The last words of David

Currents in Theology and Mission, Feb, 2004 by Ralph W. Klein

Most scholars believe that the theological admonitions in vv. 3-4 are part of the Deuteronomistic Historian's effort to show why the kingdom eventually did fall since Solomon and his descendants did not keep the statutes, commandments, etc., and therefore did not merit success or meet the requirement for a perpetual dynastic succession. But the second paragraph, that we have called the third "last words of David," vv. 5-9, contains older material in which David gives political or practical advice to his son that no doubt helped to legitimate Solomon's controversial actions.

That second paragraph is "real politics" and basically has David say to Solomon, "Don't make the same mistake that I did by letting your enemies live." Joab had murdered Abner, who had made peace with David and had promised to deliver the allegiance of the Northern tribes to him (2 Sam 2:6-21). Joab had felt aggrieved because Abner had killed Joab's brother Asahel during a battle (2 Sam 2:12-23), and Joab had killed Abner by stabbing him in the stomach (2 Sam 2:22-30). David had mourned for Abner and professed his own innocence in this death, and he complained that Joab and the other sons of Zeruiah were too violent (2 Sam 2:31-39).

The second person Joab had killed was Amasa, who had been Absalom's army commander when he had revolted against David (2 Sam 17:25). After Joab had killed Absalom (2 Sam 18:14), David appointed Amasa to replace Joab as leader of the army (2 Sam 19:13). (8) When Amasa took too long in assembling the army to fight the rebel Sheba, Joab killed him by striking him in the belly (2 Sam 20:4-10). David felt that he was under a sentence of blood guilt because of the actions of Joab (see my translation of v. 5 above), and Solomon also felt that he and his father's house shared guilt for the blood Joab had shed (1 Kgs 2:31). Later Benaiah struck down Joab at Solomon's command, even though Joab had sought asylum beside the altar (1 Kgs 2:29-30, 34).

Shimei had cursed David during the revolt of Absalom. When Abishai, the brother of Joab, wanted to kill him, David prevented him and noted that Yahweh had instructed Shimei to curse him (2 Sam 16:5-13). At the end of Absalom's rebellion, Shimei threw himself down before David, confessed his sin, and begged for his life. David again rejected Abishai's offer to kill Shimei, and swore to Shimei, "You shall not die" (2 Sam 19:16-23). In these "last words" to Solomon, however, David authorizes the assassination of Shimei, which was carried out by Benaiah under somewhat controversial circumstances, when three years later Shimei had left Jerusalem to pursue runaway slaves (1 Kgs 2:36-46). This execution of Shimei by Solomon was "justified" by David's last words. David's memory of his earlier oath gets reworded: "I will not kill you by the sword" replaces the earlier "You will not die." This gave Solomon and Benaiah authority to do what David had excluded only for himself.

Barzillai the Gileadite had befriended David in Transjordan during the revolt of Absalom (2 Sam 17:27-29), but Barzillai, because of age, had declined the king's invitation to come to Jerusalem and live from his provisions (2 Sam 19:31-38). David's instructions to Solomon to host the children of Barzillai at his table may not have been completely benign. To eat at the king's table meant that such people were under the king's observation and control (cf. 2 Sam 9:7, 13; 1 Kgs 18:19; 2 Kgs 25:29). Some scholars have suspected that Barzillai had knowledge of iron-smelting technology, which would be necessary for the king's army. However that may be, David's advice with regard to Joab and Shimei seems to offer convenient legitimation for two controversial assassinations by Solomon.