The Readable Bible: 1 & 2 Kings by Iron Stream Media

A Disobedient People

Translated and Edited by Rodney S. Laughlin Brendan I. Kennedy, PhD

Birmingham, Alabama

The Readable Bible: 1 and 2 Kings

Iron Stream

An imprint of Iron Stream Media 100 Missionary Ridge Birmingham, AL 35242 www.ironstreammedia.com

Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022938636

Cover design: twoline | | Studio

Interior designer/illustrator: Clyde Adams (www.clydeadams.com)

Map geographic features courtesy of Bible Mapper (www.biblemapper.com).

Typeface: Veritas AE from Altered Ego Fonts, a division of Aespire

1 2 3 4 5—26 25 24 23 22

v Contents Preface xi To the Reader xi Acknowledgments .................................................................... xii Dedication ............................................................................. xii Before You Read .......................................................................... xii Introduction to Kings ................................................................... xiii Note on Terminology .................................................................... xiii Map: Geography of 1 & 2 Kings xiv 1 Kings ...................................................................................... 1 2 Kings .................................................................................... 60 Historical Books Glossary 113 The Jewish Calendar ....................................................................122 Familiar Verses 1 Kings 123 2 Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 People List 1 Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 2 Kings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Subject Index ............................................................................ 140 Note on Dates of Events ................................................................. 144 Weights and Measures in Kings 145 Map Notes ............................................................................... 144 Translation Notes ........................................................................ 146 Format and Presentation Notes ......................................................... 147 Nonliteral Words and Phrases Not Footnoted ........................................ 148 1 Kings Part 1. The United Kingdom Under Solomon 1 Kings 1 Adonijah Declares Himself King ......................................................... 1 David Makes Solomon King 2 1 Kings 2 David’s Deathbed Counsel to Solomon 3 Solomon Defeats His Opposition ......................................................... 4 Adonijah Executed ........................................................................ 4 Joab Executed .............................................................................. 5

Solomon Organizes

Solomon’s Staff

Table: District Governors

Kingdom

Map: Solomon’s Kingdom

Solomon’s Territory

Table: Solomon’s Wealth

Solomon’s Wisdom

Solomon and Hiram Provide Supplies to Build the Temple

Map: Temple Supply Route

Illustration: Solomon’s Temple

Note: Temple Speciﬁcations

Temple Speciﬁcations.

Table: Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.

Table: Solomon’s Personal

Table: Temple Items Built by Huram

Lord’s

Part 2. The Kingdom Divides

1 Kings 5

1 Kings 6

Kings 7

vi Shimei Executed 5 1 Kings 3 Solomon Asks God for Wisdom .......................................................... 6 Solomon Demonstrates His Wisdom .................................................... 7 1 Kings 4

His

........................................................ 8 Table:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

........................................................ 11

....................................................... . 12

............................................................. 13 Table:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Quarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 1 Kings 8 The

Presence Fills the Temple .................................................... 20 Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication.......................................................... 21 Temple Dedication Sacriﬁces ............................................................ 24 1 Kings 9 God Makes a Covenant with Solomon .................................................. 25 King Hiram Is Displeased with Solomon’s Gift ......................................... 26 Account of Solomon’s Levied Labor Force 26 1 Kings 10 The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon .................................................... 27 Table: Solomon’s Wealth II ........................................................... . 28

1 Kings 11 Solomon’s Wives, Concubines, and Disobedience ..................................... 30 The Lord Raises Up Adversaries ........................................................ 30

1 Kings 12

Harsh Reign over

Israel Crowns

Man of God Warns

The Consequences of Jeroboam’s Sin

Under Rehoboam Judah Turns from God

Ben-Hadad Helps Asa

Abijah’s Sinful Reign over Judah

Good King Asa’s Reign over Judah

Nadab’s Evil Reign over Northern Israel

Sinful Reign over Northern Israel

1 Kings 13

1 Kings 14

1 Kings 15

1 Kings 16

Elah’s Reign over Northern Israel 43 Zimri’s Seven-Day Reign over Northern Israel

Omri Prevails over Tibni and Reigns over Northern Israel

Part 3. Ahab’s Wicked Reign over Northern Israel

1 Kings 17

Elijah Predicts a Drought, Is Fed by Ravens

Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath

Life of Elijah................................................................

Life of Elijah

Confronts Ahab and the Prophets

1 Kings 18

Baal.......................................

of Baal Defeated by Fire from Heaven........................................

Kings 19

Flees from Jezebel

vii Hadad 30 Map: Israel Divided: Northern Israel & Judah .................................... . 31 Rezon .................................................................................. 32 Jeroboam .............................................................................. 32 Table: Timeline of Kings and Prophets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Solomon Dies 34

Rehoboam’s

Northern Israel ........................................ 34 Northern

Jeroboam King ................................................ 35 Jeroboam Institutes Idol Worship ....................................................... 36

Jeroboam ......................................................... 36

39 Map:

...................................................... . 40

........................................................ 41

...................................................... 41

................................................ 42 Baasha’s

......................................... 43

............................ 44

45 Map:

. 46 Table:

................................................................... . 47

Elijah

48 Prophets

48 1

Elijah

Kings 20

Ahab Defeats

Mercy

1 Kings 21

Ahab Takes Naboth’s

1 Kings 22

Ahab Misled by False Prophets

Micaiah Prophesies

Killed in Battle

2 Kings

Part 1. The Divided Kingdom

Prophesies Against Ahaziah

Elijah Taken to Heaven

Inherits Elijah’s Ministry

Joram and Jehoshaphat Unite but Fail to Subdue Moab

Life of Elisha

Elisha Provides a Poor Widow with Oil Riches

Gives a Woman

Son and Revives

Provides Food During a Famine

Elisha Heals Naaman of Leprosy

Greed Results in Leprosy

Elisha Recovers an Ax-Head

Kings 1

Kings 2

Kings 3

Kings 4

Kings 5

Kings 6

Captures the Army of Aram......................................................

Siege Creates Famine in Samaria

viii God Strengthens Elijah and Calls Elisha 51 1

Ben-Hadad and Has

on Him . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Map: Ahab’s Battles Against Aram ................................................ . 53 God’s Prophet Foretells Ahab’s Death ................................................... 54

Vineyard .......................................................... 55 The Lord Rebukes Ahab 56

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Against Ahab ...................................................... 57 Ahab

..................................................................... 58 Jehoshaphat’s Righteous Reign over Judah ............................................. 59 Ahaziah’s Evil Reign over Northern Israel 59

Elijah

...................................................... 60 2

................................................................... 61 Elisha

......................................................... 62 2

.............................. 62 Map:

64 Table:

.................................................................. . 65 2

......................................... 66 Elisha

Him ........................................ 66 Elisha

................................................. 68 2

68 Gehazi’s

69 2

............................................................. 70 Elisha

70 Aramean

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Kings 7

Elisha

Food

Hazael Kills Ben-Hadad and Becomes

Arameans

Kings 8

of Aram

Becomes Coregent over Judah.................................................

Becomes King of Judah

Edom & Libnah Rebel

Jehu Becomes King of Northern Israel

Jehu Kills Joram

Jehu Becomes King of Northern Israel

Jehu Kills Ahaziah

Jezebel Is Slain

Jehu Strengthens His Reign

Kills the Prophets of Baal

Athaliah Rules over Judah

Joash Reigns over Judah

2 Kings 9

Kings 10

2 Kings 11

Kings 12

2 Kings 13

Jehoahaz Reigns over Northern Israel

83 Jehoash Reigns over Northern Israel; Elisha Dies

2 Kings 14

Amaziah Reigns over Judah; Jehoash Dies

84 Map: Jehoash Defeats Amaziah 85

Jeroboam Reigns over Northern Israel 86

Resurgence of Israel

Uzziah Reigns over Judah

Zechariah Reigns over Northern Israel

Shallum Reigns over Northern Israel

Menahem Reigns over Northern Israel

Pekahiah Reigns over Northern Israel

Pekah Reigns over Northern Israel

Jotham Reigns over Judah

Ahaz Reigns over Judah

Judah’s Losses Under Ahaz

2 Kings 15

2 Kings 16

ix 2

Prophesies a

Surplus; God Routs the

......................... 72 Elisha’s Prophecy Is Fulﬁlled ............................................................. 73 2

King

.................................. 73 Jehoram

74 Ahaziah

........................................................ 75 Map:

...................................................... . 75

................................................. 75

........................................................................... 76 Map:

............................................................................ 78 2

.............................................................. 78 Jehu

........................................................... 79

............................................................... 80 2

.................................................................. 81

..................................................

......................................

.............................................

Map:

........................................................ . 87

................................................................

.................................................

...................................................

...................................................... 89

................................................................ 89

.................................................................. 90 Map:

................................................. . 91

Kings 17

Assyria

Part 2. The Surviving Kingdom of Judah

Kings 18

Hezekiah’s

Kings 19

Prophesies

Kings 20

Heals

Fall

Manasseh’s Evil Reign

Evil Reign

Josiah’s Righteous Reign

Josiah Reestablishes the

Restores Passover

Short, Evil Reign

Evil Reign

Jehoiachin’s

Evil

Nebuchadnezzar

Kings 21

Kings 22

Kings 23

Kings 24

Kings 25

x 2

Defeats Samaria and Deports Israelites ....................................... 92 Note: Why God Deported Israel ......................................................... 92 Map: Deportation of Northern Israel ............................................. . 93 Samaria Resettled with Strangers ....................................................... 94

Righteous Reign over Judah ................................................. 95 Sennacherib Attacks Judah .............................................................. 96 Map: Expansion Under Hezekiah ................................................ . 97 2

Isaiah

Deliverance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Map: Sennacherib’s Conquests 99 Hezekiah Prays ........................................................................... 99 God Spares Judah ........................................................................100 2

God

Hezekiah’s Illness ........................................................... 101 Judah’s

Prophesied ..................................................................102 2

over Judah ......................................................103 Amon’s

104 2

................................................................104 2

Law ...........................................................105 Josiah

................................................................ 107 Jehoahaz’

..............................................................108 Jehoiakim’s

108 2

Short,

Reign 109 Zedekiah’s

Reign ....................................................................109 Map: Nebuchadnezzar Conquers Judah ........................................ . 110 2

Conquers Judah .................................................... 110 Table: Captives Who Were Executed................................................. . 112 Gedaliah Appointed Governor of Judah 112 Jehoiachin Released from Prison ....................................................... 112

To the Reader

One day I was standing in an airport bookstore looking for a book to read. I asked myself, “Why am I looking for something to read when I have a Bible in my briefcase?” I answered, “The Bible is hard to read. I want to read something easier.” Then I asked myself, “Why is it so hard to read? You’re a seminary graduate, a former pastor, a Bible teacher!” Thus began a quest that has led to The Readable Bible—the Bible as it would look if Moses, Joshua, Matthew, Mark, Paul, and the other writers had been sitting in front of a computer when God spoke through them.

It seems to me that the Bible is hard to read because all material is presented in sentence format. Today we use tables to present census information and charts for genealogies. When we want something built, we draw up a speciﬁcation document. Law codes are organized in outline form. We use bullet points, bold text, and other aids to help us grasp information. Yet in today’s Bibles, all the information is still presented in sentence format in plain text. Surely those men of old would have used modern formats if they had known about them when God spoke through them. Modern formatting does not change the information; it simply presents it in a way that makes it easier to grasp. The Readable Bible brings you the biblical text in modern formats.

You may struggle with the idea of Scripture in modern formats. Actually, all of today’s Bibles present the text in a form much different from that of the original manuscripts. Consider how many format changes that were developed over the past two thousand years led to the format considered normal today. Each change was radical in its time:

• Vowels: The earliest Hebrew manuscripts have no vowels; they were added hundreds of years later.

• Capital Letters: The Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament manuscripts have no uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Punctuation: The original manuscripts have no punctuation (no commas or periods!).

• Chapter Numbers: These were not common in Bibles until the thirteenth century AD.

• Verse Numbers: The ﬁrst verse-numbering system was developed over a thousand years after the last Bible book was written. It had one-third of today’s verse numbers, making verses three or four times longer. Today’s Christian Bible numbering system was not developed until the sixteenth century.

• Paragraphs: The ﬁrst paragraphed King James Bible was published in the mid-1800s.

xi Preface

So presenting the words of Scripture in tables, cascading the text of long, complex sentences, and using other modern formatting techniques is simply continuing the long-term trend of making the Bible easier to understand.

Our hope is that people who have never read the Bible will decide to read this version because it is so approachable. Please give a copy to someone who struggles to understand the Bible and, especially, to those who do not read the Bible

Acknowledgments

My thanks to all the members of our editing team, our volunteer development team, and the many others who have donated funds and worked to bring The Readable Bible to completion.

A big “thank you” to my designer and partner in this project, Clyde Adams, for joining me in this faith venture. He has turned the translation into well-laid-out text and my formatting concepts into reality. The maps, tables, charts, book layout, and cover are all his work.

Most of all, I thank my wife, Rebecca, for her ideas, her love, and her strong support of this endeavor over the past twelve years.

Dedication

And now I dedicate to our Lord this translation of his holy Word, humbly asking him to grant that it may bring forth fruit to his glory and the building up of his people.

Spring 2022 Before You Read

Words in italics are additions to the biblical text. In the context of commands, rules, and regulations, “shall,” “must,” and “are/is to” are equal terms, all the same strength.

Read lists from top to bottom in the ﬁrst column then read the next column.

We encourage you to read “Translation Notes” and “Format and Presentation Notes” in the back of the book. They are easy reading and will increase your understanding of the text.

Please browse the glossary before you begin reading. You will ﬁnd helpful information about words that appear frequently in this book, as well as important explanations of the words “L” and “Yahweh.”

L17rl

xii

Introduction to Kings

First Kings picks up from the end of 2 Samuel. Kings follows the story of God’s relationship with Israel from the death of King David (sometime in the early tenth century BC) to the exile of God’s people and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The rule of kings seemed necessary to the Israelites because of the chaos and violence recorded in the book of Judges. After a difﬁcult start with King Saul, Israel does well with King David, but the concept of kingship ends in chaos, violence, and idolatry as the kings of later generations gradually became more depraved. Even the notable exceptions of Hezekiah and Josiah could not reverse the Israelites’ descent into corruption.

The twelve tribes that were united under David and his son Solomon broke apart during the reign of Solomon’s son Rehoboam. The ten northern tribes crowned Jeroboam as king of Israel and replaced the worship of the Lord with that of idols. The land of the two tribes that remained loyal to the Davidic line, Judah and Benjamin, became known as the kingdom of Judah. The land of the other ten tribes is referred to as “Israel.” To avoid confusion, we insert “Northern” in front of “Israel” each time the kingdom of the ten tribes is referenced. After the division of Israel into two kingdoms (i.e., starting at 1 Kings 12:16), “all” is oftentimes inserted in front of “Israel” to make it clear that the term refers to both Judah and Northern Israel (except in the case of the term “God of Israel,” which always refers to both kingdoms.).

The remainder of the book of Kings follows the parallel stories of Northern Israel and Judah, comparing and contrasting them. Northern Israel was ruled by a succession of military dictators, and its ofﬁcial religion was idolatrous. It was overrun in 721 BC and exiled by the Assyrians, never to be heard from again.

After the split, Judah was ruled by legitimate heirs of David and, at least ofﬁcially, worshiped the Lord until they were taken into exile by the Babylonians in 586 BC. It was these exiles who survived as an intact people with their own language, customs, and religion. They became known as the Jews.

The book of Kings is a sad commentary on the inability of God’s people to truly be just and loving like God’s people should be, even with the help of a king. Human depravity runs too deep to be healed by external remedies like a king and a law. The corruption of the people was mitigated for several centuries by the piety of their kings, but this model eventually proved to be unsustainable as the kings themselves became corrupt.a The stage was then set for the Son of David,b Jesus Christ, to free his people from the power of sin and to reign in individual hearts through faith.

Note on Terminology

During the period of Ish-Bosheth’s rebellion, the term “Judah” refers to the portion of Israel that is south of the north end of the Dead Sea (the land of Judah, which also included the land of Simeon). After that rebellion was put down, the kingdom was united throughout the time covered in 2 Samuel. When the term “Israel” refers only to the northern portion, that which rebelled and split off from Judah, “Northern” is inserted in front of “Israel.

a More than thirty kings turned toward pagan gods. For a few examples, see 2 Kings 16:1–20; 21:1–26; 24:18–20.

b See Matthew 1:1; 22:42; Mark 10:47–48; Luke 1:32; Romans 1:3.

xiii

xiv There are two Gilgals. 2 Kings 2:1 and 4:38 probably refer to the one above Bethel. 85 MILES Abel Beth Maacah Dan Beersheba Damascus Jezreel Jerusalem Gilgal 1? Gezer Bethel Beth Horon Zarephath Ramoth Gilead Peniel Mizpah Jericho Gibbethon Ekron Baalath Abel Meholah Tirzah Tyre Sidon Shechem Samaria Gilgal 2? Shunem Ijon Gath Aphek Tishbe Aroer Topheph EPRHAIM HILL COUNTRY VALLEY OF SALT Mt. Carmel DEAD SEA SEA OF GALILEE GEOGRAPHY OF 1 & 2 KINGS ARAM – SYRIA AMMON JUDAH EDOM MOAB BASHAN GILEAD NAPHTHALI LEBANON KISHON RIVER ARNON RIVER JORDAN RIVER Riblah SEIRHILLCOUNTRY

Part 1. The United Kingdom Under Solomon

1 Kings 1

Adonijah Declares Himself King

1 King David grew old and advanced in age. He could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. 2 His servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king to serve in your presence. Let her attend the king and lie by your side that our lord the king may keep warm.” 3 They searched for a beautiful girl in all the territory of Israel and found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. 4 The girl was extremely beautiful. She was the king’s attendant and waited on him, but the king did not have intimate relations with her.

5 Now Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, exalted himself and said, “I will be king.” He furnished a chariot and horses for himself with ﬁfty men to run ahead of him. 6 His father had never corrected him in the past by asking, “Why are you acting like this? ” He was also very handsome and the ﬁrstborn after Absalom. 7 He conspired with Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest, who defected to Adonijah. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the warriors who belonged to David were not with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves at the Zoheleth Stone,a which is next to En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the sons of the king, and all the royal officialsb of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David’s warriors, or his brother Solomon. 11 So Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, but our lord David doesn’t know? 12 Now come, and please let me give you counsel so that you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go right now to King David and say to him, ‘Aren’t you my lord the king? You swore to your maidservant, “Certainly your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.” Now why is Adonijah king? ’ 14 Trust me, while you’re still speaking there with the king, I’ll come in after you and confirm your words.”

15 So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom.c The king was extremely old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. 16 Bathsheba bowed low and prostrated herself before the king. The king asked, “What’s your request? ”

17 She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the L your God, ‘Certainly your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18 But now look! Adonijah has become king, and my lord the king doesn’t know it. 19 He has sacriﬁced cattle and fattened calves and sheep in great quantity. He has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the army commander, but not your servant

a The Hebrew word zoheleth may mean “serpent.”

b Literally, “all the men, the king’s servants.”

c Literally, “his chamber.”

1 1 Kings

Solomon. 20 As for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who will sit on my lord the king’s throne after him. 21 If you don’t, then when my lord the king lies down with his ancestors, I and your son Solomon will be considered oppositiona worthy of death!”

22 Just then, while she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 They announced to the king, “Look, here’s Nathan the prophet.” He came before the king and bowed low before him with his face to the ground.

24 Nathan said, “My lord the king, did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me and sit on my throne’ ? 25 He has gone down today and sacriﬁced large numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the army ofﬁcers, and Abiathar the priest. They’re even feasting and drinking with him. They’re saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 He didn’t invite me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon. 27 Has this been done by my lord the king—and you have not informed your servants as to who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

David Makes Solomon King

28 King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” She came into the king’s presence and stood before him. 29 The king swore an oath to her:

“As the L who has redeemed my life from every trouble lives, 30 just as I swore to you by the L, the God of Israel, when I said, ‘Your son Solomon will certainly reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place,’ I’ll make it happen today.”

31 Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground and prostrated herself before the king. She said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

32 Then King David said, “Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to me.” And they came before the king. 33 The king ordered them, “Take your lord’s servants with you. Mount my son Solomon on my mule and take him down to Gihon 34 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him there as king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then come up after him. He will come and sit on my throne and be king in my place, for I have appointed him to be the ruler of Judah and the rest of Israel.”

36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “So be it. May the L, the God of my lord the king declare it so. 37 Just as the L was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”

38 Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites went down and mounted Solomon on King David’s mule and took him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the meeting tent and anointed Solomon. They blew trumpets and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 All the people proceeded into Jerusalem behind him, playing on ﬂutes and rejoicing greatly so that it sounded like an earthquake.b

a Literally, “will be as sinners.”

b Literally, “the land was split by their noise.”

41 Adonijah and all those he’d invited who were with him heard it as they ﬁnished eating. Joab heard the sound of the trumpet and said, “What’s that sound of uproar in the city? ” 42 While he was still speaking, unexpectedly, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, for you’re a brave man and you bring good news.” 43 Jonathan answered Adonijah, “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites and had him ride on the king’s mule. 45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king at Gihon. They went up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That’s the noise you’ve heard.

46 Solomon has even sat on the throne of the kingdom! 47 Also, all the royal servants have come to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May God do good to Solomon’s name even more than he did to yours and make his throne even greater than your throne.’ Then the king bowed in worship on his bed. 48 The king has also said, ‘Blessed be the L, the God of Israel, who has today allowed one of my offspring to sit on my throne while my eyes can see it.

49 All Adonijah’s guests trembled with fear and stood up, and each went on their own way. 50 And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he went to the meeting tent and took hold of the horns of the burnt offering altar.a 51 Someone reported to Solomon, “Good news! Adonijah fears King Solomon and, consider this, has seized the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he won’t put me his servant to the sword ’ ”

52 Solomon said, “If he’s a trustworthy man,b not one of his hairs shall fall to the ground, but if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 So King Solomon sent messengers, and they brought Adonijah down from the altar. He came and bowed low to the king, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”

David’s Deathbed Counsel to Solomon

1 As David’s time of death drew near, he charged his son Solomon, saying:

2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong and be a man. 3 Keep what has been entrusted to you by the L your God, walking in his ways and observing his statutes, commandments, judgments, and counsels as they are written in the law of Moses. Then you will succeed in everything you do and everywhere you turn, 4 that the L may carry out his promise that he gave me, saying, ‘If your descendants guard their ways and walk before me with integrity, with their whole hearts and souls, then you will not fail to havec a man on the throne of Israel.’

5 “Also, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me and to the two commanders of the army of Israel (Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether),

a See Exodus 27:1–8. Grabbing an altar’s horns was seen as a safe way of seeking forgiveness and/or asylum, because to strike a man at the altar risked deﬁling it with human blood.

b Literally, “a son of worthiness.”

c Literally, “there will not be cut off from you.”

’ ”

1 Kings 2

whom he killed. He spilled the blood of war during a time of peace.a The blood of war is on the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Do as you think prudent, but don’t let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

7 “Show loyalty to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite. Let them eat at your table, because they stood near me when I ﬂed from your brother Absalom.

8 “Look, Shimei son of Gera the Benjamite from Bahurim is with you. He cursed me grievously on the day I went to Mahanaim. But when he went down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the L: ‘I won’t put you to death with the sword.’b 9 But now, don’t consider him innocent. You’re a wise man and you know what you should do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

10 Then David lay down with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.

11 The days that David ruled over Israel totaledc forty years: He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was solidly established.

Solomon Defeats His Opposition

13 Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. She said, “Have you come in peace? ”

“Peaceably,” he replied. 14 “I have something to discuss with you.”

“Speak,” she said.

15 He said, “You know the kingdom was mine. All Israel turned their faces to me to crown me king. However, the kingdom has been turned from me and has gone to my brother, because it was his from the L 16 Now I’m asking but one thing from you. Don’t refuse me.” d

She said to him, “Ask it.”

17 He said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he won’t refusee you. Ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite for my wife.”f

18 Bathsheba replied, “Very well; I’ll speak to the king for you.”

Adonijah Executed

19 So Bathsheba went before King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. The king got up to meet her, kissed her,g and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat at his right hand. 20 She said, “I have one small request that I’m asking of you. Don’t refuse me.”

The king said to her, “Ask me, my mother, for I won’t refuse you.”

21 She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah for a wife.”

a See 2 Samuel 3:27 for Abner’s death; 2 Samuel 20:10 for Amasa’s.

b See 2 Samuel 16:5–13..

c Literally, “were.”

d Literally, “Do not turn away my face.”

e Literally, “turn back.” And verse 20.

f See 1 Kings 1:3.

g From the Septuagint; Masoretic text: “bowed down to her.”

22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why are you asking for Abishag the Shunammite on behalf of Adonijah? You might as well ask for the kingdom for him! He’s my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah are with him!” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the L: “May God do so to me and even more if Adonijah does not pay with his lifea for this thing! 24 Now as the L lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of my father David and who will build for me a dynasty just like he promised, surely today Adonijah will be put to death!” 25 Then King Solomon sent the order by the hand of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck him and put him to death.

26 And the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go to your land in Anathoth, for you’re deserving of death. However, I won’t put you to death today, because you carried the ark of the Lord G before my father David and suffered all the hardships my father suffered.” 27 So Solomon banished Abiathar from being a priest of the L, fulﬁlling the word of the L that he spoke concerning the family of Eli at Shiloh.b

Joab Executed

28 The news reached Joab, for Joab had supportedc Adonijah, though he had not supported Absalom. Joab ﬂed to the tent of the L and seized the horns of the altar. 29 It was reported to King Solomon that Joab had ﬂed to the L’s tent and that he was there beside the altar. Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!”

30 Benaiah went to the tent of the L and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’ ” Joab replied, “No! I’ll die here!”

Benaiah reported to the king, “Joab answered me this way.”

31 The king said to him, “Do just as he said. Strike him down and bury him, removing the guilt of the innocent blood that he spilled from me and the family of my father. 32 The L will return their blood on his own head, for he struck down two righteous men who were better than he—Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. He killed them with the sword,d but my father David did not know. 33 Let their blood be on Joab’s head and on his descendants forever, but on David and his descendants, his dynasty and his throne, let there be peace from the L forever.”

34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and put him to death. He was buried at his house in the wilderness. 35 The king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army and appointed Zadok in Abiathar’s place as priest.

Shimei Executed

36 The king sent messengers and summoned Shimei. He told him, “Build a house in Jerusalem and live there. Don’t go anywhere else, 37 for on the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, you may be certain that you will die. Your blood will be on your own head.”

a Literally, “has not spoken (i.e., made the request) against his life.”

b See 1 Samuel 2:27–36.

c Literally, “had turned after.”

d See 2 Samuel 3:27 for Abner’s death; 2 Samuel 20:10 for Amasa’s.

38 Shimei said to the king, “Your word is good. Your servant will do just as my lord the king has said.” So Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.

39 But after three years, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Gath’s King Achish son of Maacah. Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.” 40 So Shimei saddled his donkey and went to Gath to Achish to search for his slaves. After he brought them back from there, 41 Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned.

42 The king sent messengers and summoned Shimei. He said to him, “Didn’t I make you swear by the L and warn you, saying, ‘On the day you go out and travel anywhere, you may be certain that you will die? ’ And you said to me, ‘The word I’ve heard is good’ ? 43 Then why did you not keep your oath to the L and the command I gave you? ” 44 The king continued, “Surely you know in your heart all the evil you did to my father David. Now the L will return your evil upon your own head. 45 But King Solomon will be blessed, and the throne of David will be ﬁrm before the L forever.”

46 The king gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei, killing him. So the kingdom was ﬁrmly in Solomon’s grip.

3 1 Kings

Solomon Asks God for Wisdom

1 Solomon became a son-in-law to Pharaoh king of Egypt. He married Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace, the temple of the L, and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people were still sacrificing at the high places, because the temple for the name of the L had not been built at that time. 3 Solomon loved the L and walked in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high-place shrines.

4 The king went to Gibeon to make a sacriﬁce there, for it was a chief high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there. 5 The L appeared to Solomon that night in a dream at Gibeon. God said, “Ask me—what shall I give you?”

6 Solomon replied, “You showed great lovingkindness to your servant, my father David, as he walked before you faithfully with a righteous and blameless heart. You kept this great lovingkindness with him and gave him a son who sits on his throne today. 7 Now, O L my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, but I’m still a little child. I don’t know how to rule!a 8 Your servant is among your people whom you chose, a great people who cannot be counted or numbered because they’re so many. 9 Therefore give your servant a heart that understands in order to judge your people and distinguish good from evil. For who can judge this glorious people of yours? ”

a Literally, “know to go out or to come in.”

10 This answer was pleasing in the sight of the Lord,a because Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Because you have asked for this thing rather than asking for long life for yourself, or asking for wealth or the death of your enemies for yourself, but instead you asked for the ability to listen and judge justly,b 12 I will do what you have said. Indeed, I am giving you a wise, discerning heart, such that no one had before you and none will have after you.c 13 I am also giving you what you did not ask for: wealth and honor so that there will not be any among the kings like you during all your life.d 14 If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commandments just like your father David did, then I will prolong your life.”

15 Solomon awoke and realized it was a dream. He went to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the L and offered burnt offerings, and he prepared fellowship offerings and drink offerings for all his servants.

Solomon Demonstrates His Wisdom

16 Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 The ﬁrst said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I were staying in the same house. I gave birth while she was in the house. 18 On the third day after I had given birth, this woman also gave birth. There was no stranger in the house with us; only the two of us were in the house. 19 That woman’s son died at night because she lay on him. 20 She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your maidservant was sleeping and laid him in her arms. She laid her dead son in mine. 21 I got up in the morning to nurse my son, and sadly, he was dead! But when I examined him carefully in the morning, I was surprised to see he was not the son I had given birth to.”

22 The other woman said, “Not so! My son is alive, and your son is dead!”

This ﬁrst woman said, “Your son is dead and mine is alive.” They went on speaking like this before the king.

23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and yours is dead.’ That one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive!’ ” 24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” They brought a sword before the king. 25 The king said, “Divide the living child in two. Give half to one and half to the other.”

26 The woman whose son was alive spoke to the king, because her compassion for her son was aroused. She said, “Please, my lord! Give her the living child! Please, please, don’t kill him!”

But the other one was saying, “Neither you nor I will have him. Cut away!”

27 The king said, “Give the ﬁrst woman the living child. By no means kill him. She’s his mother.” 28 When all Israel heard this judgment the king had made, they deeply respected him, because they saw the wisdom of God was within him to dispense justice.

a Hebrew: adonai, the word traditionally spoken in place of the divine name YHWH. And verse 15.

b Literally, “you asked for yourself discernment to listen in judgment.”

c Literally, “which like you none were before you and after you none will arise like you.”

d Literally, “your days.”

Solomon Organizes His Kingdom

1 Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 These were his ofﬁcials:

Solomon’s Staff

Ofﬁce

Ofﬁcial

Azariah son of Zadok Secretaries 3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha Recorder Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud

Chief Priest 2

Commander of the army 4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada Priests Zadok and Abiathar

Supervisor of a the district governors 5 Azariah son of Nathan Priest and friend to the king Zabud son of Nathan Palace administrator 6 Ahishar Supervisor of slavesb Adoniram son of Abda

District Governors

7 Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel who supplied the king and his household. Each one had to supply provisions for one month in the year.

Governor District

Ben-Hur 8 1. Mountains of Ephraim Ben-Deker 9 2. Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Bethhanan

Ben-Hesed 10

3. Arubboth (Socoh and all the country of Hepher were his.)

Ben-Abinadab 11 4 All of Naphoth Dor (Taphath daughter of Solomon was his wife.)

Baana son of Ahilud 12 5 Taanach and Megiddo, all of Beth Shan, which is beside Zarethan from below Jezreel from Beth Shan up to Abel Meholah across Jokmeam

Ben-Geber 13 6 Ramoth Gilead (His were the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead, as well as the region of Argob that is in Bashan with its sixty large towns with walls and bronze gate bars.)

Ahinadab son of Iddo 14 7 Mahanaim Ahimaaz 15 8 Naphtali (He also married a daughter of Solomon. Her name was Basemath.)

Baana son of Hushai 16 9. Asher and Aloth

a Literally, “over.” b Literally, “of forced labor.”

8 4 1 Kings

4:2–6

4:7–19

9 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah 17 10. Issachar Shimei son of Ela 18 11. Benjamin Geber son of Uri 19 12. The land of Gilead (of Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan. Geber was the only governor over the territory. 20 Judah and the rest of Israel were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. They ate, drank, and rejoiced. 450 MILES Sidon Tyre EUPHRATES RIVER WADI EGYPT SOLOMON’S KINGDOM * * See“Kingdom of David” map in 2 Samuel 12 for additional information. 12 5 11 10 9 8 7 6 1 2 3 4 PHILISTINES Administrative Districts 1. Mountains of Ephraim 2. Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, & Elon Bethhanan 3. Arubboth 4. Naphoth Dor 5. Taanach & Megiddo 6. Ramoth Gilead 7. Mahanaim 8. Naphtali 9. Asher & Aloth 10. Issachar 11. Benjamin 12. Land of Gilead

Solomon’s Territory

21a, 24 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River west to the Philistine country to the border of Egypt, from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates River. He had peace on all sides, with everyone around him.

25 So Judah and the rest of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, dwelt in safety, everyone under his own vine and ﬁg tree, for Solomon’s entire lifetime.

Solomon’s Wealth I 4:21b–23, 26–28

Daily Food Provision

Fine ﬂour Meal

Stall-fed fat cattle Pastured cattle Sheep

Solomon’s Wisdom

12,000 4:26 4,000 4:26

150 bushelsa 4:22 300 bushels 22

10 23 20 23 100 23

And deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl 23

29 God gave Solomon exceedingly great wisdom and insight so that his understanding was as broad as the sand on the seashore.b 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than any human being, including Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol.

He had a reputation for wisdom among all the neighboring nations. 32 He spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs numbered 1,005. 33 He discussed plant life, from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that comes out of the wall. He discoursed about animals and birds, creeping things and ﬁsh. 34 People were coming from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, sent by c all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

a Literally, “30 kors.” And next line, “60 kors.”

b Or “and breadth of heart that was as the sand on the seashore.”

c Literally, “from.”

The Readable Bible: 1 & 2 Kings