“The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok, the priest. Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, ‘Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else.'”-1 Kings 2:35-36
With Yo’av now gone, this paved the way for B’nayah to become the commander of Israel’s army without fear of competition or that the army would be split by conflicting loyalties to different leaders.
On top of that, when Solomon stripped Evyatar, the High Priest, of his title, authority, and banished him to his hometown of Anathoth, that paved the way for Tzadok to become Israel’s only High Priest.
Per the Torah, these were changes that needed to be done, even if the way they were accomplished was not so kosher, so to speak.
Solomon was now free to reign without having to look over his shoulder for any immediate threats.
Now lemme make it clear that Solomon did no wrong in executing Joab and banishing Evyatar.
Those actions were right in God’s eyes and perfectly aligned with Torah.
However, there was still one more homie that had to be dealt with.
Remember, the old man Shimei, who cursed David when he was on the run from his rebellious son, Absalom.
Concerning Shimei, David told this to Solomon:
“You are a man of wisdom;
You will know what to do to him.
Bring his gray head down
to the grave in blood.”
David implied that the best way to dispose of Shimei was to find a suitable reason for doing so rather than executing him for some past offense.
So what did Solomon do?
He didn’t execute Shimei immediately.
He gave him a conditional restriction.
Shimei was forced to stay in Jerusalem and couldn’t leave the Kidron Valley.
This accomplished three things.
First, it let Shimei know he was being closely observed.
Second, it separated him from his home in Bahurim.
This meant he couldn’t stir up trouble with others from the tribe of Benjamin.
Third, it put him in a position to make a mistake that could be punished.
That last point is key.
We’ll continue with this the next time we meet.
But for now, let’s transition over to the takeaway.
Here’s what’s coming to me.
The fact that Solomon had to get rid of Joab and banish Evyatar before he could rule in peace tells us something important.
It tells us that a house divided cannot stand.
There must be harmony in the kingdom, or it will fall apart.
And that harmony must be based on God’s Law, or the foundation is not solid.
I could extrapolate this principle to the whole world.
Take a look at the state of our planet.
If it were a household, it would be the most dysfunctional family on earth.
There are wars, nations worshipping different gods, and anything but peace!
Pure lawlessness is the state of our planet today.
Only the return of the Messiah will be able to bring true peace.
May that day arrive soon.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“If a kingdom is divided against itself
that kingdom cannot stand
If a house is divided against itself
that house cannot stand”
-Mark 3:24–25
“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste
No city or house divided can stand”
(Matthew 12:25)
“Let there be no divisions among you
Be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
-1 Corinthians 1:10)
“Peace I leave with you
My peace I give you
Not as the world gives”
-John 14:27
“The kingdom of the world has become His
He will reign forever and ever.”
-Revelation 11:15
“We look for a new heaven
And a new earth
where righteousness dwells.”
-2 Peter 3:13
I noticed something about the way Shlomo (Solomon) treated Shimei that reminds me of another Torah commandment.
When someone accidentally kills another, he is to flee to a city of refuge, and in that city he is safe from the blood avenger (a close relative who would be allowed to kill the murderer). He has to remain there until the Cohen HaGadol (High Priest) who was serving at the time he went to the city of refuge dies. After that, he can return to his home because the blood avenger can no longer kill him.
When Solomon told Shimei that he would be safe in Jerusalem, but not if he left, it sounds to me very much like Solomon was treating what Shimei did against David as a capital offence, which it actually was.
In other words, even though Shimei didn’t kill David, he did and said things that deserved death.
After David returned, of course Shimei asked for forgiveness pretty much saying, “I didn’t really mean it.”
So, Solomon took a hint from the Torah and secluded Shimei to Jerusalem, making it a city of refuge for him, warning him (as the Torah said) that if he leaves he will no longer be protected, and (as it turned out) that is exactly what happened.
Interesting point. I didn’t think of that. Yeah, what Solomon did to Shimei does seem like a city of refuge protocol.