DBG - April 16 - I Kings 1-2

The book of I (first) Kings continues the narrative of the Kingdom of Israel.  It begins with the unified kingdom under David and Solomon, then sees it divide into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

A few quick facts about I Kings:

In this chapter Solomon is officially appointed as David’s successor as Adonijah attempts to seize the throne.

vs. 1-4 – David is 69 years old and in failing health. His life of being on the run and fighting battles surely has caught up with him. A specific malady is that he cannot stay warm, despite being covered in clothes or blankets. To ease David’s discomfort, a young woman named Abishag (“Father of, or given to, error”) is brought in.  She became something of a wife/concubine to David, but her role was more that of a caregiver.  The purpose of these details is to introduce Abishag, who will become a pawn in an attempt to take the throne.

vs. 5-10 – Adonijah was the fourth-born son of David and heir apparent to the throne. Those ahead of him in  birth order are dead: Amnon, Chileab/Daniel, and Absalom. He seems to have grown impatient for  his father’s death, and perhaps fearing another brother might end up on the throne, he so makes his claim now.  It is clear from God had already chosen Solomon to be David’s successor on the throne (II Samuel 7:12-16, 12:24-25; I Chronicles 22:8-10). David knew this. Bathsheba knew this. Nathan knew this. Solomon must have known. Adonijah likely was aware of this. How many others knew this, we cannot say. It is obvious that many either did not know or did not support the choice of Solomon. There are echoes of Absalom’s plot here. This was not a thing done in secret and much negotiating has been taking place. He has convinced Abiathar, one of the co-high priests, and Joab, general of the army, to support his claim. But others were not swayed or not courted: Zadok, the other co-high priest; Benaiaha, head of David’s bodyguards; Nathan the prophet; the mighty men; and Solomon.

vs. 11-31 – Nathan and Bathsheba work swiftly. They know that Solomon was the heir and also that failure meant their deaths. David seems to be confined to his bedchamber because of his frailty. Bathsheba enters and makes her urgent but respectful case. Then, likely by arrangement, Nathan enters and does the same. David acknowledges that Solomon is to succeed him and takes swift action.

vs. 32-40 – While Adonijah has his party at Enrogel (south of Jerusalem in the Kidron Valley), Solomon is anointed king at Gihon (northeast of Jerusalem in the Kidron Valley). There is a procession with Zadok, Nathan, and the royal bodyguard goes with Solomon riding on the king’s own mule. When Solomon is proclaimed king, the shofar is blown, a shout is raised, and the music of celebration begins. The sound is loud enough that it drowns out Adonijah’s party that was perhaps a half mile away.

vs. 41-53 - When word reaches the party at Enrogel, the attendees scatter. It is evident that David, along with most of the government and people, have backed Solomon. Adonijah’s plot has failed.  Adonijah flees to Gibeon, where he takes hold of the horns of the Brazen Altar, which is an attempt to find asylum in the Tabernacle.  Solomon grants his brother request for mercy. Adonijah is warned to behave himself and he is dismissed from the court.

In this chapter David passes away and Solomon reigns alone.

vs. 1-9 – The first part of David’s charge is personal. In verses 2-4 he exhorts his son to be strong and walk in God’s truth. The second part is practical. Three individuals are marked by David. First is Joab, whose murderous ways deserved judgment. Second is Barzillai, whose support during Absalom’s rebellion deserved recognition. Third is Shimei, who cursed David as he ran from Jerusalem but begged for peace when he returned. That man is also marked for judgment.

vs. 10-11 – So David, the king chosen from the sheepfold to unite Israel and establish a dynasty, passes into eternity. He was 70 years of age with a body worn out by many trials and battles.

vs. 12 – Solomon, age 20, is now the sole king over Israel. For about the past year, he and David were officially co-rulers. Though with David’s declining health it is almost certain that Solomon was by far the more active of the two.

vs. 13-25 – The conniving Adonijah has not fully given up on his designs for the throne. Reading between the  lines of the account, there is a coup in the works with Joab and Abiathar the priest involved. But they must first find some claim that Adonijah can use to strengthen his case to be king. Adonijah will not go before Solomon himself with the request but instead convinces Bathsheba to do bear his petition to Solomon. That request was that Abishag, David’s young wife/caretaker be given to him for a wife. It may seem a small consolation to give someone that could not have the throne, but Solomon saw the plot at once. Such a claim upon one of David’s wives was a claim upon David’s house and throne. The unique situation of Abishag does not dismiss that. Benaiah, the head of the royal bodyguard, finds and executes Adonijah.

vs. 26-27 – Because of Abiathar’s past faithfulness to David and his position as priest, he is spared from execution. Instead, he is put into retirement. This removes the final person from the line of Ithamar and Eli from the high priesthood.

vs. 28-34 – Joab attempts to find mercy by going to the Tabernacle and grasping the horns of the Altar. Yet Solomon chooses to ignore his plea because he was not innocent, having murdered two men in cold blood. Benaiah kills him in the Tabernacle.

vs. 35-46 - Note in vs. 35 that Solomon is putting the people he trusts in charge: Benaiah over the army and Zadok over the priesthood. Shimei was allowed to live in house arrest in Jerusalem but warned that if he ever left the city, he would be killed. After three years he did so in tracking down some fugitive servants. Solomon finds out and Benaiah kills Shimei.

I think it is clear that God intended Solomon to be the next king.  Israel  did not strictly follow the laws of primogeniture through their history to this point and it continues in that fashion.  God appointed to the proper person for the work.  Would the Temple have been built if Adonijah had taken the throne?  I doubt it.  But God’s hand is always guiding the affairs of men.  History is truly “HIS story”.  In the chaotic and treacherous couple of years surrounding Solomon’s ascension, God was in control.  He is always in control.

We are going to do something a little different for today’s hymn.  I have chosen “God Save Our Gracious Queen/King” (the title depends on the particular monarch, of course).  It is based on the cry of “God save King Solomon” in 1:34.  It is just another example of how Scriptural language and thought influences culture.

God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save the King.
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter his enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On thee our hopes we fix;
God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store,
On him be pleased to pour;
Long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.