May the Eternal One your God look on your offering with favor.
David: 24 No, I will buy these things from you. Name your price. I will not make an offering to the Eternal One, my True God, that has cost me nothing.
25 David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 20 ounces of silver. He built an altar there to the Eternal and made burnt and peace offerings on it. The Eternal One heard David’s prayers for the land and lifted the plague from Israel.
1 King David was now an old man with an epic lifetime behind him. Lying in his bed, he became chilled; so his servants tried to warm him with blankets. It did no good—the years were catching up with this great king.
Servants (to David): 2 Allow us to find a beautiful, young woman for you, our lord and king. She can be a nurse to you and keep you warm by lying next to you.
3 So David’s servants looked throughout Israel for a beautiful, young woman. During their search, they found a Shunammite girl named Abishag, and they escorted her to the king. 4 Abishag possessed stunning beauty. She served the king, but the king did not have intercourse with her.
5 Adonijah, David and Haggith’s son, was full of conceit and praised himself incessantly.
Adonijah: I am going to be the next king!
Adonijah then arranged chariots with horsemen and also 50 men to run in front of his chariots.
6 Adonijah’s father, David, never questioned his actions. Adonijah was also a handsome man who was born after Absalom. 7 He discussed things with Joab (Zeruiah’s son and Adonijah’s cousin) and Abiathar the priest, and they became his coconspirators. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son), Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the fierce and loyal men who were devoted to David, were against Adonijah.
Adonijah is so emboldened by desire that he has a sacrificial gathering.
9 He sacrificed sheep, oxen, and cattle that had been prepared for slaughter. He did this near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. Adonijah sent out invitations to all of his brothers, sons of the king, and also to all the men in Judah, who were all in service of the king. 10 Adonijah did not send an invitation to Nathan the prophet, to Benaiah, to any of the fierce and loyal men devoted to David, or to his brother Solomon.
Nathan (to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother): 11 Do you not know the news? Adonijah (Haggith’s son) is now king, and David our lord does not know it yet. 12 Come quickly, and let me help save your life and the life of your son, Solomon.
Adonijah is certain to kill anyone who challenges his throne, and Solomon is his greatest threat since King David selected him as the successor instead.
13 Go this very instant to King David, and tell him, “My dear king and lord, did you not swear to me, your maidservant, ‘Your son, Solomon, will certainly be king after me. My throne will belong to him’? If so, then tell me why Adonijah is now king.”
14 While you are still conversing with the king in his chambers, I will come in and confirm everything you have told him.
15 Bathsheba rushed to the king’s chambers, where an elderly David was being served by his Shunammite nurse, Abishag. 16 Bathsheba bowed before the king and put her face to the floor.
King David: What is it you want?
Bathsheba: 17 My lord, in the name of your God, the Eternal, you made this promise to me, your servant: “Your son, Solomon, will certainly be king after me. My throne will belong to him.” 18 But what’s this? Adonijah is now king, and you are completely unaware of it. 19 Adonijah has sacrificed many sheep, oxen, and cattle that were prepared for slaughter. He sent invitations to all of the king’s sons and to Abiathar the priest and to Joab the commander of the military; but he did not send an invitation to Solomon, who is your loyal servant. 20 My lord the king, everyone in Israel is looking to you and waiting for your word. Who will rule from the throne after you? 21 If you do not give instruction before you leave this world to sleep with your fathers, then my son, Solomon, and I will be guilty before Adonijah.
22 While Bathsheba was still talking to the king, Nathan the prophet came into the room.
Servants (to the king): 23 Nathan the prophet is here.
When Nathan entered the king’s chambers, he humbled himself to the ground before the king and put his face to the floor.
Nathan: 24 My king, did you give the instruction, “Adonijah is to be the next king. My throne will belong to him after I am gone”? 25 He has hosted a sacrificial gathering today. He sacrificed many sheep, oxen, and cattle that were prepared for slaughter. He sent invitations to all of the king’s sons and all the military leaders and to Abiathar the priest, and they are all eating and drinking with him this very moment. They are even chanting, “May King Adonijah have a long life!” 26 I, your servant, was not invited, nor was Zadok the priest, Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son), or your loyal servant, Solomon. 27 Did you, my lord and king, give this instruction and not tell all of us, your devoted servants, who would receive your throne after you are gone?
King David: 28 Tell Bathsheba to come here.
So Bathsheba entered the king’s chambers and stood in front of him.
King David (swearing): 29 As certain as the life of the Eternal One, the One who rescued me from all trouble, 30 today I will uphold what I promised to you by the Eternal, the God of Israel, when I said, “Your son, Solomon, will reign as king after me. He will inherit my throne.”
31 Bathsheba was overwhelmed with gratefulness, and she bowed down before King David, putting her face to the floor.
Bathsheba: May you live forever, my lord, King David.
King David: 32 Tell Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son) to come here.
They entered the king’s chambers.
King David: 33 Lead my servants and my son, Solomon, down to Gihon. Give Solomon one of my own mules to ride.
34 Zadok and Nathan, listen. When you arrive at Gihon, anoint Solomon as Israel’s king. Sound the trumpet, and proclaim, “May King Solomon have a long life!” 35 Then follow after him, for he will then sit on my throne and replace me as king. I have named him ruler over Israel and Judah even though he is not my oldest son.
Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son): 36 So be it! May the Eternal One, the True God of my lord and king, agree and bless Solomon. 37 Just as the Eternal One has been a friend to my lord, King David, may He be so to Solomon. May He make Solomon’s reign even greater than David’s!
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son), and David’s mercenary guards—the Cherethites and the Pelethites—journeyed together to Gihon; and Solomon rode on the back of one of David’s mules.
39 Zadok the priest anointed Solomon with the horn of oil from the congregation tent. Then the trumpet was sounded, and everyone proclaimed, “May King Solomon have a long life!” 40 Everyone then followed after Solomon. They played their wind instruments and joyfully celebrated until the sound shook the earth.
41 As they were finishing their feast, Adonijah and all those who were attending his gathering heard the celebration of Solomon’s followers. Joab heard the trumpet.
Joab: What is the meaning of this jamboree? Why does the city celebrate?
42 While he was questioning the celebration, Jonathan (son of Abiathar the priest) arrived.
Adonijah (welcoming Jonathan): Please come join us. Make yourself at home. You are a good man; surely you bring us good news.
Jonathan: 43 You are wrong! Our lord, King David, has appointed Solomon as king. 44 By David’s instruction, Solomon is with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son), the Cherethites, and the Pelethites. Furthermore, the king gave Solomon a mule to ride. 45 When they got to Gihon, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon as the new king. They are celebrating now, and that is the reason for the city’s festivities you are hearing; 46 Solomon already sits on the throne of the kingdom. 47 All the servants of the king went to our lord, King David, to congratulate him: “Bless you! May your God make Solomon’s reign, his name, and his throne even greater than yours!” Then the king bowed down to Solomon on his bed.
Although King David is too sick to leave his bed, he blesses Solomon’s coronation by putting his face toward the floor.
King David: 48 Praise be to the Eternal One, Israel’s God! He has allowed me to live long enough to see the day when another sits on my throne.
49 All those attending Adonijah’s gathering were terrified by this news. They all gathered their things and departed. 50 Even Adonijah was completely terrified of Solomon. He stood up and rushed to the altar seeking sanctuary. He grabbed hold of the horns expecting Solomon to spare his life, as was the custom.
Inside the congregation tent, priests make daily sacrifices to the Lord on the great horned altar. By touching the bloodstained horns of the altar, an innocent man can immediately grab God’s attention and be granted divine absolution. That absolution then has to come from the court as well, since no man can overrule God. It is Adonijah’s plan to save himself when he grabs the horns, but he is not an innocent man. Because Adonijah abuses this custom, Solomon is not required to forgive his brother just because he is at the altar.
51 Solomon received the news.
Messenger: Adonijah is terrified of King Solomon. He is gripping the horns of the altar and pleading, “Today I beg King Solomon to promise me, his servant Adonijah, that he will not execute me.”
Solomon: 52 If Adonijah will be a man of integrity and honor, then not a single hair on his head will be harmed. But if he is an evil man, then he shall die.
53 King Solomon called for Adonijah, and he was led down from the altar. Adonijah entered the king’s presence and fell down before him, putting his face to the floor.
Solomon (to Adonijah): Leave me, and return to your house.
2 David was close to dying, so he gave direction to his son, Solomon.
King David: 2 I am about to go the way all earthly things go. Be strong; demonstrate your maturity. 3 Honor the laws of the Eternal your God, and live by His truth. Be faithful to His laws, commands, judgments, and precepts—the ones written for us in the instructions of Moses. If you follow this path, you will be successful in everything you do no matter where you are, 4 for the Eternal will be faithful to His promise to me throughout your life. He promised me, “For as long as your sons are devoted to Me and live by My truth and embrace it with all their being, your offspring will always sit upon Israel’s throne.”[g]
5 You, too, remember what trouble Joab (Zeruiah’s son) sent toward me—how he killed the armies of Israel’s two commanders, Abner (Ner’s son) and Amasa (Jether’s son), when I was close to striking a treaty with them. He brought the horror of war during a time of peace. He covered his belt and sandals with blood, so his offspring and family are judged. 6 Act wisely, and take revenge on Joab. Do not allow a single gray hair on his head to descend into the grave peacefully. 7 Be loving toward the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite. Invite them to feast at your table because they were good friends to me when I ran from your brother, Absalom.[h] 8 There is also Shimei (Gera’s son) the Benjaminite of Bahurim. He cursed me with terrible words when I went to Mahanaim, but when we met again at the Jordan River, I made him a promise in the sight of the Eternal. I told him, “I am not going to kill you.”[i] 9 However your actions are not bound by my oath to him; you must not let him go without retribution. You are wise, and you will know in your heart exactly what punishment you should give him. You will bloody every gray hair on his head before sending him down to the grave.
10 After he spoke these words to his son, Solomon, David left this world to sleep with his fathers. His body was laid to rest in the city of David. 11 David ruled Israel 40 years. He ruled in Hebron 7 years and in Jerusalem 33 years. 12 Solomon inherited David’s throne, and his kingdom was strong and healthy.
13 Adonijah (Haggith’s son) approached Bathsheba (Solomon’s mother).
Bathsheba: Do you come to visit me in peace?
Adonijah: Yes. 14 I have something to tell you.
Bathsheba: Go on.
Adonijah: 15 You are aware that all the kingdom was in my possession and that everyone in Israel believed I was going to be king; but instead, my brother Solomon has received the kingdom from the Eternal One. 16 I have one thing to ask you, and I beg you not to ignore it.
Bathsheba: Go on.
Adonijah: 17 Please, I ask that you go to King Solomon, for he adores you and will not ignore your request. Ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite, the young woman who nursed my father before he died. I want her as my wife.
Bathsheba: 18 All right. I will speak to the king on your behalf.
19 Bathsheba approached King Solomon about Adonijah’s request. When she entered the king’s presence, he stood up and bowed to her, then sat on his throne. He arranged for a throne to be brought for his mother, so she sat to the right of him in a place of honor and authority.
Bathsheba: 20 I have something to ask of you, and please do not deny me.
Solomon: Go on and ask it, Mother. Of course I will not deny you.
Bathsheba: 21 Give Abishag the Shunammite to your brother, Adonijah, so that she can be his wife.
Solomon: 22 Why do you wish Abishag the Shunammite to be Adonijah’s wife? While you’re at it, why don’t you ask me to hand the entire kingdom over to Adonijah? He is the eldest son. I might as well hand it over to him, Abiathar the priest, and Joab (Zeruiah’s son)!
Adonijah already has a claim to the throne, since he is the next in line of David’s sons. If he takes one of his father’s intimate acquaintances as a wife, then his claim to succeed David will be strengthened.
Solomon (vowing by the Eternal): 23 God do so to me and worse if Adonijah has not condemned himself by this request! 24 As certain as the life of the Eternal One, who has given me the inheritance of my father David’s throne and given me the kingdom and family He promised, Adonijah will certainly be executed today.
25 King Solomon dispatched Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son), who met up with Adonijah and executed him.
Solomon (to Abiathar the priest): 26 Return to your own fields in Anathoth. You deserve the penalty of death, but I will not execute you now because you transported the sacred chest of the Eternal before King David, my father, and because you suffered all the same troubles and burdens my father suffered.
27 Solomon stripped Abiathar of his priesthood to the Eternal One. He did this so that the Eternal’s word in Shiloh would be honored: the house of Eli would not be able to atone for their wickedness through sacrifices and offerings.[j]
28 News of all this arrived to Joab, who had been a follower of Adonijah but not of Absalom. Joab rushed to the altar in the tent of the Eternal and gripped the horns, hoping for sanctuary as Adonijah had. 29 King Solomon received word that Joab had rushed to the tent of the Eternal and that he was at the altar that very moment. Solomon again dispatched Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son) with the instructions, “Execute Joab.”
30 Benaiah arrived at the tent of the Eternal, but he could not enter to kill Joab.
Benaiah (calling out to Joab): It is the king’s command that you come out at once.
Joab: No. If you are going to kill me, then kill me here at the altar.
Benaiah went back to the king and relayed his conversation with Joab. Joab did not expect Solomon to violate the rules of sanctuary.
Solomon: 31 Do as he wishes. Kill him at the altar, then bury him. This will cleanse me and my father’s house from all blame concerning the blood Joab has recklessly spilled. 32 The Eternal will do to him that which he did to others, for he murdered two men with his sword who were more honorable and better than he was. He kept this secret from my father. He killed Abner (Ner’s son) who was the leader of Israel’s army and also Amasa (Jether’s son) who was the leader of Judah’s army.[k] 33 Their blood will come back to haunt Joab and all his progeny forever. But there will be peace from the Eternal in the house of David and on his throne forever.
34 Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son) killed Joab and buried him on his own land in the wilderness.
35 King Solomon then designated Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son) to lead the army in Joab’s stead, and the king designated Zadok the priest to take on Abiathar’s responsibilities.
36 The king summoned Shimei, intending to fulfill his promise to David and subdue this political enemy.
Solomon (to Shimei): Go now, and build yourself a house in Jerusalem. You are to stay there indefinitely. Do not leave for any reason. 37 You would be wise to heed my warning because, mark my words, whenever you cross the Kidron stream toward your ancestral home, you will meet your death. And it will be your own fault.
Shimei: 38 Thank you for the good advice, my lord. I am your servant; and I will do exactly as you, my king, have instructed me to do.
Shimei departed from the king and lived in Jerusalem for a very long time.
39 After three years, two of Shimei’s servants fled west to their home in Philistia to find Achish (son of Maacah, Gath’s king). They sent word to Shimei: “We, your servants, are in Gath.” 40 Shimei prepared his donkey and traveled to Gath to find Achish with hopes of finding his servants. Shimei found his servants and took them away from Gath.
Shimei, a known traitor, is allowed to live as long as he doesn’t leave Jerusalem and return home to Benjamin where he can muster an army. After years of supposed obedience, that same traitor tests his limits by running in the opposite direction of Benjamin to visit Philistia, Israel’s greatest enemy at the time. Even if Solomon hadn’t promised David that he would take revenge on Shimei, the man gives Solomon ample reason himself. First and foremost, he breaks his oath to Solomon and God by leaving Jerusalem; second, he has the opportunity to threaten Solomon’s new reign by fraternizing with Achish, the king whom David abandoned the last time Israel and Philistia fought. He is guilty by both deed and association.
41 Solomon received word that Shimei had traveled from Jerusalem to Gath and was back in Jerusalem. 42 King Solomon had Shimei brought to him and questioned him.
Solomon: Do you not remember the warning I gave you? Did you not swear an oath to me in the name of the Eternal that you would not leave Jerusalem or else you would most certainly die? Were you not glad at my warning? 43 So why have you broken your promise to the Eternal One? Why did you go against my warning and my instruction?
44 You are fully aware of the evil inside your heart, the evil you did to my father, David. The Eternal One is sending all the evil you have done to others back upon you. 45 But I, King Solomon, will be honored by the Lord, and David’s throne will stand in His presence forever.
46 King Solomon instructed Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son) to execute Shimei, and Benaiah did what Solomon asked him to do.
And that is how the kingdom was secured under Solomon’s rule.
3 Solomon then arranged a marriage alliance with Pharaoh, Egypt’s king. He married Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the city of David. He kept her there while he constructed his own house and the Eternal One’s temple and completed the wall surrounding Jerusalem. 2 However the people were still offering sacrifices at the high places because a temple had not been constructed for the Eternal until then.
3 Solomon’s heart belonged to the Eternal. Solomon abided by the same laws as his father, David. The only difference was that Solomon offered sacrifices and incense at the high places. 4 Solomon went to Gibeon—the great high place—and presented 1,000 burnt offerings at the altar.
Before Israel united as one nation under David, the countryside was inhabited by people who worship other gods. As Solomon prepares to build the temple and centralize worship of the one God—the Lord—in one place—Jerusalem—he finds it necessary to visit the former shrines of local gods and convert them to shrines to God. While this may have worked in the short term by introducing the people outside of Jerusalem to the worship practices of the Eternal, those shrines, called “high places,” will be the undoing of the entire country. By allowing people to worship at local shrines instead of only in Jerusalem, where the priests meticulously follow God’s laws, Solomon and future kings are opening the door to the blending of God worship and pagan worship.
5 The Eternal revealed Himself to Solomon in a dream while he was still in Gibeon.
Eternal One: Tell me, what is your request of Me?
Solomon: 6 You have already revealed Your loyal love to my father, David, for he lived by Your truth and righteousness and honor during the days of his life. You have continued to show this loyal love to him by giving him a son who now reigns upon his throne. 7 Eternal One, my God, You have allowed me to serve as my father David served, but I am still young and inexperienced. I don’t know much about anything, 8 yet I am supposed to lead Your chosen people who are innumerable and even uncountable. 9 Please give Your servant a listening heart for judging Your people and for knowing the difference between what is good and what is evil. Who is capable of judging Your chosen ones, a great people?
10 The Lord was delighted by Solomon’s request.
Eternal One: 11 Since you have asked for wisdom and not for an extended lifetime or for personal wealth or for the annihilation of your enemies, since you have instead asked for the ability to understand justice, 12 I will honor your request. I have planted the deepest human wisdom into your heart. There has never been nor will there ever be a man like you.
13 I have also given you the things for which you have not asked—wealth and an honorable reputation. There will be no other kings like you for as long as you live. 14 If you live a life devoted to Me, if you remain loyal to My laws and commands just as your father David did, then I will add days to your life.
15 Solomon woke up from his dream. He then returned to Jerusalem and visited the Eternal’s covenant chest and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he prepared a great feast for all those who were in his service.
16 Two prostitutes visited Solomon asking for a judgment.
First Woman (indicating the other): 17 My lord, she and I live under the same roof. She was in the house when my child was born. 18 Three days after my child was born, she had her own child. She and I were alone in the house with our newborns. 19 One night her baby died because she lay on it during her sleep. 20 She woke up, and after seeing her dead baby, she stole my baby out of my arms while I was sleeping and placed her dead baby in my arms. 21 When I woke up the next morning to feed my son, I found him dead. When I took a closer look at him, I saw that it was not the same child who came from my womb.
Second Woman: 22 She lies! My son is alive, and her son is dead!
First Woman: She lies! Her son is dead, and my son is alive!
Solomon: 23 This woman says, “My son is alive, and your son is dead.” The other woman says, “My son is alive, and your son is dead.” 24 Bring me a sword.
25 (receiving a sword) Cut the living child in half, and give each woman one of the halves.
26 The woman who truly was the mother of the living child was overcome with compassion and pleaded with the king.
First Woman: Please don’t cut the child in half! Just give the whole child to her! Please do not kill him!
Second Woman: Nonsense! The child will belong to neither one of us! Cut him in half!
Solomon: 27 The living child belongs to the first woman. Give the boy to her, and do not harm him. She is the true mother.
28 When the news of the king’s wise judgment spread throughout Israel, they all feared him. They respected him because they perceived God’s wisdom in his just judgment.
4 King Solomon reigned over Israel, and these are the men who helped him do so. 2 The following were his officers and administrators: The priest was Azariah (Zadok’s son); 3 the secretaries were Elihoreph and Ahijah (Shisha’s sons); the recorder was Jehoshaphat (Ahilud’s son); 4 the commander of the army was Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son); the priests were Zadok and Abiathar; 5 the commander of all the administrators was Azariah (Nathan’s son); the king’s confidant and priest was Zabud (Nathan’s son); 6 the household manager was Ahishar; the commander of the compulsory labor force was Adoniram (Abda’s son).
7 Solomon commissioned 12 administrators over the entire community of Israel. They each gave provisions for the king and his house. Each administrator provided supplies for one month out of every year. 8 The following were his administrators: Ben-hur from the hills of Ephraim; 9 Ben-deker from Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elonbeth-hanan; 10 Ben-hesed from Arubboth (he possessed Socoh and all of Hepher); 11 Ben-abinadab from the height of Dor (he was married to Taphath, Solomon’s daughter); 12 Baana (Ahilud’s son) from Taanach, Megiddo, and Beth-shean, which is next to Zarethan below Jezreel (from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah) all the way to the far end of Jokmeam; 13 Ben-geber (Manasseh’s son) from Ramoth-gilead, which is the whole of all the towns of Jair, the towns in Gilead, the sector of Argob in Bashan, and 60 large cities which were fortified by walls and bronze bars; 14 Ahinadab (Iddo’s son) from Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz from Naphtali (Ahimaaz was married to Basemath, Solomon’s daughter); 16 Baana (Hushai’s son) from Asher and Bealoth; 17 Jehoshaphat (Paruah’s son) from Issachar; 18 Shimei (Ela’s son) from Benjamin; 19 and finally Geber (Uri’s son) from Gilead (the land of Sihon the Amorite king, and the land of Og, Bashan’s king). Geber was the only administrator who lived in the country.
20 The people of Judah and Israel were innumerable, like the grains of sand on the beach. They ate and drank and celebrated.
21 Solomon reigned over all the countries from the Euphrates River to Philistia and to Egypt’s border. These countries honored Solomon with gifts and remained in Solomon’s service for his entire life. 22 Solomon’s provisions for his house for one day were just over 195 bushels of the best flour and about 391 bushels of meal, 23 10 fattened oxen, 20 pastured oxen, 100 sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened birds.
24 Solomon reigned over all places and people and kings to the west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah all the way to Gaza on the Mediterranean. Solomon’s reign had peace on all sides: 25 Judah and Israel lived in peace from Dan to Beersheba, with each man under his vine and beneath his fig tree, for Solomon’s entire life.
26 Solomon owned 40,000[l] horse stalls for the chariot horses, and he had 12,000 horsemen under his command. 27 The 12 administrators made provisions for King Solomon and all who sat at King’s Solomon’s table. Each agent was responsible for one month out of the year, and not one of them ever did an insufficient job. 28 They also provided barley and straw for the chariot horses and war horses in their specified stalls throughout the kingdom. Each agent fulfilled his responsibilities for his appointed month.
29 God gave Solomon wisdom and discernment: his mind was as expansive as the sands of the beach; 30 his wisdom was far beyond that of the wise men of the East and of Egypt. 31 He was the wisest of any other man. He was even wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, and Calcol and Darda (Mahol’s sons). Solomon was immensely famous in all the nearby countries. 32 He also wrote 3,000 proverbs and composed 1,005 songs. 33 He reflected upon trees, from Lebanon’s cedars to the hyssop that blankets the walls. He reflected upon animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 34 People came from every corner of the earth—sent by kings who were fascinated by Solomon’s wise reputation—to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.
5 News of Solomon’s succession of David reached the ears of Hiram, king of Tyre. Because Hiram was a friend of David,[m] he sent a group of his servants to visit Solomon. 2 Solomon gave a message to Hiram’s servants, which they took back to Hiram.
Solomon’s Message: 3 You remember that David did not have the opportunity to construct a temple honoring the reputation of the Eternal his God, because of my father’s involvement in the warfare which plagued him until the Eternal suppressed all of his enemies under his feet. 4 But the Eternal One my God now grants me rest everywhere. We are not plagued by enemies or troubles. 5 Therefore, I am going to construct a temple for the name of the Eternal my God. It will be just as He told David, my father: “Your son, whom I will put upon your throne after you are gone, will construct a temple honoring Me.”[n] 6 So tell your people to start cutting down Lebanon’s cedars for my project. My servants will work alongside your servants, and I will pay you whatever you ask for your servants’ work. It is no secret that the best timber cutters around are the Sidonians who are at your command.
7 When Hiram received this message from Solomon, he celebrated.
Hiram: Blessed is the Eternal today! Praise Him for giving David Solomon, the wise son who rules a great people!
8 (replying to Solomon) I have received your message, and I will do exactly as you have asked. We will start the timberwork with the cedars and cypress immediately. 9 Those who serve me will transport them from Lebanon to the sea. I will make rafts out of the timber and float the logs to the place of your choosing. There I will have them break apart the rafts, and you can carry the logs to wherever it is that you want them. Then all I ask is that you feed my house and my servants.
10 Hiram sent all the cedar and cypress trees Solomon had requested. 11 In return, Solomon presented Hiram with food for his house and servants: 130,000 bushels of wheat and 1,200 gallons of purified oil. Solomon gave this same amount to Hiram every year.
12 The Eternal One upheld His promise to Solomon and granted him much wisdom. Hiram and Solomon were at peace with each other, and they entered into a covenant.
13 King Solomon assembled forced laborers from all over Israel—30,000 men in all. 14 He sent them to Lebanon in cycles—10,000 men per month. They stayed in Lebanon for an entire month, then they were able to return home for two months. Adoniram was the head administrator of the workers.
15 Solomon enlisted 70,000 men to transport the materials and 80,000 stonecutters to quarry, carve, and dress stone from the mountains. 16 These numbers do not include Solomon’s 3,300[o] agents who were head administrators over the project and the workers. 17 The king gave instructions, and the workers laid the giant, expensive stones to form the foundation of the temple. 18 Both Solomon’s construction workers and Hiram’s skilled workers, along with the Gebalites, cut the materials to make the timber and stones ready for the temple.
6 During the second month called Ziv in the 4th year of Solomon’s reign, 480 years after the Israelites had departed from Egypt, Solomon began constructing the Eternal’s temple.
The timing of the construction of the temple reveals the incredible importance of this event. First, by connecting its construction to the exodus, the writer recognizes this as the culminating event of Israel’s journey from slavery to an autonomous, God-led nation. God is completing His promise to give Israel a nation. Second, by beginning construction in the spring, Solomon uses his resources for a peaceful endeavor instead of war. Kings have always attacked in the spring because of the favorable weather, so Solomon is putting his devotion to God over his desire for more power. This choice of peace over war fits with Solomon’s name, which means “peace,” and characterizes his reign.
2 The Eternal’s temple was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 3 The front porch of the temple was 30 feet long (the same measurement as the width) and 15 feet deep at the front. 4 Solomon made windows that had artistic frames. 5-6 He built the structure surrounding the central sanctuary of the temple that supported the sanctuary’s walls and served as storehouses. The lower level of the structure was 7½ feet wide, the middle level was 9 feet wide, and the top level was 10½ feet wide. He constructed coffers in the temple so that the ceiling beams would not intersect with the temple walls.
7 The temple was constructed out of rocks that had been finished and polished at the quarry. Not a single hammer, hatchet, or other iron tool was heard inside the temple during construction. 8 The entrance into the lowest[p] level was on the right side of the temple. From there a winding staircase led up to the middle level, and from there, to the top level.
9 Solomon completed the temple, and he roofed it with beams and cedar boards. 10 He constructed the structure on the outside of the temple as well. Each level was 7½ feet high and was connected to the temple by cedar beams.
11 The voice of the Eternal One spoke to Solomon.
Eternal One: 12 Regarding the temple which you are building: if you live by My laws and enforce My ways, if you honor My instructions by keeping them, then I will honor the promise I made to your father, David, and establish that promise with you. 13 I will live among the Israelites, and I will not abandon the community of Israel, My people.
14 Solomon built the temple, and he completed the task. 15 He covered the inner walls with cedar boards, overlaying the stone inner walls with wood from the floor to the ceiling, and he laid the floor with cypress boards. 16 He covered 30 feet of the back end of the temple with cedar boards that reached from the floor to the ceiling. He made this inner place the most holy sanctuary. 17 The part of the temple in front of the inner sanctuary was 60 feet long. 18 The cedar paneling inside of the temple was carved with gourds and flowers. There was no stone showing between the wood panels. Only the cedar boards could be seen.
19 Solomon then prepared the inner sanctuary in the temple specifically to hold the Eternal’s covenant chest. 20 This inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. The walls were gilded, and the altar was paneled with cedar. 21 Solomon covered the inside of the temple with the purest gold. He stretched gold chains in front of the inner sanctuary and covered it in gold. 22 He gilded the entire temple as the finishing touch to his work. The altar beside the inner sanctuary was covered with gold as well.
23 Solomon made two 15-foot-high winged creatures out of olive wood, and these guarded the inner sanctuary. 24 Each wing of one creature was 7½ feet long. The entire wingspan was 15 feet. 25-26 The other creature had the same measurements and shape: a wingspan 15 feet across and 15 feet high. 27 Solomon set up the creatures inside the inner sanctuary. Both of their wings were stretched out so that one creature’s left wing reached all the way to one wall, and the other creature’s right wing reached all the way to the other wall. Their other wings touched each other at the very center of the temple. 28 Solomon gilded both creatures.
Composed of the parts of various animals, these monstrous winged creatures, called cherubim in Hebrew, serve several purposes in the Bible. They are symbols of divine power, presence, and mobility. They first appear in Genesis, guarding the entrance to Eden (3:24); as part of the throne of mercy, they are God’s footstool in the congregation tent and the temple, and God occasionally takes a ride on them (2 Samuel 22:11; Psalm 18:10; Ezekiel 1). Wherever their images appear—on walls, in tapestries, on the covenant chest—they signify God’s presence and protection.
29 He decorated the temple walls with carvings of the winged guardian creatures, palm trees, and flowers. He did this for both the inner sanctuary and outer rooms. 30 He covered the temple floor with gold as well—both the inner sanctuary and outer rooms.
31 He crafted olive wood doors, a lintel, and five-sided doorposts for the entryway into the inner sanctuary. 32 He crafted two olive wood doors, and he decorated them with engravings of winged guardian creatures, palm trees, and flowers. He also gilded the doors, winged creatures, and palm trees.
33 He crafted olive wood doorposts for the entryway into the square central hall. 34 He also made two cypress doors for the entryway. Two of the leaves on one of the doors rotated on an axle, and two leaves of the other door also rotated on an axle. 35 He carved winged guardian creatures, palm trees, and flowers into them; and he gilded the doors and engravings carefully. 36 He constructed the interior court with three rows of cut stones and one row of cedar boards.
37 The foundation of the Eternal’s temple was completed during the spring of the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, in the month of Ziv. 38 The temple was finally completed as planned in all its fine details during the autumn of the eleventh year, in the eighth month of Bul. It took seven years in all to complete construction.
7 It took Solomon 13 years to complete his own house. 2 He constructed the house of the forest of Lebanon, and it was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. It was built on top of cedar beams supported by 4 rows of cedar columns. 3 The space above the side rooms (which were on top of the 45 columns, 15 columns in each row) was paneled with cedar. 4 There were 3 rows of window frames directly opposite each other—3 on each side. 5 The doorways and doorposts were square, and the openings were directly opposite each other: 3 on each side.
6 Solomon then constructed the hall of pillars. It was 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. There was a porch with pillars and a canopy as an entryway before them. 7 Then he made the hall for the throne. This is where he would give judgment; thus it was called the hall of judgment. The entire room was paneled from floor to floor[q] with cedar.
8 His own residence, the interior court behind the hall of judgment, was made the same way. For his wife, Pharaoh’s daughter, Solomon constructed another house like the hall of judgment. 9 They were all decorated inside and out, top to bottom, with costly stones, rare rocks perfectly cut with saws. 10 The foundation of the house was made out of rare, expensive stones. There were some gigantic stones, 12 and 15 feet long. 11 The elevation of the house was also made of large, costly stones; and they were trimmed to perfection, along with the cedar. 12 The courtyard had 3 rows of trimmed stones; and it also had 1 row of cedar beams, just like the porch and the central hall of the Eternal’s temple.
13 King Solomon sent for Hiram, the master craftsman from Tyre. 14 Hiram was the son of a widow from the Naphtali tribe. His father was a craftsman from Tyre who was wise, educated, and skilled enough to do anything with bronze. Hiram did all the bronze work for King Solomon. 15 He crafted the 2 bronze columns. Each one of them was 27 feet high, and the circumference of both was 18 feet. 16 He cast 2 capitals out of molten bronze for the columns. Each of the capitals was 7½ feet high. 17 There was an intricate network of twisted threads and chain on the capitals of the columns. There were 7 networks on each capital. 18 Hiram crafted the columns and 2 rows around one network in order to hide the capitals that were over the pomegranates.[r] He did the same thing for the other capital. 19 The capitals on the porch columns were crafted to look like 6-foot-high lilies. 20 There were capitals on top of both columns, and above the round sun face beside the network were 200 pomegranates in rows around both capitals. 21 He raised the columns on the porch of the central hall. After he raised the column on the right, he named it Jachin, meaning “he will establish.” He raised the column on the left and named it Boaz, meaning “in it is strength.” 22 There were lily designs at the top of both columns.
When he had finished casting the columns, 23 Hiram cast the sea. It was in the shape of a circle: 15 feet in diameter, 7½ feet deep, and 45 feet in circumference. 24 Gourds surrounded the sea underneath the brim: 10 gourds for every foot and a half. They were in 2 rows and had been cast as part of the sea. 25 Its pedestal was 12 oxen: 3 of the oxen faced north, 3 faced west, 3 faced south, and 3 faced east so that the back ends of the oxen were all on the inside. 26 The sea was as thick as a hand is wide. The edge of it was designed like the edge of a cup, curved back like the blossom of a lily. The sea had a water capacity of 12,000 gallons.[s]
27 Hiram then crafted 10 bronze moveable stands. Each water stand was 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4½ feet high. 28 The stands had side panels and panels between the crossbars. 29 On the panels between the crossbars there were lions, oxen, and winged creatures. There was a pedestal over the crossbars that would support the basin, and there were garlands of ornaments below the lions and oxen. 30 There were 4 bronze wheels and 4 bronze axles for each stand. The 4 legs of each stand also had 4 bases. There were bases with garlands on all sides below the basin. 31 The opening at the crown of the cart was 1½ feet wide, in the shape of a circle, and like the pedestal, 27 inches. There were carvings on the opening, and the ends were straight, not rounded. 32 The 4 wheels were beneath the panels, and the wheel axles were on the base. Each wheel was 27 inches tall. 33 The wheels were crafted like the wheels of a chariot. Their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all cast. 34 There were 4 braces on the 4 corners of each base that were part of the stand. 35 There was a circular form 18 inches high above the base that the basin would rest in. It remained above the base, connected to the perimeter. 36 Hiram carved winged creatures, lions, and palm trees onto the braces wherever he found space, and he surrounded them with garlands. 37 All 10 of the stands were cast from the same mold, giving them all the same measurements and shape.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.