Holy Bible: Easy-To-Read Version

1 Kings 2:33-46 Holy Bible: Easy-To-Read Version (ETR)

33. He and his family will always be guilty for their deaths. But the Lord will bring peace to David, his descendants, his family of kings, and his kingdom forever.”

34. So Benaiah son of Jehoiada killed Joab, and he was buried near his home in the desert.

35. Solomon then made Benaiah son of Jehoiada the commander of the army in Joab’s place. Solomon also made Zadok the new high priest in Abiathar’s place.

36. Next, the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house here in Jerusalem to live in and don’t leave the city.

37. If you leave the city and go any further than Kidron Brook, you will be killed, and it will be your own fault.”

38. Shimei answered, “Yes, my king. I will obey you.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.

39. But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away. They went to King Achish of Gath, who was the son of Maacah. Shimei heard that his slaves were in Gath,

40. so he saddled his donkey and went to King Achish at Gath to find them. He found them there and brought them back home.

41. But someone told Solomon that Shimei had left Jerusalem and gone to Gath and back.

42. So Solomon sent for him and said, “I made you promise in the Lord’S name not to leave Jerusalem. And I warned you that if you went anywhere, you would die. And you agreed to what I said. You said that you would obey me.

43. So why didn’t you obey me? Why did you break your promise to the Lord?

44. You know all the bad things you did to my father David. Now the Lord will punish you for it.

45. But the Lord will bless me and keep David’s throne before him forever.”

46. Then the king ordered Benaiah to kill Shimei, and he did. So Solomon had full control of his kingdom.