1 Kings 2:41 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned,

NIV: When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned,

NASB: And it was reported to Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had returned.

CSB: It was reported to Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned.

NLT: Solomon heard that Shimei had left Jerusalem and had gone to Gath and returned.

KJV: And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

NKJV: And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back.

To control the influence Shimei has over his fellow Benjaminites, Solomon placed him under house arrest in Jerusalem. Among the stipulations is that Shimei isn't to cross the Kidron toward his home. He knew he shouldn't leave Jerusalem at all (1 Kings 2:36), even when two of his servants ran in the opposite direction of Kidron, to Gath. Solomon had told him that if he left, he forfeited his life. Shimei agreed that Solomon's terms were very fair. But three years passed, and the thought of those servants led Shimei to a foolish decision (1 Kings 2:36–40).

In many ways, David was a complacent king. He was ferocious against foreign enemies, but he overlooked domestic offenses, levying little to no real punishment. This was the pattern in many high-profile incidents in David's rule. Amnon raped his own half-sister (2 Samuel 13:7–14). Absalom murdered Amnon (2 Samuel 13:28–29). Adonijah enjoyed a lifetime of being spoiled (1 Kings 1:5–6). Joab, David's nephew and general, murdered two men (2 Samuel 3:27; 20:9–10). Shimei cursed King David, declared his kingship had been stolen from Saul, and threw rocks at him (2 Samuel 16:5–8). Even when one of the great Israelite warriors asked to remove Shimei's head, David told him to stand down (2 Samuel 16:9–12).

David's son Solomon is wiser and more decisive. He doesn't have his father's military reputation to fall back on, so he moves quickly and fairly. He executes Adonijah and Joab for conspiracy, exiles their co-conspirator outside Jerusalem, and places Shimei under house arrest inside Jerusalem (1 Kings 2:25–27, 35–37).

Solomon hears that Shimei has left the city. Solomon calls him and convicts him with his own words (1 Kings 2:43–46). As Shimei hears the king sentence him to death, Solomon reveals he is not a complacent king.

First Kings 2:36–46 records how Solomon dispatches his last potential conspirator. He has replaced Joab with Benaiah and Abiathar with Zadok. He needs to either confine Shimei the Benjaminite or execute him. He gives Shimei the choice between the two. Shimei agrees to confinement for three years but breaks the agreement and forces Solomon's hand. Now, Solomon's kingdom is firmly established.

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.