‘Bring Back His Bloody Deeds’: 1 Kgs 1–2

Abstract This chapter examines David’s efforts to persuade Solomon to eliminate existing ‘bloods’ and avoid adding to them in 1 Kgs 1–2. David emphasizes that Joab’s killing of Abner and Amasa has ‘set bloods of war in peace[-time]’ (1 Kgs 2:5). Because of this, Joab must not be allowed to die a peaceful death in old age (1 Kgs 2:6) lest this pre-empt the remedying of the ‘bloods’ Joab has incurred through his repeated misuse of war. Accordingly, after David dies, Solomon executes Joab, assuming that this will facilitate ‘peace from the LORD’ for him and his successors. It is also argued that Solomon’s exiling of Abiathar, and David’s instructions regarding Shimei and the sons of Barzillai reflect David and his son’s anxiety to avoid incurring further ‘bloods’. David’s earlier sparing of Shimei (2 Sam 19) is now attributed to his desire to avoid killing him under the guise of war. Thus, Solomon’s ‘wisdom’ is now required to eliminate Shimei in such a way that he is ‘not considered innocent’ (2:9), whilst ensuring that Solomon and David’s house remain so, by avoiding ‘bloods’. This transpires when Shimei is executed for failing to keep a vow made to Solomon. The narrator’s concluding affirmation that ‘the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon’ (1 Kgs 2:46) invites the reader to share David and Solomon’s view that Solomon’s actions here have solved for the moment, the problem of illegitmate bloodshed which has so exercised David and the narrative from the beginning.