Midras 1 Raja-raja 2:1: Midrash Tannaim, Midrash Tanchuma, Sifrei Devarim & Midrash Tanchuma Buber

Rabbi Shimon said, "It is the fortune of the righteous that they do not depart from the world until they command their children after them concerning the words of the Torah. As so have we found with Abraham our father, who did not depart from the world until he commanded his children and his household that they should keep the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He. As it is stated, I have known him, in order that he may command his children, etc. (Genesis 18:19). Likewise did Isaac command Jacob. As it is stated, And Issac called to Jacob and blessed him and commanded him (Genesis 28:2). So too did Jacob command his sons. As it is stated, And Jacob finished commanding his sons (Genesis 49:33). Likewise did David, the king of Israel, command Solomon his son. As it is stated, And the days for David to die approached, so he commanded Solomon his son, saying (I Kings 2:1). And so too, Moses our teacher did not depart from the world until he rebuked the Jewish people about the sins that fell into their hands and he commanded them to keep the commandments of the Holy One, blessed be He. As it is stated, These are the words, etc.." What is [the meaning of] These are the words? Rabbi Yishamael said, "These words (devarim) are equal to the Ten Commandments (dibbarot) that the Jewish people received from Mount Sinai. And not only that, but with the Ten Commandments, they did not wait much until they rebelled against them and said, These are your gods, O Israel (Exodus 32:4), whereas these words brought the Jewish people back to the good and made them cling to the Holy One, blessed be He, and to His Torah. As it is stated, But you, who clung to the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 4:4). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, 'Since the Jewish people have clung to Me through these words, [the words] will only be called by your name. As it is stated, These are the words that Moses spoke to all of Israel. It does not state, "These are the words that the Lord spoke," but rather These are the words Moses spoke.'"

Similarly, concerning King David it is written: Now King David was old (I Kings 1:1). When he drew near to death, it is written about him: Now the days of David drew near that he should die (ibid. 2:1).

And thus do you find with David, that he charged Solomon his son only close to his death, viz. (I Kings 2:1) "And the days of David drew near to die, etc."