1 Kings 2 · Verse 1

1 Kings 2:1

Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
1 Kings 2:1, King James Version

1 Kings 2:1 in other translations

BSBAs the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon,
WEBNow the days of David came near that he should die; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying,
ASVNow the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
YLTAnd draw near do the days of David to die, and he chargeth Solomon his son, saying,
DARBYAnd the days of David were at hand that he should die; and he enjoined Solomon his son saying,
BBENow the time of David's death came near; and he gave orders to Solomon his son, saying,
WebsterNow the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

What does 1 Kings 2:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
1Ki 2:1-11. David Dies. 1. David ... charged Solomon his son--The charge recorded here was given to Solomon just before his death and is different from the farewell address delivered in public some time before (1Ch 28:2-9). It is introduced with great solemnity.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

David leaves his dying charge with Solomon, relative to his own personal conduct, 1Kgs 2:1-4; to Joab, 1Kgs 2:5, 1Kgs 2:6; to Barzillai, 1Kgs 2:7; to Shimei, 1Kgs 2:8, 1Kgs 2:9. He dies, and Solomon is established in the kingdom, 1Kgs 2:10-12. Adonijah requests to have Abishag to wife, and is put to death by Solomon, 1Kgs 2:13-25. Abiathar the priest is banished to his estate at Anathoth, 1Kgs 2:26, 1Kgs 2:27. Joab, fearing for his life, flees to the horns of the altar, and is slain there by Benaiah, 1Kgs 2:28-34. Benaiah is made captain of the host in his stead, 1Kgs 2:35. Shimei is ordered to confine himself to Jerusalem, and never leave it on pain of death, 1Kgs 2:36-38. After three years he follows some of his runaway servants to Gath, and thereby forfeits his life, 1Kgs 2:39, 1Kgs 2:40. Solomon sends for him, upbraids him, and commands him to be slain by Benaiah, 1Kgs 2:41-46.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 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. (1Ki 2:5-11)

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Kings 2:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּקְרְב֥וּvai.yik.re.Vuand they drew nearH7126
יְמֵֽי\־ye.mei-[the] days ofH3117
דָוִ֖דda.VidDavidH1732
לָמ֑וּתla.Mutto dieH4191
וַיְצַ֛וvay.Tzavand he commandedH6680
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
שְׁלֹמֹ֥הshe.lo.MohSolomonH8010
בְנ֖וֹve.Noson hisH1121
לֵאמֹֽר\׃le.Mor<to> sayingH559

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Kings 2:1

  • Genesis 47:29

    And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

  • Deuteronomy 31:14

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Deuteronomy 31:23

    And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

  • Numbers 27:19

    And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

  • Deuteronomy 3:28

    But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

  • 2 Timothy 4:6

    For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

  • 2 Timothy 4:1

    I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

  • 2 Peter 1:13-15

    Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

  • 1 Timothy 1:18

    This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

  • 1 Timothy 6:13

    I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

  • Acts 20:28-31

    Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

  • Deuteronomy 33:1

    And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David, having given a charge to Solomon,
3 of religiousness;
5 of Joab;
7 of Barzillai;
8 of Shimei;
10 dies.
12 Solomon succeeds.
13 Adonijah, moving Bath-sheba to sue unto Solomon for Abishag, is put to death.
26 Abiathar, having his life given him, is deprived of the priesthood.
28 Joab fleeing to the horns of the altar, is there slain.
35 Benaiah is put in Joab's room, and Zadok in Abiathar's.
36 Shimei, confined to Jerusalem, by occasion of going thence to Gath, is put to death.

the days.
Ge 47:29; De 31:14; 33:1; 2Ti 4:6; 2Pe 1:13-15
charged.
Nu 27:19; De 3:28; 31:23; Ac 20:28-31; 1Ti 1:18; 6:13; 2Ti 4:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Kings 2:1

    Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

  • 1 Kings 2:2

    I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;

Read all of 1 Kings 2

1 Kings 2:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y LLEGÁRONSE los días de David para morir, y mandó á Salomón su hijo, diciendo:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et les jours de David s’approchèrent de la mort; et il commanda à Salomon, son fils, disant:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als nun die Tage Davids herannahten, daß er sterben sollte, gebot er seinem Sohne Salomo und sprach:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Appropinquaverunt autem dies David ut moreretur: præcepitque Salomoni filio suo, dicens: