1 Kings 2:46
ESV
Then the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
NIV
Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and he died. The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands.
NASB
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him so that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon.
CSB
Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in Solomon’s hand.
NLT
Then, at the king’s command, Benaiah son of Jehoiada took Shimei outside and killed him. So the kingdom was now firmly in Solomon’s grip.
KJV
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
NKJV
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
What does 1 Kings 2:46 mean?
Once again, Solomon commands Benaiah, now the commander of Israel's entire army, to carry out an execution. This time, the man sentenced to death is Shimei, who cursed David as he and his men fled from Absalom. Shimei's ranting questioned David's right to rule Israel and showed his support for Absalom's rebellion. Solomon allowed Shimei to live as long as he obeyed the order to stay in Jerusalem. Three years later, Shimei casually defied Solomon's authority, and Solomon brought him to justice for his crimes (1 Kings 2:36–44).This is the second time Solomon showed mercy to someone, only to have them executed when they violated their own agreement with him. The first was his half-brother Adonijah, who begged for mercy after trying to crown himself king. Solomon agreed, but after David died, Adonijah tried again (1 Kings 2:13–25). In both cases, the executions had the effect of making Solomon's kingdom more secure.
It will remain so for many years. Solomon's Israel will be so rich and powerful that even Egypt will see them as a peer. God will agree to his request for wisdom and pile on honor and riches (1 Kings 3:9–13). Solomon will use that wisdom to build the temple and unite the ark of God's presence, the altar of His mercy, and the king's throne in one city.
And yet, Solomon will forget God's last promise: "And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days" (1 Kings 3:14). Wisdom to know what is right doesn't equate to doing what is right. Solomon will follow his many foreign wives into horrible idolatry (1 Kings 11:1–8). Solomon has established the kingdom for now, but it won't stand. God will raise enemies, and one of them will take the northern tribes from Solomon's son (1 Kings 12).
