Genesis 35:21 - Meaning and Application

David, that great and good man, is here seen as a dying man (1 Kings 2:1), and then as a dead man (1 Kings 2:10). It is a mercy that there is another life after this, because death takes the shine off all the glory of this world and lays it in the dust.

Here we have David’s charge and instructions to Solomon, his son and chosen successor, as David was dying. He feels himself weakening, and he does not hide it or fear to speak about death: “I am going the way of all the earth” (1 Kings 2:2). In Hebrew, the sense is, “I am walking in it.” Death is a way, not only the end of this life, but a passage to a better one. It is the way of all people who live on earth, and who are themselves made from the earth, so they must return to it. Even those who are heirs of heaven must go this way. Still, they walk it with hope, through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4). Prophets and even kings must travel this road to reach brighter light and honor than prophecy or kingship could give.

Because David is going this way, he gives Solomon clear directions for life. He tells him, in general, to keep God’s commandments and to take his duty seriously (1 Kings 2:2-4). He gives him a good rule to live by, the divine will: govern yourself by that. David’s command to him is to keep the charge of the Lord his God. A dying father’s authority is strong, but it is nothing compared with the authority of the living God. The Lord has given us important trusts to keep, and we must guard them carefully as people who will give an account. He has also given us good statutes to obey, and we must follow them. The written word is our rule. Solomon himself must live according to what was written in the law of Moses.

David also gives Solomon a good spirit to act with: “Be strong and show yourself a man,” though he was still young. Those who would keep the charge of the Lord their God need courage and firmness. He also gives good reasons for all this. It would help Solomon prosper in all he did, and succeed with honor and satisfaction. It would also help the kingdom last, so that the Lord may keep his word that he spoke concerning David. People who truly value God’s promise, that sacred trust, should care deeply about passing it on intact. They should want those who come after them to do nothing that cuts it off. In every generation, if each person keeps God’s charge, God will be faithful to keep his word. We never let go of the promise until we let go of the command.

God had promised David that the Messiah would come from his line, and that promise was unconditional. But the promise that there would always be a man on Israel’s throne was conditional, depending on whether David’s descendants behaved as they should. If Solomon, in his own day, keeps the condition, then he does his part to continue the promise. The condition is that he walk before God in all his ways, sincerely, with zeal and firm resolve. To do that, he must watch his steps closely. For steady faithfulness in religion, nothing is more necessary than care and caution.

David then gives Solomon directions about certain people, so that he may make up for past failures in justice and kindness. Concerning Joab, David says what should be done with him (1 Kings 2:5). David now knew he had done wrong to spare Joab after Joab had again made himself guilty under the law, especially by murdering Abner and then Amasa, both great men and captains in Israel. Joab killed them treacherously, shedding the blood of war in peace, and he also wronged David personally. “You know what he did to me,” David says. The murder of a subject is a wrong against the king, because it is a loss to his realm and a breach of the peace of the king’s government.

These murders were also against David in a personal way, because they harmed his reputation. At the time, he was dealing with the very men Joab killed, and they could have been of great service to him. Rulers are responsible to punish the shedding of the blood of those under their care. Joab’s guilt was worse because he showed no shame for his sin and no fear of punishment. He boldly kept on wearing the belt and shoes stained with innocent blood, as if he mocked both God’s justice and the king’s. David refers Joab’s case to Solomon’s wisdom (1 Kings 2:6), leaving him to do what justice required. No one should say, “He is an old man, so it would be a pity to kill him, since he will soon die anyway.” No, he should not go down to the grave in peace. Though he had been spared for a long time, he would still be called to account at last. Time does not wear out the guilt of murder.

Concerning Barzillai’s family, David tells Solomon to be kind to them for Barzillai’s sake, who by then was likely dead (1 Kings 2:7). David, even on his deathbed, remembered not only wrongs but also kindnesses. He leaves it as a charge to his son to repay them. The kindness we receive from friends must not be buried with them or with us. Our children should repay such kindness to their children. Perhaps Solomon later had this in mind when he said, “Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend” (Proverbs 27:10). Paul also prayed for the household of Onesiphorus, who had often refreshed him.

Concerning Shimei, David speaks as well (1 Kings 2:8-9). First, David remembers his crime: “He cursed me with a grievous curse.” It was made worse because he insulted David in his misery and poured vinegar into his wounds. The Jews say that part of what made this curse so grievous was that Shimei also mocked David for his descent from Ruth the Moabitess. Second, David does not forget Shimei’s pardon. He had sworn to him that he would not put him to death himself, because Shimei had in time submitted and cried out, “I have sinned.” David was not willing, especially at that moment, to use the public sword to punish wrongs done to himself. Third, David leaves Shimei’s case with Solomon, who knew what was right and would act when needed. David means that the pardon was not meant to last forever, only to spare Shimei during David’s life. “Do not hold him guiltless,” he says. Do not think he is truly your friend, or fit to be trusted with your government. He still has the same malice, even if he now knows how to hide it better.

Shimei still owed justice for what he had done, and though David promised not to kill him, he never promised that his successor would not. His restless spirit would soon give Solomon a reason to act, and Solomon should not fail to use it to bring his gray head down to the grave in blood. This was not personal revenge, but wise concern for the honor of the government and for the covenant God had made with David’s family. That covenant must not be despised without punishment. Even a gray head, if it is guilty and has forfeited mercy, should not protect a man from justice.

The sinner, even if he lives a hundred years, will still be under a curse (Isaiah 65:20).

David’s death and burial are described in 1 Kings 2:10. He was buried in the City of David, not in the burial place of his father, as Saul was. Instead, he was laid to rest in the city he had founded, where the thrones and tombs of David’s house were later placed. After serving his own generation according to God’s will, David fell asleep, was gathered to his fathers, and saw corruption, meaning his body decayed like any other man (Acts 13:36; see also Acts 2:29).

His grave inscription could be taken from 2 Samuel 23:1: Here lies David, son of Jesse, the man raised high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel. To that may be added his own words from Psalm 16:9, “My flesh also shall rest in hope.”

Josephus says that, besides the usual honor Solomon gave him at burial, Solomon placed a great amount of money in David’s tomb. He also says that 1,300 years later, as he calculates it, the tomb was opened by Hyrcanus the high priest in the time of Antiochus, and 3,000 talents were taken out for public use.

The years of David’s reign are counted here as forty years (1 Kings 2:11). The extra six months he ruled beyond seven years in Hebron are not included, only the full total is given.