FIRST KINGS

Solomon's Ascension and Consolidation of Power

1 Kings 1:1-2:46

INTRODUCTION

The title First Kings is somewhat misleading because the word “First” implies that something new is being written, that is, it is the first book which deals with the history of the kings of Israel. This book though did not originally have this title. At first 1 and 2 Samuel were called just "Samuel," while 1 and 2 Kings were simply called "Kings." When the Hebrew OT was translated into Greek around 250 BC, Samuel and Kings were divided in two, giving us the four books of "First Book of the Kingdom," "Second Book of the Kingdom," "Third Book of the Kingdom," and "Fourth Book of the Kingdom." When the OT was translated into English, the books became known as "1 and 2 Samuel," and "1 and 2 Kings."

The main theme though of 1 Kings goes beyond its mere connection with 1 and 2 Samuel; it actually expands on God’s covenant with Abraham. In Gen. 12:1-3 God had entered into a covenant (contractual agreement) with Abraham which stipulated that if Abraham followed God, then God would bless him, bless the world through him, and make of him a great nation. Kings would issue forth from Abraham. This is the covenant of the OT (see Rom. 4 and Gal. 3:6-18). The covenants with Israel which followed this covenant either expanded this covenant (such as the one with David) or played off it (such as the one with Moses). None replaced it or superceded it.

In expanding this covenant, God promised David that because of his dedication to Him the kingly line would always come from the house of David. Of David’s house there would be no end. Now God was not promising David that there would always be a throne in Jerusalem upon which his sons would sit. He promised him though that his family (house) would exist eternally and that one day one of his sons would rule eternally (2 Sam. 7:12-16). This promise finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ who as David’s descendant lives eternally and now also reigns eternally from heaven at the present time. One day He will also reign upon the earth. First Kings then relates to us partially the story of how this promise to David comes to be fulfilled.

SOLOMON ASCENDS THE THRONE (1:1-53)

David’s Declining Health (1:1-4)

When David reached 70 years of age, his health went into serious decline. Apparently he began to suffer poor circulation because it was impossible to keep him warm by ordinary measures. In accordance with ancient medical practice (so Galen, an ancient medical expert), those surrounding David decide to enlist the aid of a virgin named Abishag, a Shunemite; she was to lie beside David so that the warmth of her body might warm his. The author of 1 Kings informs us that this was for purely medical reasons. As a result, David had no sexual relations with the woman. (Now although Abishag did not have relations with David, the fact that she lay with him elevated her to the official status of one of David’s concubines. This is important to note because of subsequent events.)

Adonijah Attempts to Usurp the Throne (1:5-10)

Now that David was weak, a struggle ensued for the control of the crown. David’s 3 elder sons had died—Chileab, Amnon, and Absalom. The fourth eldest son was Adonijah followed by Solomon. Normally the rules of primogeniture (the law which stated that the eldest son should ascend the throne) would dictate who ascended to the throne; since Adonijah was older than Solomon, it stood to reason that he and not Solomon would be the heir to the throne. God though had informed David through Nathan the prophet that Solomon would be his heir (1 Chron. 22:9). From what follows it is safe to assume that Adonijah and his supporters knew of God’s choice. With the king being so incapacitated though, Adonijah thought it easy to steal the throne from his younger and weaker brother.

At this point the author of 1 Kings informs us that while David was raising Adonijah, he had refused to discipline him. David was either an indulgent father or else a father lax in discipline. It may be that because of the great sins in his life David felt unqualified to render discipline upon anybody who committed sins lesser than the ones he had committed. At any rate his lack of disciplining his children brought great devastation upon his family.

In support of Adonijah lined up Joab the commander-in-chief of the armies and Abiathar the high priest who ministered over the ark of the covenant in the tent prepared for it in Jerusalem. Joab probably supported Adonijah because he had fallen out of favor with David and thought that his connection with the heir apparent Solomon would be tenuous. He probably thought his best chance lay with Adonijah. Abiathar most likely supported Adonijah because he was gradually being overshadowed more and more by Zadok the priest who tended to the Tabernacle constructed by Moses located in Gibeon. (When you read earlier accounts of Abiathar and Zadok, you notice that Zadok’s name is mentioned first even though Abiathar was the high priest.) Apparently Abiathar thought that Adonijah was going to win out in this struggle and so wanted to go with the winning team.

To telegraph to the nation his ascension to the throne, Adonijah summons a huge host to En Rogel (approximately 1 mile southeast of Jerusalem) for a banquet to honor his intentions. Who was invited to the banquet is not as important as who was not invited: Solomon the rightful heir to the throne, Benaiah who was captain of David’s bodyguard and who would have supported David’s choice of heir, Nathan the prophet who had prophesied Solomon’s rise to power, and Zadok the priest. Their being omitted from the guest list was not an oversight. It constituted a direct slap at these men. Their being omitted also telegraphed to them the fact that once Adonijah consolidated his power, they (especially Solomon) would be on his hit list for extermination since they would be considered threats to the throne.

Nathan Enacts Countermeasures Against Adonijah (1:11-37)

Nathan realizes the purpose of Adonijah’s banquet and immediately seeks to undermine Adonijah. He approaches Bathsheba and informs her of Adonijah’s treachery. He counsels her to inform David of Adonijah’s doings after which he will enter the royal bedchamber and support her. Upon Bathsheba’s following Nathan’s orders, Nathan enters the bedchamber and supports Bathsheba’s claims regarding Adonijah. He informs David that if he does not take steps to counteract Adonijah, Adonijah will execute both Bathsheba and Solomon once he has consolidated his power.

Solomon is Anointed King (1:38-53)

David acts immediately by recognizing Solomon as his heir and instructing both Nathan and Zadok to anoint Solomon in full view of the people at the Spring of Gihon just outside the eastern city walls. Solomon departs the palace riding upon David’s mule, a sign to the people that David has chosen Solomon to succeed him. After Solomon has been anointed, the city erupts in praise. The people shout while the trumpets blast. From now until David dies, Solomon will be the co-regent with David but will act as the sole regent because of David’s medical condition.

The noise from the city is so loud that it catches the attention of the party in En Rogel. When Joab hears the trumpet, he suspects that something is amiss. When Jonathan the son of Abiathar approaches the banquet, Joab claims that since Jonathan is such a fine young man, he must be carrying good news. Jonathan though informs them that he is not carrying good news. He informs them that David has indeed publicly announced Solomon to be his heir and that Solomon has just been anointed as king over Judah and Israel at the Spring of Gihon. The guests flee at once because they know full well that if caught their actions will be construed as treasonous.

Adonijah immediately flees to the tent housing the ark of the covenant on the northern slope of the mountain upon which Jerusalem is built. He grabs the horns of the altar of burnt offering thereby claiming sanctuary or safety. (This practice influenced the Middle Ages when people could flee to the churches for sanctuary.) Although the Mosaic Law provided for sanctuary at such places, the sanctuary was temporary until the innocence or guilt of the accused could be determined. When Solomon hears of Adonijah’s flight to the tent, he sends word to Adonijah that no harm will befall him as long as he drops his claim to the throne. Apparently Solomon extends to Joab and Abiathar the same grace because he takes no steps against them.

SOLOMON CONSOLIDATES HIS POWER (2:1-46)

David’s Last Instructions and His Death (2:1-12)

Before dying, David summons Solomon and imparts to him final words of wisdom. He counsel falls into 2 parts: an exhortation to observe God’s laws and specific instructions on how to deal with certain people in Solomon’s kingdom. With regards to the first part David informs Solomon that the key to success is following the Law of the Lord. At this point Solomon and David had only the first five books of Moses for God’s Word. They may have had also the historical books of Joshua to 2 Samuel; however, they most likely had only the Mosaic documents. At any rate adherence to the principles and precepts in these books insured success.

Two things stick out here. First, even though the Word they had from God was limited, adherence to what God had shown them up to this point guaranteed success. If obeying the first five books of the Bible leads to unqualified success, then how much more will we experience success if in addition to the first five we obey the other 61 books.

Second, notice the importance of the king in the country’s experiencing success. David informed Solomon that his conduct affected the welfare of the nation. For the next several hundred years if the king followed God, then the kingdom prospered. If the king disobeyed God, then God brought judgment upon the nation. If that held true for a kingdom in which the people had no choice as to who their ruler would be, how much more true is this of a democracy in which the people directly choose their leaders. The leader sets the tone for the rest of the nation. Paul recognizes this because he commands us not only to pray for our political leaders but also to pray for them first (1 Tim. 2:1-2). It is important that we not only elect godly men but that we also daily pray for them that they follow the Lord in all the decisions they must make.

The second part of David’s instructions concern tidying up some unfinished business. First, he instructs Solomon to execute Joab because of his 2 major crimes, the assassination of Abner and the assassination of Amasa. These crimes were all the more serious because Joab had pretended that he was approaching these men in peace. Joab had been consulting with Abner within a gateway, pretending that he had come in peace, when he pulled out his sword and slew him. When Joab assassinated Amasa, Joab had actually approached Amasa as if to kiss him with the kiss of a peaceful greeting. David wants Joab now to atone for his crimes. As to how and when Solomon executed Joab, David left that to Solomon to decide.

Second, David instructs Solomon to show kindness to the sons of Barzillai because he had extended kindness to him in the land east of the Jordan River when David had fled Absalom and his rebellion. Although the father had refused this kindness from David, by extending this kindness to Barzillai’s sons, he was actually extending the kindness to the father.

Third, David instructs Solomon to execute Shimei. Shimei, a descendant of Benjamin and relative of Saul the first king of Israel, had cursed David as he fled Jerusalem during Absalom’s rebellion. David most likely still saw Shimei as a threat to Solomon and his throne. We see Shimei’s importance by the fact that when David crossed the Jordan River on his way back to Jerusalem after the Absalom rebellion had been quelled, Shimei had met David with a thousand men. Shimei still wielded influence and would probably use it against the young king. David instructs Solomon to execute Shimei.

It is amazing that David left these matters for Solomon to execute. At the end of his life, David enjoyed the favor of the people to the nth degree. He could have carried out these deeds himself and kept Solomon from endangering his reign. It was reckless of David to leave these to a young sovereign whose power had not yet been consolidated.

Solomon Carries Out David’s Instructions (2:13-46)

The Demise of Adonijah (2:13-25)

The first to experience judgment was Adonijah. Apparently Adonijah had not reconciled himself to the fact that Solomon was to be king over Israel and Judah. In one last attempt to usurp the throne, Adonijah goes through the back door and approaches Bathsheba. First, he portrays himself as a victim to win over her sympathies. He reminds her that at one point the throne was rightfully within his grasp because of the law of primogeniture. Then he sighs that because the Lord wanted the throne to go to Solomon, he had to relinquish his claim upon the throne. As compensation though for his great loss, he asked just for one tiny favor—for the hand of Abishag, David’s concubine, in marriage. Bathsheba, not suspecting treachery, approaches Solomon to make the request.

When Solomon sees his mother approaching, he defers to her by bowing down to her and seating her on the throne at his right hand, the position of honor in Israel. When he tells her upon her request that he will grant her whatever she wishes, she relays to Solomon Adonijah’s request. Solomon sees right through the ploy. The standard rule was that the person who got the harem, that is, the concubines, got the throne. This rule had motivated Absalom to rape his father’s concubines after he had forced David to flee Jerusalem. Adonijah was not asking just for a wife; he was subtly trying to grasp the throne.

Upon hearing Adonijah’s request, Solomon pronounces Adonijah’s doom. He sends Benaiah to slay Adonijah immediately.

The Demise of Abiathar (2:26-27)

Now that the axe has begun to swing, it is swinging swiftly and broadly. Abiathar is number 2 on the list. The only thing that saves his neck is the fact he is a priest. Solomon banishes Abiathar and his offspring to the village of Anathoth which is located 3 miles northeast of Jerusalem. The author of 1 Kings informs us that this exile fulfilled God’s word to Eli the priest during the early days of Samuel that one day his lineage would cease to occupy the high priesthood because of the wickedness of his sons.

Two things are interesting here though. First, Eli’s sins did not come to roost upon his family for ~100 years. It took a long time for the prophecy to be fulfilled; however, one day the sins of the father were visited upon the descendants. People do affect their posterity, either negatively or positively. I don’t know where it started, but I do thank the Lord that at least my great-grandmother on my mom’s side was a godly woman. Many after her have experienced blessings in their lives because of her faithfulness to the Lord. On the other hand, some have had great grandmothers who have not followed the Lord and have suffered as a result.

Second, the exile was not the permanent end to the house of Eli. Although the house of Eli lost the high priesthood, God still blessed them because although most of us do not know the names of most of the high priests from this time on, many of us do know the name of one of Eli’s great descendants, Jeremiah the prophet. How much more glorious would it have been if Eli had been faithful and Jeremiah his descendant had served as high priest. This, however, did not prevent God from doing something wonderful through Jeremiah. Even when God disciplines His children, it does not mean that all is lost. Greatness can still come from those God disciplines severely.

The Demise of Joab (2:28-35)

Joab hears of Adonijah’s execution and Abiathar’s exile, and immediately heads for the tent housing the ark of the covenant and the altar of burnt offering. He knows that the dominos have begun to fall. He understands perfectly well that he is next on the list to be executed. He rushes into the tent and grabs hold of the horns of the altar. When Solomon sends Benaiah to execute Joab, Benaiah is perplexed because Joab is in the tent pleading sanctuary. When Benaiah returns to Solomon for advice, Solomon instructs him to march right in there and slay him at the altar. No one wants to slay a person at the altar, but if that is the site Joab has chosen for his execution, so be it. Benaiah returns and carries out Solomon’s orders.

The Demise of Shimei (2:36-46)

At this point Solomon summons Shimei who had cursed David as he fled Jerusalem and warned him that if at any time he left Jerusalem, Solomon would have him executed. Now this warning was not issued unilaterally. Both Solomon and Shimei entered into a contract in which both agreed that this would be the punishment meted out to Shimei if he broke the contract. (Although the contract technically stated that Shimei could not cross the Kidron, a wadi which served as the eastern boundary of Jerusalem, Solomon meant and Shimei understood it to mean that he could not leave Jerusalem.

Three years later though 2 of Shimei’s slaves ran away from Jerusalem to Gath in the land of the Philistines (modern-day Gaza strip). Shimei goes after them in order to retrieve them. Upon returning home to Jerusalem, he is met by Solomon who swiftly orders his execution upon the basis that Shimei, not Solomon, had violated their contract. With the execution of Shimei those who threatened Solomon’s rule have been put away.

The Basis for Solomon’s Actions

Both Solomon’s actions and David’s advise seem quite severe for the times in which we live, especially Solomon’s treatment of Shimei. Note though that these were not just ordinary men. By his actions Adonijah showed that as long as he lived, he would threaten Solomon’s reign. At the right opportunity he would steal the throne away from Solomon. The same applied to Joab. Although Shimei was not the commander-in-chief of the army and was not in the line of succession to the throne, he was still holding a grudge that Saul’s family was no longer on the throne. Moreover, he had influence over the tribe of Benjamin as demonstrated in his approaching David with 1000 men at the Jordan River. At the right opportunity he would probably have tried to restore the throne to the family of Saul.

Did it ultimately matter through whether or not Solomon was on the throne? Wasn’t Solomon just trying to save his own skin? That is not what this is about. God had taken away the throne from Saul and his family. God had declared that Solomon and not Adonijah was to be king. This was not about personal preservation. This was about implementing God’s will regarding the throne. When Adonijah tried to usurp the throne, he was not undermining Solomon’s reign; he was undermining God’s will concerning the throne. Moreover, he was interfering with the way the Davidic dynasty was to be perpetuated and to result in the coming of Jesus, David’s greater Son. This was not ultimately between Adonijah and Solomon; it was ultimately about God's will for the throne and God's promise regarding the coming of Christ, very serious issues indeed.

As a result, whenever God calls us to a certain position or elevates you to a certain place, you have no right to abdicate it in order to maintain the peace. Husbands are not to stop being the head of the house in order to preserve the peace in the household. God is going to hold the husband/father responsible for that home even if he chooses to relinquish the headship and allow the wife/mother to lead the home. The same applies with civic leaders, spiritual leaders, etc. At times it would be a whole lot easier to allow other people dictate what you do. You will probably last a lot longer in church work if you do; however, within certain parameters, even spiritual leaders have to draw the line in the sand at times and say they will go no further. They may end up getting fired for it; however; they can walk with their heads held up high because they know they did God’s will which was the reason God called them to be ministers in the first place.