Generating Stability

The first half of chapter 2 articulates David's final will and testament to Shlomo, and the second describes how Shlomo acts to secure his position as king.

While David stresses the importance of keeping the Torah, the bulk of David's message relates to potential threats to Shlomo's ability to govern. David knows that once he has left the scene, political forces will be unleashed, factions that have remained concealed due to David's presence and authority. Interest groups will move quickly to maneuver or even unseat the young, fledgling king and Shlomo proves to know how to respond with wisdom.