1 Kings — Chapter 2

David's charge to Solomon — observe the custodies of the Lord thy God: Lapide: \"Custodies\" means the precepts which God commands to be kept. He who acts prudently, acts prosperously: prudence is the mother of prosperity and of happiness, just as imprudence is the mother of misfortune.

David commands Solomon to punish Joab: Joab treacherously shed the blood of two just men, Abner and Amasa, in time of peace, staining his garment with their blood. The law of retaliation, established by the law of nature and divine law, requires that he who kills another be put to death.

David's epitaph (Josephus): \"David was a man most excellent and endowed with all virtues befitting a king set over so many peoples: for he was brave beyond all others, and in battles undertaken for the safety of his subjects he was the first to expose himself to dangers, encouraging his soldiers by his example to great deeds. He was also most prudent in counsel, and excellently skilled in knowing what was to be done for the present and the future.\"