וַיִּקְרְבוּ יְמֵי דָוִד לָמוּת וַיְצַו אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה בְנוֹ לֵאמֹר

The time for David to die approached, he sensed that his end was near; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying:

אָנֹכִי הֹלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הָאָרֶץ וְחָזַקְתָּ וְהָיִיתָ לְאִישׁ

I am going the way of all the earth, I will soon die; be strong, and become a man. You must be brave and act with maturity and wisdom. The instruction to be a man may also refer to the capacity of self-restraint.

וְשָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת מִשְׁמֶרֶת ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לָלֶכֶת בִּדְרָכָיו לִשְׁמֹר חֻקֹּתָיו מִצְוֹתָיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו וְעֵדְוֹתָיו כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה לְמַעַן תַּשְׂכִּיל אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר תִּפְנֶה שָׁם

You shall keep the commission of the Lord your God, to follow His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, as written in the Torah of Moses, so that you will succeed in everything that you do, and wherever you turn;

לְמַעַן יָקִים ה' אֶת דְּבָרוֹ אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר עָלַי לֵאמֹר אִם יִשְׁמְרוּ בָנֶיךָ אֶת דַּרְכָּם לָלֶכֶת לְפָנַי בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל לְבָבָם וּבְכָל נַפְשָׁם לֵאמֹר לֹא יִכָּרֵת לְךָ אִישׁ מֵעַל כִּסֵּא יִשְׂרָאֵל

so that the Lord will fulfill His word, His promise, that He spoke concerning me, saying: If your children keep their way, to walk before Me truly with all their heart and with all their soul, and the Lord continued, saying: Then a man of yours will never be eliminated from upon the throne of Israel. Your dynasty will endure.

וְגַם אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לִי יוֹאָב בֶּן צְרוּיָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לִשְׁנֵי שָׂרֵי צִבְאוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְאַבְנֵר בֶּן נֵר וְלַעֲמָשָׂא בֶן יֶתֶר וַיַּהַרְגֵם וַיָּשֶׂם דְּמֵי מִלְחָמָה בְּשָׁלֹם וַיִּתֵּן דְּמֵי מִלְחָמָה בַּחֲגֹרָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר בְּמָתְנָיו וּבְנַעֲלוֹ אֲשֶׁר בְּרַגְלָיו

Furthermore, you know that which Yoav son of Tzeruya did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Avner son of Ner and to Amasa son of Yeter. He killed them and shed the blood of war in peacetime. He shed blood even in times of peace by killing Avner after he had come to terms with David and by killing Amasa, who was on a mission from the king at the time, and he placed the blood of war on his belt that was on his waist and on his shoes that were on his feet. He became entirely soaked in blood.

וְעָשִׂיתָ כְּחָכְמָתֶךָ וְלֹא תוֹרֵד שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּשָׁלֹם שְׁאֹל

Act in accordance with your wisdom, and do not let his white hair descend in peace to the grave. I was unable to do so myself, due to my personal indebtedness to him, but you, Solomon, use your wisdom to find a way to punish him.

וְלִבְנֵי בַרְזִלַּי הַגִּלְעָדִי תַּעֲשֶׂה חֶסֶד וְהָיוּ בְּאֹכְלֵי שֻׁלְחָנֶךָ כִּי כֵן קָרְבוּ אֵלַי בְּבָרְחִי מִפְּנֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם אָחִיךָ

In contrast, act with kindness to the sons of Barzilai the Giladite; they shall be among those who eat at your table. Continue to sustain them in dignity, as they aided me by providing for my needs when I fled from Avshalom your brother.

וְהִנֵּה עִמְּךָ שִׁמְעִי בֶן גֵּרָא בֶן הַיְמִינִי מבַּחֻרִים וְהוּא קִלְלַנִי קְלָלָה נִמְרֶצֶת בְּיוֹם לֶכְתִּי מַחֲנָיִם וְהוּא יָרַד לִקְרָאתִי הַיַּרְדֵּן וָאֶשָּׁבַע לוֹ בַה' לֵאמֹר אִם אֲמִיתְךָ בֶּחָרֶב

Here with you is Shimi son of Gera, the Benjamite, from the tribe of Benjamin, of a place called Bahurim; he cursed me with a vehement curse on the day that I went to Mahanayim. He was the first who came down to meet me at the Jordan in order to request forgiveness when the rebellion was quelled, and I took an oath to him by the Lord, saying: I will not put you to death by the sword.

וְעַתָּה אַל תְּנַקֵּהוּ כִּי אִישׁ חָכָם אָתָּה וְיָדַעְתָּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה לּוֹ וְהוֹרַדְתָּ אֶת שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּדָם שְׁאוֹל

My oath stemmed from the delicate national circumstances at that unique time, and it applies only to me. Now you, who are not bound by that oath, do not absolve him of punishment, as you are a wise man; you will know what you should do to punish him, and you will cause his white hair to descend to the grave in blood.

וַיִּשְׁכַּב דָּוִד עִם אֲבֹתָיו וַיִּקָּבֵר בְּעִיר דָּוִד

After delivering his last instructions to Solomon, David lay with his fathers, and he was buried in the City of David.

וְהַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר מָלַךְ דָּוִד עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה בְּחֶבְרוֹן מָלַךְ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים וּבִירוּשָׁלִַם מָלַךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים וְשָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים

The days that David reigned over Israel were a total of forty years: In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all of Israel for thirty-three years. Since David was thirty years old when he became king, he was seventy when he died.

וּשְׁלֹמֹה יָשַׁב עַל כִּסֵּא דָּוִד אָבִיו וַתִּכֹּן מַלְכֻתוֹ מְאֹד

Solomon succeeded David and sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was firmly established. He became a successful king.

וַיָּבֹא אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ בֶן חַגִּית אֶל בַּת שֶׁבַע אֵם שְׁלֹמֹה וַתֹּאמֶר הֲשָׁלוֹם בֹאֶךָ וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁלוֹם

Adoniyahu son of Hagit came to visit Bathsheba mother of Solomon. They had lived under the same roof, and the relationship between them was cordial. She said: Are you coming in peace? He said: Peace.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּבָר לִי אֵלָיִךְ וַתֹּאמֶר דַּבֵּר

He said: I would have a word with you. She said: Speak.

וַיֹּאמֶר אַתְּ יָדַעַתְּ כִּי לִי הָיְתָה הַמְּלוּכָה וְעָלַי שָׂמוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל פְּנֵיהֶם לִמְלֹךְ וַתִּסֹּב הַמְּלוּכָה וַתְּהִי לְאָחִי כִּי מֵה' הָיְתָה לּוֹ

He said: You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel turned toward me to reign, but the kingship has turned aside from me, and it has become Solomon my brother’s, as it was his from the Lord. I have no complaints about the way matters turned out.

וְעַתָּה שְׁאֵלָה אַחַת אָנֹכִי שֹׁאֵל מֵאִתָּךְ אַל תָּשִׁבִי אֶת פָּנָי וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו דַּבֵּר

Now I am requesting one request from you; do not reject me. Please do not disappoint me in my request. She said to him: Speak. I am listening.

וַיֹּאמֶר אִמְרִי נָא לִשְׁלֹמֹה הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי לֹא יָשִׁיב אֶת פָּנָיִךְ וְיִתֶּן לִי אֶת אֲבִישַׁג הַשּׁוּנַמִּית לְאִשָּׁה

He said: Please talk with Solomon the king; I am submitting my request through you, as he will not reject you; my request is that he give me Avishag the Shunamite as a wife. This request might explain why an earlier verse emphasized Avishag’s beauty (1:4). Adoniya had met Avishag in his father’s house, and as she was David’s attendant rather than his wife, Adoniya apparently saw nothing wrong with marrying her.

וַתֹּאמֶר בַּת שֶׁבַע טוֹב אָנֹכִי אֲדַבֵּר עָלֶיךָ אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ

Bathsheba said: Very well, I have heard you, and I will speak on your behalf to the king.

וַתָּבֹא בַת שֶׁבַע אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה לְדַבֶּר לוֹ עַל אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ וַיָּקָם הַמֶּלֶךְ לִקְרָאתָהּ וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ לָהּ וַיֵּשֶׁב עַל כִּסְאוֹ וַיָּשֶׂם כִּסֵּא לְאֵם הַמֶּלֶךְ וַתֵּשֶׁב לִימִינוֹ

Bathsheba came to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adoniyahu. The king rose to meet her, to show her honor, and he prostrated himself to her, as a son respecting his mother; he sat on his throne and on his instructions his attendants placed a throne for the king’s mother, and she sat to his right.

וַתֹּאמֶר שְׁאֵלָה אַחַת קְטַנָּה אָנֹכִי שֹׁאֶלֶת מֵאִתָּךְ אַל תָּשֶׁב אֶת פָּנָי וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ הַמֶּלֶךְ שַׁאֲלִי אִמִּי כִּי לֹא אָשִׁיב אֶת פָּנָיִךְ

She said: One small request I request of you; do not reject me. The king said to her: Ask, my mother, for I will not reject you.

וַתֹּאמֶר יֻתַּן אֶת אֲבִישַׁג הַשֻּׁנַמִּית לַאֲדֹנִיָּהוּ אָחִיךָ לְאִשָּׁה

She said: Let Avishag the Shunamite be given to Adoniyahu your brother as a wife. You can issue an order to this effect.

וַיַּעַן הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה וַיֹּאמֶר לְאִמּוֹ וְלָמָה אַתְּ שֹׁאֶלֶת אֶת אֲבִישַׁג הַשֻּׁנַמִּית לַאֲדֹנִיָּהוּ וְשַׁאֲלִי לוֹ אֶת הַמְּלוּכָה כִּי הוּא אָחִי הַגָּדוֹל מִמֶּנִּי וְלוֹ וּלְאֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֵן וּלְיוֹאָב בֶּן צְרוּיָה

King Solomon answered and said to his mother: Why do you request only Avishag the Shunamite for Adoniyahu? Request for him the kingdom as well, for he is my older brother; and it, the throne, was virtually his, and Evyatar the priest’s, and Yoav son of Tzeruya’s, the men who supported him.

וַיִּשָּׁבַע הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה בַּה' לֵאמֹר כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה לִּי אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יוֹסִיף כִּי בְנַפְשׁוֹ דִּבֶּר אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ אֶת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה

King Solomon took an oath by the Lord, saying: So shall God do to me, and so shall He continue. He should afflict me with a punishment, if I do not fulfill the following statement, for it is at the cost of his life that Adoniyahu has spoken of this matter. He will pay for this request with his life.

וְעַתָּה חַי ה' אֲשֶׁר הֱכִינַנִי וַיּוֹשִׁיבַנִי עַל כִּסֵּא דָּוִד אָבִי וַאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לִי בַּיִת כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר כִּי הַיּוֹם יוּמַת אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ

Now, as the Lord lives, who has established and seated me on the throne of David my father, and who has provided me with a royal house, as He has spoken through Natan the prophet, for it is today that Adoniyahu will be put to death.

וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה בְּיַד בְּנָיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע וַיִּפְגַּע בּוֹ וַיָּמֹת

King Solomon sent by the hand of Benayahu son of Yehoyada, his loyal supporter; and he struck him, Adoniya, down, and he died.

וּלְאֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֵן אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ עֲנָתֹת לֵךְ עַל שָׂדֶיךָ כִּי אִישׁ מָוֶת אָתָּה וּבַיּוֹם הַזֶּה לֹא אֲמִיתֶךָ כִּי נָשָׂאתָ אֶת אֲרוֹן ה' אֱלוֹהִים לִפְנֵי דָּוִד אָבִי וְכִי הִתְעַנִּיתָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הִתְעַנָּה אָבִי

to Evyatar the priest the king said: Go to the city of priests, Anatot, to your fields; cease serving as High Priest, as you are deserving of death. Solomon suspected that Evyatar or Yoav had orchestrated the plot and enticed Adoniya. But nevertheless, I will not put you to death this day, because you carried the Ark of the Lord God before David my father on his wanderings as a refugee, and because you suffered in all that my father suffered.

וַיְגָרֶשׁ שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת אֶבְיָתָר מִהְיוֹת כֹּהֵן לַה' לְמַלֵּא אֶת דְּבַר ה' אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר עַל בֵּית עֵלִי בְּשִׁלֹה

Solomon banished Evyatar from being a priest to the Lord. It might at first seem that Evyatar was simply being punished for conspiring with Adoniya, and he would have retained his status as High Priest had he not done so. However, on a deeper level, he was removed from his post as this was fulfilling the word of the Lord that He spoke by means of the prophet Samuel concerning the house of Eli in Shilo. According to that prophecy, the house of Eli would forfeit its lofty status, and its members would have to rely on other priests. Solomon was acting for his own reasons, and he did not mention the sins of Evyatar’s family, but the verse takes pains to note that many years later, after a whole host of complex events, the prophecy came to pass.

וְהַשְּׁמֻעָה בָּאָה עַד יוֹאָב כִּי יוֹאָב נָטָה אַחֲרֵי אֲדֹנִיָּה וְאַחֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם לֹא נָטָה וַיָּנָס יוֹאָב אֶל אֹהֶל ה' וַיַּחֲזֵק בְּקַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ

The tidings about what had happened to Adoniya and Evyatar came to Yoav, as Yoav had inclined after Adoniya, although he had not inclined after Avshalom. In any case, when Yoav heard of Adoniya’s fate, he acted to save himself: Yoav fled to the Tent of the Lord and grasped the horns of the altar seeking refuge.

וַיֻּגַּד לַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה כִּי נָס יוֹאָב אֶל אֹהֶל ה' וְהִנֵּה אֵצֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיִּשְׁלַח שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת בְּנָיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע לֵאמֹר לֵךְ פְּגַע בּוֹ

It was told to King Solomon: Yoav has fled to the Tent of the Lord, and behold, he is near the altar. Solomon sent Benayahu son of Yehoyada, saying: Go, strike him down. Benayahu, like Yoav in earlier times, fulfilled the role of the king’s executioner. He had killed Adoniya on Solomon’s command, and now he was sent to end Yoav’s life.

וַיָּבֹא בְנָיָהוּ אֶל אֹהֶל ה' וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו כֹּה אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ צֵא וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא כִּי פֹה אָמוּת וַיָּשֶׁב בְּנָיָהוּ אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּבָר לֵאמֹר כֹּה דִבֶּר יוֹאָב וְכֹה עָנָנִי

Benayahu came to the Tent of the Lord and said to him: So said the king: Come out from here. He, Yoav, said: No, as I will die here. If you have come to kill me, I prefer to die here rather than outside. Since it is improper to kill someone in the Tent of Meeting or near the altar of God, Benayahu did not act, but brought back word to the king, saying: So said Yoav, and so he answered me. He cited their exchange in detail.

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ עֲשֵׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר וּפְגַע בּוֹ וּקְבַרְתּוֹ וַהֲסִירֹתָ דְּמֵי חִנָּם אֲשֶׁר שָׁפַךְ יוֹאָב מֵעָלַי וּמֵעַל בֵּית אָבִי

The king said to him: Do as he said: Strike him down and bury him. If he wishes to die near the altar, kill him there. Solomon remained cool and level-headed, while disregarding all factors other than his desire to proceed in accordance with what he felt was the correct policy. In this particular case he was also fulfilling his father’s wishes to punish Yoav. Solomon continued: And you will thereby remove the innocent blood that Yoav shed from upon me and from upon my father’s house. When Yoav is finally punished, the blood he spilled will no longer be considered an iniquity of the house of David.

וְהֵשִׁיב ה' אֶת דָּמוֹ עַל רֹאשׁוֹ אֲשֶׁר פָּגַע בִּשְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים צַדִּקִים וְטֹבִים מִמֶּנּוּ וַיַּהַרְגֵם בַּחֶרֶב וְאָבִי דָוִד לֹא יָדָע אֶת אַבְנֵר בֶּן נֵר שַׂר צְבָא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת עֲמָשָׂא בֶן יֶתֶר שַׂר צְבָא יְהוּדָה

The Lord will repay his blood upon his head, take vengeance upon him, in that he struck down two men more righteous and better than he; he killed them with the sword, and my father David did not know. Yoav had concealed his moves from the king when he killed Avner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Yeter, commander of the army of Judah.

וְשָׁבוּ דְמֵיהֶם בְּרֹאשׁ יוֹאָב וּבְרֹאשׁ זַרְעוֹ לְעֹלָם וּלְדָוִד וּלְזַרְעוֹ וּלְבֵיתוֹ וּלְכִסְאוֹ יִהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם עַד עוֹלָם מֵעִם ה'

Their blood will be repaid on the head of Yoav, and on the head of his descendants forever; but for David, for his descendants, for his house, and for his throne, there will be peace forever from the Lord.

וַיַּעַל בְּנָיָהוּ בֶּן יְהוֹיָדָע וַיִּפְגַּע בּוֹ וַיְמִתֵהוּ וַיִּקָּבֵר בְּבֵיתוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּר

Benayahu son of Yehoyada went up to the altar, struck him down, and put him to death, thereby carrying out the king’s order. And he, Yoav, was buried in his own house in the wilderness, at the border of the wilderness.

וַיִּתֵּן הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת בְּנָיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע תַּחְתָּיו עַל הַצָּבָא וְאֶת צָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן נָתַן הַמֶּלֶךְ תַּחַת אֶבְיָתָר

The king appointed Benayahu son of Yehoyada in his place over the army. Yoav had served as the senior commander of the army, while Benayahu had merely been in charge of a special unit within the military. Now, perhaps as a reward for Benayahu’s loyalty and obedience to the king, Solomon appointed him over the entire army of Israel, instead of Yoav. And the king appointed Tzadok the priest in place of Evyatar.

וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּקְרָא לְשִׁמְעִי וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ בְּנֵה לְךָ בַיִת בִּירוּשָׁלִַם וְיָשַׁבְתָּ שָׁם וְלֹא תֵצֵא מִשָּׁם אָנֶה וָאָנָה

The text mentions another deed of Solomon that was in accordance with his father’s last wishes: The king sent and summoned Shimi, and said to him: Build a house in Jerusalem and live there, and you shall not leave there, Jerusalem, to go anywhere. I do not trust you to go anywhere else.

וְהָיָה בְּיוֹם צֵאתְךָ וְעָבַרְתָּ אֶת נַחַל קִדְרוֹן יָדֹעַ תֵּדַע כִּי מוֹת תָּמוּת דָּמְךָ יִהְיֶה בְרֹאשֶׁךָ

It shall be that on the day that you leave the city and cross the Kidron Valley, know that you will die; your blood will be on your own head. Your disobedience of my order to stay in Jerusalem will be your own death sentence.

וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁמְעִי לַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב הַדָּבָר כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ כֵּן יַעֲשֶׂה עַבְדֶּךָ וַיֵּשֶׁב שִׁמְעִי בִּירוּשָׁלִַם יָמִים רַבִּים

Shimi said to the king: The arrangement is good; as my lord the king has spoken, so will your servant do. Shimi stayed in Jerusalem for many days, several years.

וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים וַיִּבְרְחוּ שְׁנֵי עֲבָדִים לְשִׁמְעִי אֶל אָכִישׁ בֶּן מַעֲכָה מֶלֶךְ גַּת וַיַּגִּידוּ לְשִׁמְעִי לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה עֲבָדֶיךָ בְּגַת

It was at the end of three years, and two of Shimi’s slaves fled and made their way to Akhish son of Maakha, king of Gat. They told Shimi, saying: Behold, your slaves are in Gat.

וַיָּקָם שִׁמְעִי וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ אֶת חֲמֹרוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ גַּתָה אֶל אָכִישׁ לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת עֲבָדָיו וַיֵּלֶךְ שִׁמְעִי וַיָּבֵא אֶת עֲבָדָיו מִגַּת

Shimi rose and saddled his donkey, and he went to Gat to Akhish king of Gat, to seek his slaves. Shimi went and brought his slaves from Gat. Since three years had passed during which Shimi had not heard from the king, he was convinced that there was nothing wrong with this routine trip.

וַיֻּגַּד לִשְׁלֹמֹה כִּי הָלַךְ שִׁמְעִי מִירוּשָׁלִַם גַּת וַיָּשֹׁב

It was told to Solomon that Shimi had gone from Jerusalem to Gat and had returned.

וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּקְרָא לְשִׁמְעִי וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הֲלוֹא הִשְׁבַּעְתִּיךָ בַה' וָאָעִד בְּךָ לֵאמֹר בְּיוֹם צֵאתְךָ וְהָלַכְתָּ אָנֶה וָאָנָה יָדֹעַ תֵּדַע כִּי מוֹת תָּמוּת וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלַי טוֹב הַדָּבָר שָׁמָעְתִּי

The king sent and summoned Shimi, and he said to him: Did I not administer an oath to you by the Lord, and I warned you, saying: On the day you leave and go anywhere, know that you will die? You said to me: The arrangement is good; I have heard and accepted it.

וּמַדּוּעַ לֹא שָׁמַרְתָּ אֵת שְׁבֻעַת ה' וְאֶת הַמִּצְוָה אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי עָלֶיךָ

Why did you not observe the oath of the Lord and the commandment that I commanded you? This was more of an accusation than a question.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל שִׁמְעִי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֵת כָּל הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר יָדַע לְבָבְךָ אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ לְדָוִד אָבִי וְהֵשִׁיב ה' אֶת רָעָתְךָ בְּרֹאשֶׁךָ

The king said to Shimi: You know all the evil that your heart knows that you did to David my father; the Lord has now repaid your evil on your head.

והַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה בָּרוּךְ וְכִסֵּא דָוִד יִהְיֶה נָכוֹן לִפְנֵי ה' עַד עוֹלָם

But King Solomon is blessed, in sharp contrast to the grievous curse you pronounced against my father, which has now returned upon your own head, and the throne of David will be firmly established before the Lord forever.

וַיְצַו הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת בְּנָיָהוּ בֶּן יְהוֹיָדָע וַיֵּצֵא וַיִּפְגַּע בּוֹ וַיָּמֹת וְהַמַּמְלָכָה נָכוֹנָה בְּיַד שְׁלֹמֹה

The king commanded Benayahu son of Yehoyada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. Solomon had ascended to the throne a determined man and, without letting emotions get in his way, he had set about to fulfill his late father’s wishes and to proceed as he saw fit. Thus his reign was indeed stabilized.