1 KINGS LESSON 4


     We will begin this lesson in I Kings 2:26  "And unto Abiathar the
priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for
thou [art] worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to
death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my
father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father
was afflicted."

     Abiathar was in confederacy with Adonijah against Solomon. The
only reason that Solomon does not kill him at this time, is because he
is a priest who had handled the ark. Solomon has respect for the
office of priest. It seemed, he conspired with Adonijah to try to take
the office of king from Solomon. He deserves to die, but the death is
deferred, because of his work as priest. He sends him to his family's
farm to work.

     I Kings 2:27 "So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest
unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he
spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh."

     I Samuel 3:12 "In that day I will perform against Eli all
[things] which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I
will also make an end." I Samuel 3:13 "For I have told him that I will
judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because
his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not." It seems,
Abiathar was of the personality of Eli's sons who sinned. Abiathar was
the fourth generation from Eli. It is Abiathar's sin that was judged,
here.

     I Kings 2:28  "Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned
after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto
the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the
altar."

     David had told Solomon to kill Joab for his sins. Joab knows he
deserves to die, for turning against Solomon, and scheming for his
overthrow. He had been faithful to Adonijah, when he desired to be
king. The tidings, spoken of above, are of Adonijah's death, and
Abiathar being sent away. Joab knows he is to be next, so he flees to
the tabernacle, and takes hold of the horns of the altar for mercy.

     I Kings 2:29 "And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled
unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, [he is] by the altar.
Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon
him."

     Benaiah had killed Adonijah for Solomon, and now he sends him to
kill Joab. Just the fact that Joab fled to the tabernacle, admits his
guilt.

     I Kings 2:30 "And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and
said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but
I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus
said Joab, and thus he answered me."

     Benaiah did not want to kill Joab, while he was hanging on to the
horns of the altar. He came back and told Solomon where he was, and
what he had said. Joab was, probably, convinced they would not kill
him at the altar.

     I Kings 2:31 "And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and
fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent
blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father."

     This latest attempt to take the kingdom away from Solomon, was
not really what Solomon wanted him killed for. He had brutally killed
others. He had disobeyed David, and killed Absalom, as well.

     I Kings 2:32 "And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own
head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and
slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing [thereof, to
wit], Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa
the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah."

     Joab had killed these other two, Abner, and Amasa without any
warning. He was not acting on orders from David, when he had done
this. These were murder. He tricked them, and then killed them for
self-gain. He was greedy for power, and killed them. These murders are
his alone to pay for. David did not tell him to do this.

     I Kings 2:33 "Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of
Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon
his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be
peace for ever from the LORD."

     The killing of Joab would not be murder. His killing is in
punishment for the sins he had committed. This killing is justified in
the sight of the LORD. There would be no curse coming from this.

     I Kings 2:34 "So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell
upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the
wilderness."

     Benaiah was the executioner. He killed Joab, as Solomon had
instructed him to do. They buried him in the garden of his own house.

     I Kings 2:35  "And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in
his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the
room of Abiathar."

     Joab had been commander of the army. Since it was Benaiah who
killed Joab, Solomon made him commander of the army. Zadok had been
the priest for his father, David. We had already remarked how unusual
it was to have two high priests. This same Zadok will, now, be high
priest, in the place of Abiathar.

     I Kings 2:36  "And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said
unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go
not forth thence any whither."

     This order for Shemei to build a home in Jerusalem, is so Solomon
and his men can keep an eye on him. He is one who would stir up
trouble, if he could. It would be better for him to be close by under
constant surveillance. He was not to travel to other towns. Solomon is
suddenly being more careful, since Adonijah tried to take the kingdom
by trickery.

     I Kings 2:37 "For it shall be, [that] on the day thou goest out,
and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that
thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head."

     Shimei is really under house arrest. He is not to leave
Jerusalem, and go back toward his old land on threat of death. It was
across the Kidron, where he had spoken the curses on David. Solomon
does not want him to have a chance to cause an uprising.

     I Kings 2:38 "And Shimei said unto the king, The saying [is]
good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And
Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days."

     Shimei had agreed to the terms. He was, possibly, just thankful
that David did not kill him before.

     I Kings 2:39 "And it came to pass at the end of three years, that
two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king
of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants [be] in
Gath."

     He kept to Jerusalem for three years without leaving. He,
possibly, had set up the escape of the servants to have an excuse to
cross the Kidron. We do not know this to be true, however. He might
have just been excited by the news of his servants getting away.

     I Kings 2:40 "And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to
Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his
servants from Gath."

     He did return home with his servants, after he had found them.

     I Kings 2:41 "And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from
Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again."

     We remember, that Solomon had told him, if he did this, he would
kill him. He has done what Solomon warned him not to do. Worse than
that, someone saw him, and reported it to Solomon.

     I Kings 2:42 "And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said
unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto
thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and
walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou
saidst unto me, The word [that] I have heard [is] good." I Kings 2:43
"Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment
that I have charged thee with?"

     Shimei had used very poor judgement in promising to do one thing,
and doing something else entirely. He should have realized that
Solomon had spared his life, when he killed Adonijah. Solomon
inquires, why he would go across the Kidron, knowing he would be
killed for it?

     I Kings 2:44 "The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all
the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David
my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine
own head;"

     It seems, that Shimei was plotting privately against Solomon, as
he had against his father. Solomon explains to him, that he must kill
him, because he is evil.

     I Kings 2:45 "And king Solomon [shall be] blessed, and the throne
of David shall be established before the LORD for ever."

     Solomon is getting rid of all of those, his father had warned him
of. He is setting up his kingdom for a peaceful kingdom.

     I Kings 2:46 "So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada;
which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was
established in the hand of Solomon."

     Solomon sends Benaiah, his commander, to execute judgement on
Shimei. He kills him with the sword. The uprising against Solomon is
over. Solomon's promise to David is done, as well.






















                        1 Kings 4 Questions


1.  Where did Solomon send Abiathar?
2.  Why did David not put him to death?
3.  Who had Abiathar been in confederacy with?
4.  Where in First Samuel, do we read of the judgement of Eli and his
    descendents?
5.  What is Abiathar to Eli?
6.  David had told Solomon to ________ Joab.
7.  Where did Joab run for safety?
8.  What caused him to go there at this time?
9.  Who did Solomon send to kill Joab?
10. What did he try to get Joab to do?
11. What had Joab said, when Benaiah tried to get him outside of the
    tabernacle?
12. What did Solomon say was the reason for killing Joab?
13. Who will be guilty for Joab's death?
14. Who had he killed, that Solomon said were better men than he was?
15. Why had Joab killed them?
16. Why would the killing of Joab not be murder?
17. Where did they bury Joab?
18. Who took Joab's place as the commander of the army?
19. Who became high priest in the place of Abiathar?
20. What did Solomon tell Shimei to do, to save his life?
21. Why did Solomon tell him to do this?
22. How long did Shimei do what Solomon had ordered him to do?
23. What caused him to break the ordinance?
24. What happened, when Solomon found out what he had done?
25. Where did Solomon say, that Shimei's wickedness was?
26. Who killed Shimei?