The rivalries which developed amongst David's sons brought serious problems to the king in the last years of his life. At the very end of David's life he had become too old to rule effectively and the two sons who both wanted to succeed their father, Adonijah and Solomon, tried to build up power in the court. A third son, Absalom, had been killed in the rebellion which he had led against his father. David himself chose Solomon to succeed him and his choice was supported by Nathan the prophet and Zadok the priest. Before David died, he commanded Solomon to remain faithful to the Covenant Law: 'Be confident and determined, and do what the LORD your God orders you to do. Obey all his laws and commands, as written in the Law of Moses, so that wherever you go you may prosper in everything you do. If you obey him, the LORD will keep the promise he made when he told me that my descendants would rule Israel as long as they were careful to obey his commands faithfully with all their heart and soul' (1 Kings 2: 2-4). The theocratic rule which David had established was to be carried on by his son.