**The Passing of David and the Rise of Solomon**
The days of King David were drawing to a close. The once-mighty warrior, the man after God’s own heart, now lay frail and weak upon his bed. The palace, once filled with the sounds of celebration and the clashing of swords, was now hushed, as if the very walls knew that the end of an era was near. The air was heavy with the scent of incense and the faint murmur of prayers. Servants moved quietly, their faces somber, as they attended to the king’s final needs.
David’s son, Solomon, stood by his father’s bedside, his heart heavy with the weight of what was to come. The young man, chosen by God to succeed his father, felt the enormity of the responsibility that was about to fall upon his shoulders. David, though weak, spoke with a clarity that belied his condition. His voice, though soft, carried the authority of a king who had ruled Israel for forty years.
“My son,” David began, his eyes fixed on Solomon, “the time has come for me to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man. Keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and keeping His statutes, His commandments, His rules, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.”
David’s words were not merely the advice of a father to his son; they were the charge of a king to his successor. He knew that Solomon’s reign would determine the future of Israel. The kingdom, united under David’s rule, was fragile, and the enemies of Israel were many. David’s voice grew firmer as he continued, his gaze piercing into Solomon’s soul.
“Moreover, you know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether. He shed their blood in peacetime as if in battle, staining the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.”
Solomon listened intently, his heart stirred by his father’s words. Joab, the commander of David’s army, had been a loyal servant, but his actions had often been driven by ambition and vengeance. David’s charge was clear: Joab’s deeds could not go unpunished, for they had brought bloodshed and strife to the kingdom.
David’s voice softened as he turned to another matter. “But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for they met me with kindness when I fled from Absalom your brother.”
Solomon nodded, understanding the importance of honoring those who had shown loyalty to his father. Barzillai’s kindness during David’s darkest hour had not been forgotten, and Solomon resolved to repay it with generosity.
Then David’s tone grew stern once more. “And there is also Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”
Solomon’s heart was heavy with the weight of his father’s words. Shimei’s curse had been a bitter memory for David, and though he had spared Shimei’s life, the matter could not be left unresolved. Solomon understood that justice must be upheld, even in the face of past oaths.
With these final instructions, David’s strength waned. He closed his eyes, his breathing shallow, and soon, the great king of Israel breathed his last. The palace was filled with mourning as the news spread throughout the land. David, the shepherd boy who had become king, the man who had brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, was no more.
Solomon, now king, sat upon the throne of his father. The weight of the crown was heavy, but he resolved to follow David’s charge and to walk in the ways of the Lord. His first acts as king were marked by wisdom and justice.
Adonijah, Solomon’s older brother, who had once sought to claim the throne for himself, approached Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, with a request. “Please ask King Solomon to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife,” he said, his tone seemingly humble.
Bathsheba, unaware of the implications of Adonijah’s request, brought the matter before Solomon. The king’s eyes narrowed as he listened. He understood that Adonijah’s request was not innocent; it was a subtle attempt to lay claim to the throne, for Abishag had been David’s attendant in his final days.
Solomon’s response was swift and decisive. “Why do you ask for Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also!” he declared. “As the Lord lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.”
And so, Adonijah’s life came to an end, a stark reminder that the throne of Israel was not to be trifled with.
Next, Solomon turned his attention to Joab. The old commander, hearing of Adonijah’s fate, fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar, seeking sanctuary. But Solomon’s command was clear: “Strike him down.”
Benaiah, Solomon’s loyal commander, carried out the order, and Joab’s blood stained the ground where he had sought refuge. Solomon’s actions were not driven by vengeance but by justice, as he fulfilled his father’s charge.
Finally, Solomon dealt with Shimei. He summoned the Benjaminite and commanded him to build a house in Jerusalem and never to leave the city. “For on the day you go out and cross the brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall die,” Solomon warned.
For three years, Shimei obeyed the king’s command. But when two of his servants fled to Gath, Shimei pursued them, breaking his oath. Solomon, upon hearing of Shimei’s disobedience, ordered his execution.
Thus, Solomon established his kingdom with wisdom and justice, fulfilling the charge of his father David. The Lord was with him, and his reign began with the promise of prosperity and peace. The legacy of David lived on in his son, as the kingdom of Israel entered a new era under the rule of the wisest king who ever lived.
