Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying:
Parallel translations
- WEB Now the days of David came near that he should die; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying,
- KJV Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
- BSB As the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon,
- NASB As David’s time to die drew near, he commanded his son Solomon, saying,
- NLT As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
As David nears death, he gives final charges to Solomon. The dying king prepares his son for faithful rule.
Overview
David's approaching death prompts a solemn farewell address to his heir, much as the patriarchs and Moses gave parting instructions. The setting underscores the weight of the counsel that follows. David's charge frames Solomon's reign around covenant faithfulness and unfinished obligations of justice.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Gen 47:29The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don’t bury me in Egypt,
- Deut 31:14Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, your days approach that you must die. Call Joshua, and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may commission him.” Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Tim 1:18This instruction I commit to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you may wage the good warfare;
- Num 27:19Set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their sight.
- Deut 3:28But commission 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 you shall see.”
- 2 Tim 4:6For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come.
- Deut 31:23He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore to them. I will be with you.”
- 2 Pet 1:13–15I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you;
- Acts 20:28–31Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
- 1 Tim 6:13I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,
- 2 Tim 4:1I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom:
- Deut 33:1This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 2:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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