I Kings 2 David gives advice to Solomon and dies

I Kings 2

David gives advice to Solomon and dies

1 And the days of David's death drew near: and he commanded Solomon his son, saying,
2 I go the way of all the earth: strive therefore and be a man.
3 And keep the observance of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in whatever you do, wherever you turn.
4 That the Lord might confirm his word, which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children keep his way, to walk before me faithfully, with all their heart and with all their soul, I said, never shall thee fail successor to the throne of Israel.
5 And you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the army of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and in peace he poured out the blood of war, and he put the blood of war in his belt that was on his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
6 So do according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hairs go down to the grave in peace.
7 But with the children of Barzillai the Gileadite you shall show kindness, and they shall be among those who eat at your table, for so they drew near to me, when I fled because of your brother Absalom.
8 And, behold, Shimei the son of Gera, the son of Benjamin, of Bahurim, was with thee also, who cursed me with a grievous curse, in the day that I went to Mahanaim; but he came out to meet me at Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying that I would not kill him with the sword.
9 But now, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man, and you will know what to do to him to make his gray hairs go down to the grave with blood.
10 And David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
11 And these were the days that David reigned over Israel forty years: seven years he reigned in Hebron, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.