Part 198 (1/2)

2:2. I am going the way of all flesh: take thou courage and shew thyself a man.

2:3. And keep the charge of the Lord thy G.o.d, to walk in his ways, and observe his ceremonies, and his precepts, and judgments, and testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses: that thou mayst understand all thou dost, and whithersoever thou shalt turn thyself:

2:4. That the Lord may confirm his words, which he hath spoken of me, saying: If thy children shall take heed to their ways, and shall walk before me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, there shall not be taken away from thee a man on the throne of Israel.

2:5. Thou knowest also what Joab, the son of Sarvia, hath done to me, what he did to the two captains of the army of Israel, to Abner, the son of Ner, and to Amasa, the son of Jether: whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

Joab... These instructions given by David to his son, with relation to Joab and Semei, proceeded not from any rancour of heart, or private pique; but from a zeal for justice, that crimes so public and heinous might not pa.s.s unpunished.

2:6. Do, therefore, according to thy wisdom, and let not his h.o.a.ry head go down to h.e.l.l in peace.

To h.e.l.l... This word h.e.l.l doth not here signify the place or state of d.a.m.nation; but the place and state of the dead.

2:7. But shew kindness to the sons of Berzellai, the Galaadite, and let them eat at thy table: for they met me when I fled from the face of Absalom, thy brother.

2:8. Thou hast also with thee Semei, the son of Gera, the son of Jemini, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse, when I went to the camp: but because he came down to meet me when I pa.s.sed over the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying: I will not kill thee with the sword:

2:9. Do not thou hold him guiltless. But thou art a wise man, and knowest what to do with him, and thou shalt bring down his grey hairs with blood to the grave.

2:10. So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

2:11. And the days that David reigned in Israel, were forty years: in Hebron he reigned seven years, in Jerusalem thirty-three.

2:12. And Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was strengthened exceedingly.

2:13. And Adonias, the son of Haggith, came to Bethsabee the mother of Solomon. And she said to him: Is thy coming peaceable? He answered: It is peaceable.

2:14. And he added: I have a word to speak with thee. She said to him: Speak. And he said:

2:15. Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had preferred me to be their king: but the kingdom is transferred, and is become my brother's: for it was appointed him by the Lord.

2:16. Now therefore, I ask one pet.i.tion of thee; turn not away my face.

And she said to him: Say on.

2:17. And he said I pray thee speak to king Solomon (for he cannot deny thee any thing) to give me Abisag, the Sunamitess, to wife.

2:18. And Bethsabee said: Well, I will speak for thee to the king.

2:19. Then Bethsabee came to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonias: and the king arose to meet her, and bowed to her, and sat down upon his throne: and a throne was set for the king's mother, and she sat on his right hand.

2:20. And she said to him: I desire one small pet.i.tion of thee; do not put me to confusion. And the king said to her: My mother ask, for I must not turn away thy face.

2:21. And she said: Let Abisag, the Sunamitess, be given to Adonias, thy brother, to wife.

2:22. And king Solomon answered, and said to his mother: Why dost thou ask Abisag, the Sunamitess, for Adonias? ask for him also the kingdom; for he is my elder brother, and hath Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, the son of Sarvia.

2:23. Then king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying: So and so may G.o.d do to me, and add more, if Adonias hath not spoken this word against his own life.

2:24. And now, as the Lord liveth, who hath established me, and placed me upon the throne of David, my father, and who hath made me a house, as he promised, Adonias shall be put to death this day.