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1 Kings 2:36-46 | Bible Study

The Kingdom is Solomon's

Solomon's Final Enemy

This passage concludes the first section of 1-2 Kings.

Every story has had one main objective: show how Solomon became king of Israel.

After executing Adonijah (1 Kings 2:13-25) and Joab and exiling Abiathar (1 Kings 2:26-35), Solomon turns his attention to one final threat: Shimei.

Let's look at the passage and see what's happening.

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1 Kings 2:36-46 (NRSV) with highlights

36 Then the king sent and summoned Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and live there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever. 37 For on the day you go out, and cross the Wadi Kidron, know for certain that you shall die; your blood shall be on your own head.” 38 And Shimei said to the king, “The sentence is fair; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.

39 But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath. When it was told Shimei, “Your slaves are in Gath,” 40 Shimei arose and saddled a donkey, and went to Achish in Gath, to search for his slaves; Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath. 41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned, 42 the king sent and summoned Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord, and solemnly adjure you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any place whatever, you shall die’? And you said to me, ‘The sentence is fair; I accept.’ 43 Why then have you not kept your oath to the Lord and the commandment with which I charged you?” 44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your own heart all the evil that you did to my father David; so the Lord will bring back your evil on your own head. 45 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever.” 46 Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

Shimei in other passages

In 2 Samuel 16:5-14, Shimei throws rocks at David and curses him. It’s important to remember that Shimei comes from Saul’s family. He curses David because he believes David took the kingdom from Saul and murdered his family (2 Sam 16:8). David keeps his men from killing Shimei because he believes God might be the one behind Shimei’s actions.

It’s striking to see Shimei’s name listed in 1 Kings 1. Some scholars think the Shimei mentioned in 1 Kings 1:8 is a different person from the one who accosted David. Notice, however, that 1 Kings 1:8 does not say that Shimei is on Solomon’s side. It just says that he did not support Adonijah.

In fact, Shimei does not appear again in the story of Solomon’s rise to power. We should probably understand Shimei as a third, minor party in the quest for the throne. Though he has no chance at becoming king, the reference to him acknowledges the presence of those who would want the kingdom to go back to the family of Saul.

Solomon's Ironic Words

Solomon places Shimei under house arrest. He can never leave his town or he will die. For the next three years, Solomon has Shimei watched closely. The moment his enemy slips up, Solomon is ready to pounce.

Solomon spends the majority of his speech explaining how Shimei is responsible for his own death. However, at the end of the speech Solomon reveals the true reason Shimei must die: his actions against David. In the end, Solomon’s speech ironically reveals his act of vengeance. Shimei never stood a chance.

The Kingdom is Established?

The final half of 1 Kings 2:46 states that the kingdom was firmly established in Solomon’s hand. This statement recalls the previous comment from 1 Kings 2:12. The events between these verses detail how the kingdom was established: through bloodshed.

On the level of ancient politics, Solomon’s bloody rise to power is not unique. Many ancient royal figures consolidated their authority by executing any perceived threats.

On the level of biblical ethics, however, Solomon’s actions are suspect at best. According to Deuteronomy 17:18, the first act of any king in Israel was to read the law. Solomon’s first acts are murder.

With that in mind, is Solomon’s kingdom really established? Or, are there cracks in the foundation from the very beginning?