1 Kings 2:2
ESV
"I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man,
NIV
"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, act like a man,
NASB
I am going the way of all the earth. So be strong, and prove yourself a man.
CSB
"As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth. Be strong and be a man,
NLT
I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man.
KJV
I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
NKJV
“I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.
What does 1 Kings 2:2 mean?
"The way of all the earth" is a poetic way of acknowledging what happens to every living thing, including every person. No matter how significant their lives may have seemed, every living thing dies. Solomon will later pen an entire book, Ecclesiastes, about whether men can find meaning if every life ends in death. David knows he will soon die. For now, Solomon listens as his father, Israel's greatest king, begins his final instructions about how to lead God's people. Those instructions begin with the firm words to be strong and to show himself to be a man.David directly urges the same thing shown in God's Word in general: for men to accept a calling to strength in carrying out the uniquely masculine duties God has given to them. The Lord also charged Joshua to be strong and courageous when tasking him to lead Israel into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 31:23). Paul concluded his letter to the Christians in Corinth by calling his male readers to "be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong, let all that you do be done in love" (1 Corinthians 16:13).
David's command to Solomon reveals it takes strength to obey the law of Moses (1 Kings 2:3). If Solomon will faithfully follow God by obeying His commandments, God will confirm His covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:5–16), and Solomon's son will reign in Israel (1 Kings 2:4).
