The Call of Elisha
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, h“Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and itook the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, s“So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”
David’s Instructions to Solomon
1 When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 w“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, xthat you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to ywalk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack1 a man on the throne of Israel.’
5 “Moreover, you also know zwhat Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging2 in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war3 on the belt around his4 waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his agray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But deal loyally with the sons of bBarzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who ceat at your table, for dwith such loyalty5 they met me when I efled from Absalom your brother. 8 And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, fwho cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But gwhen he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”
The Death of David
10 hThen David slept with his fathers iand was buried in the city of David. 11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned jseven years kin Hebron and thirty-three years lin Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.
Solomon’s Reign Established
13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, “Do you come peacefully?” He said, “Peacefully.” 14 Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” She said, “Speak.” 15 He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, for it was his mfrom the Lord.
