1 Kings 2:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.

NIV: Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.

NASB: Then David lay down with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David.

CSB: Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.

NLT: Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.

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

NKJV: So David rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David.

King David of Israel dies. The text uses the euphemism "slept with his fathers." The phrase captures both the peaceful end of life that's possible in death, but also the promise that there's more to come. People who sleep eventually wake up.

David's life story is among the greats of human history. For the ancient world, his tale is told with enormous detail from his defeat of Goliath as a boy through betrayal by a king, countless victories as a warrior, tragic sins and their brutal consequences, powerful works of art as a poet and songwriter, and a legacy as king over Israel that will truly never end. All of this is by the grace and mercy of God.

The "city of David" is a small section of Jerusalem just south of the current temple Mount. David and his men took it on behalf of a united Israel from the stubborn Jebusites and made it the capital (2 Samuel 5:6–10). It was David's greatest wish to build the temple. He has done everything he can to prepare, and God has promised that his son Solomon will see it through (2 Samuel 7:12–13).

Despite much archaeological investigation, we're not sure where David's tomb is. We do have non-biblical references to it. Josephus claimed that John Hyrcanus I robbed the tomb to pay foreign mercenaries to regain Jewish territory after the Maccabean Revolt. Supposedly, King Herod sent servants to do the same, but fire flared up and killed two guards.

First Kings 2:10–12 records King David's death (1 Chronicles 29:26–30). David was a teenager when he killed Goliath and started his career as a warrior (1 Samuel 17). After years of fighting and forty years as king, his body is broken (1 Kings 1:1–4). He managed to install Solomon as king and provided what he needed to construct the temple (1 Chronicles 28:9—29:1–9). And he's instructed Solomon how to ensure his reign will be blessed: by following God (1 Kings 2:1–4), honoring his supporters, and eliminating his opponents (1 Kings 2:5–9). Now, David leaves the kingdom to his son and in God's hands.

In 1 Kings 2, Solomon establishes his kingdom. David tells Solomon to follow God and to deal justly with his officials. After David dies, Solomon executes his rival Adonijah and the murderer Joab. He sends the conspiring priest Abiathar to house arrest and deals with the Benjamite Shimei, who cursed David. Benaiah becomes the military commander, and Zadok the lead priest. Next, Solomon will offer his famous prayer for wisdom (1 Kings 3:6–9).

David's reign ends as his health begins to fail. Watchful rivals try to take advantage of this, attempting to install their preferred heir to the throne (1 Kings 1). This fails, and Solomon is crowned. In 1 Kings 2, Solomon begins the work of inheriting God's covenant with David. Before David dies, he advises Solomon on how to follow God, respond to conspirators, and build the temple (1 Chronicles 22:6–19; 28:9–21). David also throws a more formal coronation ceremony (1 Chronicles 29:22–25). After dealing with the men who would take his crown, Solomon asks God for wisdom; God promises to add honor and wealth (1 Kings 3:6–14).

This was originally the first half of a combined text. First Kings records the end of David's reign and the rule of Solomon. After this, the kingdom is split in two. The northern nation of Israel no longer submits to the king of the southern nation, called Judah. The prophet Elijah first appears in this book. The kings mostly fail to honor the Lord. They participate in idolatry and other sins. This will eventually result in their conquest and exile, as depicted throughout the books of Chronicles.