21 As David's time to die drew near , he charged Solomon his son , saying , 2 " I am going the way of all the earth . Be strong , therefore, and show yourself a man . 3 "Keep the charge of the Lord your God , to walk in His ways , to keep His statutes , His commandments , His ordinances , and His testimonies , according to what is written in the Law of Moses , that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever e e you turn , 4 so that the Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying , ' If your sons are careful of their way , to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul , you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel .' 5 "Now you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel , to Abner the son of Ner , and to Amasa the son of Jether , whom he killed ; he also shed the blood of war in peace . And he put the blood of war on his belt about his waist , and on his sandals on his feet . 6 " So act according to your wisdom , and do not let his gray hair go down to Sheol in peace . 7 "But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite , and let them be among those who eat at your table ; for they assisted me when I fled from Absalom your brother . 8 "Behold , there is with you Shimei the son of Gera the Benjamite , of Bahurim ; now it was he who cursed me with a violent curse on the day I went to Mahanaim . But when he came down e to me at the Jordan , I swore to him by the Lord , saying , 'I will not put you to death with the sword .' 9 "Now therefore, do not let him go unpunished , for you are a wise man ; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood ."
10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David . 11 The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years : seven years he reigned in Hebron and thirty-three e years he reigned in Jerusalem .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 2:1-11
Commentary on 1 Kings 2:1-4
(Read 1 Kings 2:1-4)
David's charge to Solomon is, to keep the charge of the Lord. The authority of a dying father is much, but nothing to that of a living God. God promised David that the Messiah should come from his descendants, and that promise was absolute; but the promise, that there should not fail of them a man on the throne of Israel, was conditional; if he walks before God in sincerity, with zeal and resolution: in order hereunto, he must take heed to his way.
Commentary on 1 Kings 2:5-11
(Read 1 Kings 2:5-11)
These dying counsels concerning Joab and Shimei, did not come from personal anger, but for the security of Solomon's throne, which was the murders he had committed, but would readily repeat them to carry any purpose; though long reprieved, he shall be reckoned with at last. Time does not wear out the guilt of any sin, particularly of murder. Concerning Shimei, Hold him not guiltless; do not think him any true friend to thee, or thy government, or fit to be trusted; he has no less malice now than he had then. David's dying sentiments are recorded, as delivered under the influence of the Holy Ghost, 2 Samuel 23:1-7. The Lord discovered to him the offices and the salvation of that glorious personage, the Messiah, whose coming he then foretold, and from whom he derived all his comforts and expectations. That passage gives a decided proof that David died under the influence of the Holy Ghost, in the exercise of faith and hope.