I liked Guzik’s concise introduction to the study of Kings: “The books of 1 and 2 Kings were originally joined in one book. We don’t know who the human author of this book was; Jewish traditions say it was Jeremiah and it may very well be so. Wiseman gives a good summary of the books of 1 and 2 Kings: “The narrative covers almost five hundred years from the initiation to the eclipse of their kingship. It is the story of the rise and fall of kingdoms, of high promise and abject failure, of tragedy and yet of hope.”
1Kings 1:1 ¶ Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
1Kings 1:2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.
1Kings 1:3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
1Kings 1:4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
As the record of 1Kings opens, David is a very old man that is near the end of his life. His body temperature is such that he cannot get warm despite his clothing and blankets. His servants decided that they would find a young virgin to come and minister to the king and sleep next to him to share her body heat. Commentators note that this was an accepted medical treatment in those days. The girl chosen was Abishag, a Shunammite, a beautiful girl that was willing to serve the king basically as his nurse. It is emphasized that David did not become sexually intimate with her.
We know from information provided in Samuel that David was about 70 years old at the time.
2 Samuel 5:4 “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.”
1Kings 1:5 ¶ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
1Kings 1:6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
1Kings 1:7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
Realizing that his father was very weak and near death, Adonijah, son of Haggith, decided that it was the opportune time to seize the throne.
Adonijah prepared a group of chariots and horsemen accompanied by 50 men to run before him in a display of wealth and great influence. This is exactly how his brother Absalom had first set out to win the hearts of the people.
2 Samuel 15:1–2 “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate….”
Verse 6 seems to indicate that David was aware of his actions but never questioned what he was up to. It is noted that Adonijah was a very handsome man, as had been his brother Absalom.
Eventually Adonijah met with Joab, David’s nephew and military commander, and Abiathar the priest, to recruit their support. Even though both men had been faithful in their service to David, they decided it would be to their benefit to transfer their loyalty to Adonijah. I wasn’t so surprised at Joab since he had been insubordinate to David many times. I was surprised at Abiathar’s defection however; you would think a priest would be fixed on obedience to God’s will.
It should be noted that David had already made known publicly that Solomon was the one God had chosen to be Israel’s next king. (Note: Chronicles provides much information that supplements the books of Samuel and Kings.)
1 Chronicles 28:1–5 “And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem. Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people….And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.”
Adonijah, Joab and Abiathar all knew that they were acting in disobedience to the will of God.
1Kings 1:8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
1Kings 1:9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:
1Kings 1:10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
Zadok the priest, Benaiah (the captain of David’s personal bodyguards), Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei and the rest of the mighty men stayed faithful to David.
Adonijah prepared a great feast of celebration by the stone of Zoheleth by Enrogel and invited all of his brothers except Solomon. He also excluded Nathan the prophet, Benaiah and David’s mighty men.
The IVP Commentary offers this note on the location: “This spring is only about 650 yards south of the Gihon Spring in the Kidron Valley and only about a half mile from David’s palace.”
Clarke offers this opinion on the feast: “As he had Abiathar the priest with him, no doubt these animals were offered sacrificially, and then the guests fed on the flesh of the victims. He had not only a splendid feast, but a great sacrifice; and he gave by this a popular color to his pretensions, by affecting to receive his authority from God.”
1Kings 1:11 ¶ Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
1Kings 1:12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
1Kings 1:13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?
1Kings 1:14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
Once Nathan was aware of Adonijah’s actions, he went to inform Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and advise her as to how they should intervene. He knew that David had declared that God had chosen Solomon as David’s successor.
First, Nathan told Bathsheba what Adonijah had done without David’s knowledge. He urged her to follow his counsel in order to save her life as well as Solomon’s. There was no doubt in his mind that Adonijah would have them both killed to secure his throne.
Nathan told Bathsheba to go to David and get him to affirm that he had promised that Solomon would reign after him. She was then to question him as to why he was allowing Adonijah to assume the throne. Nathan would make it a point to come in to see the king even while she was still talking to him and confirm her assertion.
1Kings 1:15 And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.
1Kings 1:16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
1Kings 1:17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
1Kings 1:18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:
1Kings 1:19 And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.
1Kings 1:20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
1Kings 1:21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.
Bathsheba did as Nathan had instructed her. When she went to see David, Abishag was there ministering to the king. Bathsheba bowed before the king, and he asked her what she wanted. She proceeded to remind David that he had promised her that Solomon would succeed him as king. Without his knowledge, however, Adonijah had become king. She proceeded to tell him about the feast of celebration that he was enjoying with all of the kings sons along with Joab and Abiathar. Solomon, however, had not been invited. She pointed out that the people of Israel expected David to announce his successor. If he did not, she knew that both she and Solomon would be considered enemies and be in great danger after David’s death.
1Kings 1:22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
1Kings 1:23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
1Kings 1:24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
1Kings 1:25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
1Kings 1:26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
1Kings 1:27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
Just as they had planned, Nathan came in to see the king before Bathsheba had finished speaking. She evidently excused herself to allow Nathan to speak to the king. He too bowed before the king before asking David if he had determined that Adonijah should be the next king. He explained that the reason he was asking was because Adonijah was celebrating with a big feast with the king’s sons, the captains of the host and Abiathar. They were all eating and drinking and calling for God to save king Adonijah. He also pointed out that he, Zadok the priest, Benaiah and Solomon had not been invited. He then asked David again if he had decided to make Adonijah king without telling him.
1Kings 1:28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.
1Kings 1:29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,
1Kings 1:30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
1Kings 1:31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.
David answered by telling him to call for Bathsheba to come back. When she stood before him, David swore by the living LORD that was his redeemer, the LORD God of Israel, that Solomon would reign on his throne after him. In fact, he would see to it this day. Bathsheba then bowed again before David and honored him with her words.
1Kings 1:32 ¶ And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.
1Kings 1:33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
1Kings 1:34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.
1Kings 1:35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
King David then summoned Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah. When they stood before him, he told them to take his faithful servants and have Solomon to ride upon his own mule to Gihon. This was a mule that the people would recognize as the king’s mule. Zadok and Nathan were then to anoint him as king over Israel and blow the trumpet with the declaration, “God save king Solomon.” They were then to follow him as he took his place on David’s throne as king. He emphasized that Solomon was his choice to succeed him as ruler over Israel and Judah.
The NIV Commentary has this note concerning Gihon: “Gihon, the site of the anointing, was just outside the city in the Kidron Valley, on the east bank of Ophel. It was at that time Jerusalem’s major source of water and was therefore a natural gathering place of the populace.”
Courson: “Solomon was to ride David’s mule. Why wouldn’t he ride David’s horse? The reason is that the mule was the animal of peace, the horse the animal of conquest. That is why, when Jesus presented Himself as Messiah, He rode upon a mule, offering Himself as the Prince of peace….the next time Jesus comes, Revelation 19:11 tells us He will ride on a horse, not as the Prince of peace, but as the conquering King.”
1Kings 1:36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
1Kings 1:37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
Benaiah seemed to affirm that he knew this was according to God’s will. He then promised to be as faithful to Solomon as he had been to David while declaring the hope that Solomon’s kingdom would become even greater than David’s.
1Kings 1:38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.
1Kings 1:39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
1Kings 1:40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and the Cherethites and Pelethites (David’s bodyguard contingent) put Solomon on David’s mule and took him to Gihon. Zadok the priest anointed Solomon with oil from the tabernacle, and all the people said, “God save king Solomon.” The people then followed him rejoicing loudly with shouting and music.
1Kings 1:41 ¶ And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?
1Kings 1:42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
Adonijah and all his guests heard the noise as they finished their feast. Joab asked the reason for the great noise they heard. While he was speaking, Jonathan the son of Abiathar, came with news. Adonijah invited him forward with the hope that he brought good news.
1Kings 1:43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
1Kings 1:44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule:
1Kings 1:45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.
1Kings 1:46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
Jonathan bluntly told them that David had made Solomon king. He told them how Zadok and company had presented him on the king’s mule and anointed him as king in Gihon. The noise they heard was that of the people of Jerusalem rejoicing. Solomon was in fact sitting on the throne as he spoke.
1Kings 1:47 And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.
1Kings 1:48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
He continued by relating how the king’s servants pronounced a blessing on David calling for God to make the name of Solomon and his kingdom even greater than his own. The king had responded with his own praise to the LORD God of Israel for allowing him to see His chosen one enthroned.
1Kings 1:49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
1Kings 1:50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
1Kings 1:51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.
1Kings 1:52 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.
1Kings 1:53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.
Suddenly, all of Adonijah’s guest arose and fled in fear. Adonijah feared for his life and ran to the grab hold of the horns on the altar of God. JFB notes: “The horns or projections at the four corners of the altar, to which the sacrifices were bound, and which were tipped with the blood of the victim, were symbols of grace and salvation to the sinner.”
Evidently, Adonijah had a message delivered to Solomon asking for his promise not to kill him. He knew that had he become king he would have killed Solomon to eliminate the possibility of a coup. Solomon told the messenger that he had nothing to fear unless he was found trying to cause trouble. If he proved a threat to Solomon or his kingdom in any way, he would be killed.
Adonijah subsequently appeared before the king, bowing before him in recognition that he was king. Solomon then told him to go home. Commentators indicate that this command was significant in that it signified to Adonijah that he would not be allowed to serve in any capacity.
1Kings 2:1 ¶ Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
1Kings 2:2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
1Kings 2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
1Kings 2:4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
It soon became evident to David that he was near death. He called Solomon to impart his final words of wisdom. He urged him to stand strong as a worthy, mighty man (from the Hebrew for man). He urged him to obey the LORD “thy” God as commanded in the law of Moses. If he did this, he would prosper and be successful.
Deuteronomy 29:9 “Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.”
David told Solomon that this would ensure that the LORD kept his promise for the seed of David to continue to inherit the throne of Israel. The wording here makes it sound like God’s covenant with David was conditional. As you can see from the scripture below, that covenant was unconditional.
2 Samuel 7:12–16 “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”
Did David do this on purpose thinking that it would provide stronger motivation for Solomon? I think it is true, however, that because David’s descendants did not remain faithful and obedient to the LORD, the succession of his line was suspended until the time that Jesus returns to reestablish that throne in the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant with David.
Luke 1:30–33 “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
1Kings 2:5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
1Kings 2:6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
In these verses and those that follow David gives some specific directions to Solomon concerning men that had proven unfaithful to him. I think it is interesting that David asked his son to exact judgments that he should have done. Maybe he was more concerned about protecting Solomon and his kingdom than he had been about his own. Sometimes I think his hesitancy in exacting justice against those close to him was rooted in the guilt of his own sin against Uriah.
Courson reminded me that Joab was aware of David’s plot to have Uriah killed, having been the one to execute his order. That gave him a trump card so to speak to hold over David’s head.
First, he reminded Solomon about how Joab, his cousin, had murdered two captains in Israel’s army—Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether. Notice that David considered what Joab had done to be against him because in both instances he had acted in defiance of David. David had made a treaty with Abner and sent him away in peace, but Joab took matters into his own hands and killed him while Abner was on his way home. David had appointed Amasa as his military commander in a bid to promote unity in the kingdom after Absalom’s death. Again, Joab didn’t agree with David’s decision and killed Amasa at the first opportunity. Both men were murdered; neither death was a justified casualty of war. Though I am sure that David was still thinking of the death of Absalom and how Joab had gone against his express orders, Absalom’s death did occur in conjunction with battle in which Absalom was the enemy. I think that is the only reason he didn’t mention it.
David instructed Solomon to act wisely in dealing with Joab. Though he was very popular among the fighting troops, Joab had supported Adonijah’s bid for the throne; and his loyalty to Solomon was suspect. David urged his son to make sure that Joab wasn’t allowed to die the natural death of old age.
1Kings 2:7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
David then reminded Solomon that Barzillai the Gileadite had provided for David and his people when they were in exile because of Absalom’s bid for the throne. Because of his kindness, David asked Solomon to show the same kindness to the sons of Barzillai and provide for them at his own table.
Guzik quotes Wiseman in providing further insight: “To eat at the king’s table was the equivalent of having a pension, the beneficiary receiving a regular royal allowance of food and clothing, with a house and land to support him and his family.”
1Kings 2:8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
1Kings 2:9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
Next, David brings up Shimei the son of Gera of Benjamin. He was the man that had cursed David when he was fleeing Jerusalem to escape Absalom. When David returned to reestablish his throne, however, Shimei had met him at the Jordan seeking mercy and professing his loyalty to David. At that time David had promised to spare his life. However, he warned Solomon not to trust him. He again encouraged Solomon to be wise in dealing with him. However, in light of David’s promise to him, he asked Solomon to be just and not vengeful when in dealing with him.
“thou art a wise man” – This phrase is especially interesting in light of what we read in the next chapter. David recognized his son as a wise man, yet Solomon evidently doesn’t feel wise enough to be a good king; in fact, he refers to himself as a little child. I think the wisest people often feel wanting in that respect, just as the smartest people are those quickest to admit what they don’t know.
It should be noted that many sources (including Jewish tradition and Josephus) conclude that Solomon was 12-14 years old when he became king. I think he was more likely at least 20. In chapter 11 of 1Kings we will learn that Solomon ruled for 40 years. We are told in Chronicles that Solomon’s son Rehoboam was 41 years old when he began to reign after his father’s death, so he already had a son before becoming king. David referenced his son as a man and credited him with already being wise enough to deal with Joab, Abiathar and Shimei. And it would be natural for a man barely out of his teens to consider himself a child and not wise enough to rule the kingdom. Obviously, since the scripture does not tell us, we cannot know for sure.
1Kings 2:10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
1Kings 2:11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
1Kings 2:12 ¶ Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.
David died and was buried in the city that bore his name. He had reigned 40 years as king—seven years in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem. Solomon was firmly established as his father’s successor as king.
1Kings 2:13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.
1Kings 2:14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.
1Kings 2:15 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother’s: for it was his from the LORD.
1Kings 2:16 And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.
1Kings 2:17 And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.
1Kings 2:18 And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.
Once again Adonijah enters the picture. He came to see Bathsheba, and she immediately asked him if he came in peace. He affirmed that he came in peace to ask her a favor. He reminded her that the kingdom should have been his (as the oldest son), but he realized that it was the LORD’s will that Solomon become king. He wanted Bathsheba to present his request to Solomon since he knew he would not likely refuse his mom. He wanted her to ask Solomon to give him Abishag the Shunammite as his wife. Bathsheba agreed to do so. It seems she did not suspect him of anything except interest in a beautiful woman.
1Kings 2:19 Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.
1Kings 2:20 Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
1Kings 2:21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
When Bathsheba went to Solomon, he greeted her with great respect as his mother and had a seat for her put next to his throne on the right side, the place of honor. She told her son that she had one small request to make of him. Solomon assured her that he would do as she wished. The small request—Please give Abishag to Adonijah to wife.
1Kings 2:22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
1Kings 2:23 Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
1Kings 2:24 Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
1Kings 2:25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
Solomon immediately understood what Adonijah was about; he knew that this request had to have come from him. Solomon told his mom that she might as well have asked for him to give Adonijah the kingdom. After all, he was the elder brother and had the support of Abiathar the priest and Joab.
We have learned previously that a succeeding king inherited the wives and concubines of his predecessor. Though Abishag had never been sexually intimate with David, she was recognized as belonging to him. The fact that Adonijah had to ask Solomon to give her to him shows that he knew she had belonged to David. To have given her to Adonijah would have emboldened him to continue to pursue his desire to take the throne from Solomon.
Solomon knew that Adonijah had hoped to trick Solomon by going through Bathsheba. Maybe he thought his younger brother wouldn’t be smart enough to understand how the people would interpret such a union. He was sadly mistaken; Solomon completely understood the motives behind that request. He immediately declared that Adonijah had forfeited his life by making such a request. He swore by the living LORD that had put him on the throne that Adonijah would die that very day and sent Benaiah to execute his sentence, which he did.
Wiersbe: “…the execution of Adonijah was the final payment on the fourfold debt David had incurred (2Samuel 12:5-6). The baby died, Absalom killed Amnon, Joab killed Absalom, and Benaiah executed Adonijah.”
2 Samuel 12:4–7 “And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.”
1Kings 2:26 ¶ And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.
1Kings 2:27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
I don’t know who Solomon thought had come up with the idea, but he was determined to eliminate any further threat from the three principals that had initially tried to seize the throne from him.
Solomon was more merciful in dealing with Abiathar the priest; he banished him to Anathoth, his hometown, while declaring that he deserved to die. He recognized, however, that Abiathar had been faithful to David and suffered through many trials with him until he joined with Joab to help make Adonijah king. He also acknowledged him as one who had carried the ark of the LORD before David. Solomon forbade Abiathar from serving as priest any longer. It is noted that Abiathar was a descendant of Eli and that Solomon’s action fulfilled a prophecy against the house of Eli.
1 Samuel 3:11–14 “And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.”
Adam Clarke adds this note: “…Abiathar was the last of the descendants of Ithamar, of which family was Eli the high priest.”
It should be noted that Solomon declared that he would not put Abiathar to death “at this time.” Implied—But if you do anything further to provoke me, you will die.
1Kings 2:28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
1Kings 2:29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
1Kings 2:30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.
1Kings 2:31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.
1Kings 2:32 And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
1Kings 2:33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.
1Kings 2:34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
With all his military connections, it is not surprising to find that Joab soon learned what had happened to Adonijah and Abiathar. He determined his best bet was to flee to the tabernacle and take hold of the horns on the altar in hopes of being shown mercy. Solomon found out where Joab was and sent Benaiah to execute him. When Benaiah got to the temple and called for Joab to come out, he refused; he declared he would die first. Benaiah did not want to kill Joab at the altar, so he went back and informed Solomon of the circumstances. Solomon didn’t hesitate with his decision. He told Benaiah to kill him and bury him to absolve the house of David of guilt for not exacting justice for the innocent blood that Joab had shed.
Solomon considered Joab’s execution as satisfying God’s command regarding one who had transgressed His law and murdered innocent men—Abner and Amasa, both of whom Solomon described as men “more righteous and better than he.” Joab had done this in defiance of David’s will and without his knowledge. His execution was just, and the blood of those men deserved justice. At the king’s command, Benaiah went back to the tabernacle and killed Joab; he then saw to it that the body was taken to the man’s home in the wilderness and buried.
1Kings 2:35 ¶ And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.
Solomon made Benaiah his military commander in chief and installed him in the room previously occupied by Joab. He also installed Zadok the priest in the room formerly occupied by Abiathar.
1Kings 2:36 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.
1Kings 2:37 For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.
1Kings 2:38 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
I guess Solomon determined that he might as well go ahead and deal with Shimei as well in accordance with his father’s wishes. He decided to bring Shimei to Jerusalem to live. He made him give up his home and build a house in Jerusalem and confined him to the city so that he could not easily stir up trouble among the Benjamites. He warned Shimei that if he ever left Jerusalem or crossed the brook Kidron, he would surely die; it would be his own fault. Shimei quickly agreed to abide by Solomon’s decision.
1Kings 2:39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.
1Kings 2:40 And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.
1Kings 2:41 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
1Kings 2:42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
1Kings 2:43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?
1Kings 2:44 The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
1Kings 2:45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.
1Kings 2:46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
After living in Jerusalem for three years, Shimei found out that two of his servants had run away to Achish, the son of the king of Gath. Without giving it a second thought, Shimei went to bring his servants back. Solomon found out what he had done and sent for Shimei. The king reminded Shimei about the ultimatum that had been established between them if he ever left the city and that he had agreed to abide by as Solomon asked. Solomon questioned why Shimei had broken that agreement. He stated that he knew he didn’t have to remind Shimei of the wicked things he had done to David, and now the LORD was going to see to that he faced judgment for his actions. The king went on to declare that he knew the LORD would establish the throne of David forever, despite Shimei’s hope to the contrary. He then commanded Benaiah to execute Shimei, and he did.
It seems that getting rid of those who had been most active in trying to unlawfully gain control of the throne and the one who had been most vocal in declaring that David should never have had the throne in the first place was significant in firmly establishing the kingdom under Solomon’s rule.
I liked this observation from the NIV Commentary: “Shimei had taken grace lightly and demonstrated his unrepentant heart. For this he would die in strict accord with the terms of their agreement. He was unworthy of another pardon.”
That statement made me think about how lightly I am afraid many of us respond to the grace God has shown us. No matter how we might try, I don’t think we will truly understand this side of heaven the tremendous sacrifice that was made to allow us to become part of God’s family. How many decisions that we make each and every day would be different if we truly understood how precious that gift was and continues to be to us every day. How blessed we are not to be under the law but under grace!