1-kings 2:2
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
I go the way of all the earth: be you strong therefore, and show yourself a man;
American King James Version (AKJV)
I go the way of all the earth: be you strong therefore, and show yourself a man;
American Standard Version (ASV)
I am going the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;
Basic English Translation (BBE)
I am going the way of all the earth: so be strong and be a man;
Webster's Revision
I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;
World English Bible
"I am going the way of all the earth. You be strong therefore, and show yourself a man;
English Revised Version (ERV)
I go the way of all the earth: he thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
Clarke's 1-kings 2:2 Bible Commentary
I go the way of all the earth - I am dying. All the inhabitants of the earth must come to the dust. In life, some follow one occupation, some another; but all must, sooner or later, come to the grave. Death is no respecter of persons; he visits the palace of the king as well as the cottage of the peasant.
Pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas,
Regumque turres. -
Hor. Odar. lib. i., od. iv., ver. 13.
"With equal pace, impartial fate
Knocks at the palace as the cottage gate."
Francis.
- Sed omnes una manet nox,
Et calcanda semel via lethi. -
Ib. od. xxviii., ver. 15.
"One dreary night for all mankind remains,
And once we all must tread the shadowy plains."
Ibid.
There is no respect to age or youth more than to station or external circumstance: -
continued...
Barnes's 1-kings 2:2 Bible Commentary
David appears to have in his thoughts the divine address to Joshua. Without following it servilely, he reproduces several of its leading expressions and sentiments (compare the margin reference). Solomon's youth clearly constituted one of the chief difficulties of his position. If he was about nineteen or twenty, and known to be of a pacific disposition 1 Chronicles 22:9, then to have to rule over the warlike and turbulent Hebrew nation, with a strong party opposed to him, and brothers of full age ready to lead it, was evidently a most difficult task. Hence, he is exhorted, though in years a boy, to show himself in Spirit "a man."
Wesley's 1-kings 2:2 Bible Commentary
2:2 I go the way, &c. - Even the sons and heirs of heaven, must go the way of all the earth, of all who dwell thereon. But they walk withpleasure in this way, thro' the valley of the shadow of death.Prophets, yea kings must go this way to brighter light and honour thanprophecy or sovereignty. Be strong - For, to govern his people accordingto the law of God, requires great fortitude, or strength of mind. And aman - In manly wisdom, and courage, and constancy, though thou art butyoung in years.
