1 Kings 2

This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language and since the 16th century is divided into 53 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=35–37}}

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^B; 4th century) and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^A; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73–74}}{{efn|The whole book of 1 Kings is missing from the extant Codex Sinaiticus.{{Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Codex Sinaiticus}}}} In the middle of chapter 2 in 1 Kings (3 Reigns 2), the Septuagint of Codex Vaticanus has two long additions, called "Additions 1 and 2":

:1. After verse 35 there are 14 additional verses, traditionally denoted 35a–35o,

:2. After verse 46 there are 11 additional verses, denoted 46a–46l.{{sfn|Tov|1999|p=549}}

• {{bibleverse|1 Kings|2:1–9|9}}: {{bibleverse|Psalm|37:1–40|9}}1 Kings 2, Berean Study Bible
• {{bibleverse|1 Kings|2:10–12|9}}: {{bibleverse|1 Chronicles|29:26–30|9}}

The first two chapters of the Books of Kings describe the final phase of David's story and the beginning of Solomon's.{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=489 Hebrew Bible}} These chapters are markedly written differently than other biblical and extrabiblical ancient literature.{{sfn|Leithart|2006|p=29}}

This section contains the only time in the books of Kings that David spoke directly to Solomon.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=235}} The parting words are similar to God's words to Joshua after the death of Moses (Joshua 1:6–9).{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=491 Hebrew Bible}} David first charged Solomon to reign in accordance to the "law of Moses" (cf. Deuteronomy 4:29; 6:2; 8:6; 9:5; 11:1; 29:9), because everyone in Israel, even the king (cf. Deuteronomy 17:18–20; Psalm 132:12; cf. 2 Samuel 7:14–16), should fall under God and his laws.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=235}}{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=491 Hebrew Bible}} It is followed by David's complaints to the 'wise' Solomon about the 'enemies', which were Joab and Shimei ben Gera (cf. 2 Samuel 3:27; 20:9–10; 16:5–14; cf. 19:24) and incited him to deal with them, which gave legitimation for the subsequent purges.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=235}} David also encouraged reward for the old Barzillai (verse 7, cf. 2 Samuel 17:26–29; 19:32–39). After all the words, David was able to die in peace and buried in the necropolis within the "city of David".{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=235}}

:And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.{{bibleref2|1 Kings |2:11|ESV}} ESV

• "Forty years": according to Thiele's chronology, David died between September 972 BCE and September 971 BCE at the age of 70, so his birth was between September 1042 BCE and September 1041 BCE.{{sfn|McFall|1991|loc=no. 1}}

After a while, Adonijah began to 'dig his own grave' by lusting after Abishag the Shunammite, a dangerous move because 'she had, after all, lain in his father's bed', and 2 Samuel 16:20–22 indicate that having a sexual liaison with David's concubines was to legitimize Absalom's claim to the throne.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=235}}{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=492 Hebrew Bible}} Adonijah correctly recognized the power and influence of Bathsheba as the queen mother (shown in verse 19). He failed to understand her intentions and character, as she seemed to support Adonijah's petition, yet slipped the phrase 'your brother' to awaken Solomon's fears.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=235}} Solomon used the opportunity to order Adonijah's execution by the unscrupulous Benaiah.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=235}}

Solomon did not dare to harm Abiathar, one of David's trusted priests, but he had the authority to relieve the priest of all duties and banish him to Anathoth, a small country town about {{convert|5|km}} north of Jerusalem.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=235}} This is a fulfillment of 1 Samuel 2:27–36.{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=492 Hebrew Bible}} Jeremiah the prophet also came from Anatoth (Jeremiah 1:1; 32), so could be his descendant.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=235}} Interestingly, David did not mention Abiathar nor Adonijah in his last words, so the actions against them were solely Solomon's decision.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=235}} Zadok (cf 2 Chronicles 1:8,10, 34, 39) became the sole high priest after the departure of Abiathar (verse 35).{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=236}}

Joab realized the direction of the purge, so he took refuge in the Tabernacle. Solomon used Joab's word "I will die here" as a request that the king would gladly grant with the addition of justifying words of Joab's past sins (verses 31–33), so Benaiah, under the explicit order of the king, could execute Joab at the altar.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|pp=235–236}} For his loyal service, Benaiah was appointed to Joab's post as army chief (verse 35).{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=236}}

Solomon plays a cruel game with Shimei, who had done unpleasant things to David, but later received David's personal promise of safety (2 Samuel 16:5–14 and 19:17–24).{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=236}} The king placed Shimei under housearrest, and would only be executed if he left his house with the addition of a seemingly reasonable requirement "not crossing the Wadi Kidron" on the east of Jerusalem.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=236}} However, when Shimei eventually left his house to Gath, west of Jerusalem, the leaving of the house was the ground for his execution by Benaiah.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=236}}{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=493 Hebrew Bible}} The outcome of the actions in this chapter is that the kingdom was then firmly in Solomon's hands.{{sfn|Dietrich|2007|p=236}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|

• Abner
• Absalom
• Achish
• Amasa
• Bahurim
• Ark of the Covenant
• Israel
• Jerusalem
• Gath
• Haggith
• Kidron Valley
• Kohen
• Prophet
• Shunammite
• Zeruiah}}
• Related Bible parts: Deuteronomy 4, Deuteronomy 6, Deuteronomy 8, Deuteronomy 9, Deuteronomy 11, Deuteronomy 29, Deuteronomy 17, 1 Samuel 2, 2 Samuel 7, 2 Samuel 16, 2 Samuel 19, 1 Chronicles 29, Psalm 37, Psalm 132, Jeremiah 1

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last = Collins |first = John J. |title = Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures |chapter = Chapter 14: 1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 25 |pages = 277–296 |publisher = Fortress Press|year = 2014 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=fbsoBAAAQBAJ |isbn =

978-1451469233}}

• {{cite book|last= Coogan|first = Michael David| authorlink= Michael D. Coogan |title = The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 |editor-last1=Coogan |editor-first1=Michael David |editor-first2=Marc Zvi |editor-last2= Brettler |editor-first3=Carol Ann |editor-last3= Newsom |editor-first4= Pheme |editor-last4= Perkins |edition= Augmented 3rd |publisher = Oxford University Press |year =2007 |isbn = 978-0195288810 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ}}
• {{cite book|last= Dietrich | first= Walter | chapter = 13. 1 and 2 Kings | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John | editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman |editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | year = 2007 | pages = 232–266 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
• {{cite book|last= Halley| first= Henry H.| authorlink= Henry Hampton Halley| title= Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)|publisher= Zondervan Publishing House |date= 1965 |url= https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr |url-access= registration| isbn= 0-310-25720-4}}
• {{Cite book |last = Hayes |first = Christine |title = Introduction to the Bible |publisher = Yale University Press |year = 2015 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SKbkXYHxvlAC |isbn = 978-0300188271}}
• {{cite book |last= Leithart | first= Peter J. |title=1 & 2 Kings |series= Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible |publisher= Brazos Press |year= 2006 |url= |isbn= 978-1587431258 }}
• {{citation | url = http://www.btinternet.com/~lmf12/TransGuide.pdf | first = Leslie | last = McFall | title = Translation Guide to the Chronological Data in Kings and Chronicles |journal = Bibliotheca Sacra |volume= 148 |year = 1991| pages = 3–45 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100827065339/http://www.btinternet.com/%7Elmf12/TransGuide.pdf | url-status = dead | archivedate = 2010-08-27}}
• {{Cite book |last= McKane |first= William | chapter= Kings, Book of |editor1-last = Metzger | editor1-first = Bruce M |editor1-link = Bruce M. Metzger |editor2-last = Coogan |editor2-first = Michael D |title = The Oxford Companion to the Bible |url= https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195046458 |url-access= registration |publisher = Oxford University Press |year = 1993 | pages= [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195046458/page/409 409]–413 |isbn = 978-0195046458 }}
• {{Cite book |editor1-last = Metzger |editor1-first = Bruce M |editor1-link = Bruce M. Metzger

|editor2-last = Coogan |editor2-first = Michael D |title = The Oxford Companion to the Bible

|publisher = Oxford University Press |year = 1993 |isbn = 978-0195046458}}

• Thiele, Edwin R., The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, (1st ed.; New York: Macmillan, 1951; 2d ed.; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965; 3rd ed.; Grand Rapids: Zondervan/Kregel, 1983). {{isbn|9780825438257}}
• {{cite book| last= Tov | first= Emanuel | chapter= 38. The Septuagint Additions (‘Miscellanies’) in 1 Kings 2 (3 Reigns 2) | title= The Greek and Hebrew Bible: Collected Essays on the Septuagint | series= Vetus Testamentum Supplements | volume = 72 | place= Leiden |publisher= Brill |year= 1999 | url= https://doc-0k-6k-apps-viewer.googleusercontent.com/viewer/secure/pdf/ee4aklgnmjmvepon2sq4mbt7bs5pb8p4/acqp9r83csr06athhh6vr5e1q15v72o5/1623107325000/lantern/10291222761004614935/ACFrOgCmzdzvvivr1in6jjU6xAnYFq1M9K5mPhQsklNlI2ps2h3gs2SWa_ZSpLboxTB9r4RaAIhkPW026hmrewPfohLmgTx3Jpe6oKb7DSuQTP01svDvL0j3PqF94YVxK7oD1fg-etFYKDz1qd0S?}}
• {{Cite book | editor-last = Ulrich | editor-first = Eugene | title = The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants | year = 2010 | publisher = Brill | url = https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls }}
• {{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | authorlink = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

• Jewish translations:
• [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/15886 Melachim I - I Kings - Chapter 2 (Judaica Press)]. Hebrew text and English translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
• [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=1+Kings+2 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=11&chapter=2&version=9 1 Kings chapter 1. Bible Gateway]

{{First Book of Kings}}

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