1 Kings 1

1 Kings 1:1

I. THE LAST DAYS OF DAVID (1:12:11) A. Adonijah’s Attempt to Seize the Throne (1:1-38)1:1-4 David was now seventy years old and in declining health. He was about to pass off the stage of history. The proposal of his servants in verse 2 seems at first glance both puzzling and shocking. However, this practice was accepted at that time as being of value in the case of an illness like David’s. It was not an act of doubtful morality and would not create a public scandal. One thing we can be sure of is that David did not “know” (in the sense of having sexual intercourse with) Abishag (v. 4b). And it seems probable from chapter 2 that she was considered a legal wife of David because Solomon interpreted Adonijah’s later request for her as a claim to the throne (1Ki_2:21-22). 1:5-10 Adonijah was apparently David’s oldest surviving son (1Ki_2:22) and thus considered himself next in line for the throne. Amnon and Absalom were both dead. Chileab was probably dead as well (2Sa_3:2-4). Before his father died, Adonijah proclaimed himself as king, prepared a great entourage, and enlisted the support of Joab and Abiathar. Being a very good-looking man, he won a great following. Verse 6a indicates that David was an indulgent father and Adonijah a spoiled son. When Adonijah . . . sacrificed a great many animals near En Rogel, he . . . invited to the feast all except those whom he knew to be loyal to his fatherNathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men of David, and Solomon. 1:11-38 God had told David before Solomon was born that Solomon would be Israel’s next king (1Ch_22:9-10). Nathan had a desire to see the word of the Lord fulfilled. Being concerned about the threat of Adonijah, he skillfully brought the issue to David’s attention. Coached by Nathan, Bathsheba appeared before the ailing king and notified him of the plot. She also reminded him of a promise he had previously made (though unrecorded) that Solomon, her son, would be the next king. Just as she finished requesting that he publicly announce Solomon as his successor, Nathan arrived and Bathsheba withdrew.

Nathan repeated the news concerning Adonijah’s plot to seize the kingdom and asked if this was the king’s desire. When David called for Bathsheba, Nathan withdrew. David reassured Bathsheba that Solomon would indeed be his successor. Then he instructed Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah to take . . . Solomon . . . to Gihon, a spring located outside the city, on the king’s own mule and to anoint him as king.

1 Kings 1:39

B. Solomon’s Anointing at Gihon (1:39-53)Since it is widely held that Solomon had a two-year co-regency with his father, for which he would have had to be anointed, this was a second anointing that recognized him as sole ruler. This public anointing by Zadok the priest caused great rejoicing among David’s followers, but consternation among Adonijah and those who were feasting with him. When the latter heard that Solomon was now sitting on the royal throne and that David was grateful to the Lord for this, they realized that Adonijah’s plot was a failure. Adonijah fled to the tabernacle and took hold of the horns of the altar, an act which was supposed to grant him safety from punishment. Solomon decreed that Adonijah would be spared if found worthy, but punished if caught in any future wickedness. Then he sent Adonijah home.