Yesterday he charged Solomon to walk in the ways of the Lord all the days of his life. He stressed how imperative it is to maintain a close relationship with God. Today he discusses several characters with whom he has had interactions (some good, some bad) and how Solomon must deal with them.
"Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me---what he did to the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace." (1 Kings 2:5-6) Both Abner and Amasa thought Joab was at peace with them. He pretended to accept their presence in David's army and then stabbed them in cold blood.
I feel that verses 5-6 can be used as proof that David doesn't know Joab stabbed Absalom too since he makes no mention of it. But I think David blamed him for Absalom's death anyway, since he had given strict orders to Joab, all the army commanders, and all the troops that if Absalom fell into their hands during the battle he was to be captured alive and unharmed. As the general, Joab bore more responsibility than any other man in the army for making sure David's orders were obeyed. So although I don't believe David knows Joab killed Absalom himself, he feels he is indirectly responsible. I want to point out that there are Bible scholars and commentators who believe David does know that Joab either killed Absalom himself or ordered him to be killed but that he doesn't mention it because it wasn't a cold-blooded murder, such as in the cases of Abner and Amasa. Absalom could legitimately be said to have been killed in battle. He could legitimately be said to have been executed for treason. Joab went against David's orders, which he shouldn't have done, but Joab was right in thinking Absalom needed to be taken out of the picture to prevent him from being a continuing threat. Absalom and his men were out to kill David; that was made plain to us by the battle plans Absalom approved. It could be that by the time David nears the end of his natural life, he realizes that the killing of Absalom was justified and that he should never have ordered the men to spare him.
David also realizes, near the end of his life, that he has been too lenient with his nephew Joab. Theirs has been a complicated relationship because Joab is his nephew and until lately Joab has been fiercely loyal to David, though not always obedient to David because he has a tendency to do what he thinks is in the best interests of David and the nation. But as David approached his final days on earth, Joab opposed his choice of successor, choosing to place his support behind the usurper Adonijah instead of behind Solomon who he knew was David's choice and the Lord's choice. This makes David consider Joab a serious threat to Solomon. David, like no one else, understands how big of a threat Joab represents. He knows the force of Joab's personality. He knows Joab's shrewdness and ruthlessness. He knows how much the soldiers of Israel respect Joab and how much influence Joab is capable of having on them. Joab could be a formidable enemy to Solomon if he chooses to be an enemy. After all, he can't even be fully trusted when he's a friend. David cautions Solomon to use great wisdom when dealing with Joab and adds that, if he's smart, he won't allow Joab to die a natural death but will have him executed for treason since he conspired with Adonijah to wrest the crown from Solomon. Solomon will take David's words regarding Joab to heart and will do as he says.
Next David speaks of someone who deserves being rewarded. "But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom." (1 Kings 2:7) We first met the elderly Barzillai when he came down to Mahanaim to support David and the people with him when they fled Jerusalem ahead of Absalom and his troops. Barzillai, along with other men, brought food, cookware, and bedding to Mahanaim because they knew David and the people needed these items very much. We met Barzillai again after Absalom's rebellion had been put down. He was among those who came to the Jordan River to escort the king back across and see him on his way to Jerusalem. David was so impressed by the great efforts the feeble Barzillai made on his behalf that he invited him to come live out the rest of his days in comfort and splendor at the palace. Barzillai thanked him for his offer but refused it, saying he was in too ill health to be of any use to the king and he did not want to accept the king's hospitality if he could not provide valuable services in return. But he asked him to take his son, Kimham, to the palace instead. David did so and instructs Solomon to always show kindness to "the sons" of Barzillai. I don't know whether Barzillai had more sons than Kimham or whether David is using the term "the sons" to mean the successive generations of Barzillai's family. In the Bible we find the term "the sons" being used both for a man's literal sons and for all his direct male descendants. An example of this is the way Jesus Christ is referred to as "the son of David". Jesus is not literally the son of David but is a direct male descendant of David.
The final person David gives instructions about is Shimei, the Benjamite of the clan of the late King Saul who cursed David and threw pebbles and dirt at him as he made his way from Jerusalem to Mahanaim. At that time Shimei thought David was going to be successfully deposed as king by Absalom and he was glad of it. But after Absalom died in battle and David was crossing the Jordan to return to Jerusalem to resume his reign, Shimei realized he'd made a grave mistake. He hastily ran down to the Jordan River to bow before David and apologize to him. David's men wanted Shimei put to death but David said it was a day for rejoicing, not a day for death, and he promised Shimei that he would not kill him. David has kept his promise but David is about to pass away. The oath David made to Shimei is not binding upon anyone else. David cannot put Shimei to death but he knows Shimei cannot be trusted. I think what happened is that Shimei apologized to David only to save his own life, not because he actually supports David, and I think David knows this. It may be that Shimei was among those who openly gave their support to Adonijah and attended the coronation feast he put on for himself. I believe David has some sort of knowledge that Shimei is not a friend to Solomon and that he says what he says next because of what he knows.
"And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: 'I will not put you to death by the sword.' But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood." (1 Kings 2:8-9) Solomon will attempt to show mercy to Shimei but Shimei will disobey very strict orders given to him by Solomon and will lose his life for his disobedience.
"Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned forty years over Israel---seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established." (1 Kings 2:10-12) 1 Chronicles 29:28 phrases it like this: "He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king." David was seventy years old when he died because the Bible tells us in 2 Samuel 5:4 that he was thirty years old when he became king and he reigned forty years. 1 Kings 2 and 1 Chronicles 29 agree with the information provided in 2 Samuel 5 that he reigned forty years. Seventy in our day is not necessarily considered a "long life" or "a good old age" since so many people are living active lives in their seventies and beyond, but when we consider everything David has done and has been through it's remarkable that he lived to be seventy. He survived an untold number of battles. He survived many plots against his life. Had the Lord's protective hand not been upon him, one of these battles or one of these plots would have taken him out long ago. He would never have lived to see thirty, much less seventy. David has been through far more than the average man ever goes through and it has taken a toll on him. He is not like today's men of seventy who are out on the golf course or the jogging trails. At seventy he is very old and very tired. He's ready to see the Lord and the Lord takes him by the hand and leads him home. As the author of 1 Kings puts it, "David rested".
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