1 Kings 2:1-9

1As David’s 12time to die drew near, he commanded his son Solomon, saying, 2“3I am going the way of all the earth. So 4be strong, and 5prove yourself a man. 3Do your duty to the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to 6keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, 7according to what is written in the Law of Moses, so that 8you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4so that 9the Lord may fulfill His 10promise which He spoke regarding me, saying, ‘11If your sons are careful about their way, 12to walk before Me in 13truth with all their heart and all their soul, 1415you shall not be deprived of a man to occupy the throne of Israel.’

5“Now you yourself also know what Joab the 16son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to 17Abner the son of Ner and to 18Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed; he also 19shed the blood of war in peace. And he put the blood of war on his belt that was on his waist, and on his sandals that were on his feet. 620So act as your wisdom dictates, and do not let his gray hair go down to 21Sheol in peace. 7However, 22show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and 23let them be among those who eat at your table; 24for 25they assisted me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8And behold, you have with you 26Shimei the son of Gera the Benjaminite, of Bahurim; now it was he who cursed me with a painful curse on the day I went to Mahanaim. But when 27he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9But now do not leave him unpunished, 28for you are a wise man; and you will know what to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to 29Sheol with blood.”