The first two kings, David and Solomon, are important types of Christ in two aspects. First, David typifies Christ in the aspect of His suffering on earth before His resurrection. From the time of His birth, Christ suffered. His life began in a manger in the lowest estate and ended in His being crucified on the cross. The manger and the cross were the two ends of His suffering life. David also suffered from his youth; yet through his suffering he prepared the materials (1 Chron. 18:7-11; 22:2-5, 14-16; 28:2; 29:2-9), gained the proper ground for the building of the temple (1 Chron. 21:18-30; 2 Chron. 3:1), and prepared Solomon, the builder, and all the helpers (1 Chron. 28:9-11, 20-21). Second, Solomon typifies Christ (Matt. 12:42) in His speaking God’s word of wisdom (Matt. 13:35), in His building the church as the temple of God (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:21-22), and in His being glorified in the kingdom of God and its splendor (Isa. 9:7; Rev. 11:15). These two types are strong evidences that the history of the kings of Israel is related to God’s eternal economy, which concerns Christ as the embodiment of God and the church as the organic Body of Christ.

David’s charges to Solomon in vv. 5-9 regarding Joab, Shimei, and Barzillai indicate that while David was on his deathbed he had no peace or comfort in his heart. His dealing with these persons was the issue of his indulgence in sin. God forgave him (2 Sam. 12:13), but God’s righteous judgment would not let him go. See note 2 Sam. 12:10^1a.