I Kings 1 Commentary: The Succession Crisis
Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
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.
So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
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.
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.
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
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.
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En–rogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bath–sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
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.
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?
Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
And Bath–sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.
And Bath–sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
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.
And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:
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.
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.
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.
And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
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.
And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
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.
But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
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?
Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath–sheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.
And the king sware, and said, As the Lord liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,
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.
Then Bath–sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.
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.
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:
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.
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.
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the Lord God of my lord the king say so too.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
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:
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.
And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
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.
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.
And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
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.
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.
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.
I Kings 1 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the transition of power from the aging King David to his son Solomon. This chapter is not simply a historical account, but a powerful narrative filled with political intrigue, family drama, and the fulfillment of God's sovereign plan. It highlights the challenges of leadership succession and the enduring consequences of past sins.
David's Frailty and Adonijah's Ambition (I Kings 1:1-10)
As the events of I Kings unfold, we find David in his twilight years, weakened and struggling with the cold (I Kings 1:1). His servants seek a solution and find Abishag, a beautiful young woman from Shunem, to care for him and provide warmth (I Kings 1:2-4). Abishag's role is more than just a caregiver; her presence later becomes a point of contention in the struggle for the throne, as Adonijah will later seek to marry her in I Kings 2, a move that is interpreted as a claim to the kingship.
This backdrop of David's physical decline sets the stage for Adonijah's bold move. David's fourth son, and likely the eldest living at this point, Adonijah saw an opportunity to seize the throne (I Kings 1:5). Perhaps assuming he was the rightful heir due to his age, and in the absence of a clear public declaration from David regarding Solomon, Adonijah declared, "I will be king!" (I Kings 1:5).
Adonijah's actions bear a striking resemblance to those of Absalom (see 2 Samuel 15:1-10). He built a following through self-promotion, charm, and charisma. He secured the support of influential figures like Joab, David's military commander, and Abiathar the priest (I Kings 1:7), as well as many of his royal brothers and men of Judah (I Kings 1:9). This growing support made Adonijah's claim to the throne a serious threat. The seeds of division, sown by David's past transgressions, continued to sprout and cause unrest within the kingdom.
Nathan, Bathsheba, and the King's Promise (I Kings 1:11-27)
The prophet Nathan and Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, recognized the gravity of the situation (I Kings 1:11). They understood that Adonijah's actions could jeopardize Solomon's future and their own safety. Remember David's sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12) and the lasting consequences it had on his family and kingdom.
Together, Nathan and Bathsheba devised a plan to remind David of his promise to crown Solomon as king (I Kings 1:12-14). Bathsheba approached David, reminding him of his oath (I Kings 1:15-17). While this specific promise isn't recorded elsewhere in Scripture, it highlights the importance of private commitments and their potential impact on public affairs. She pointed out that Adonijah had not invited Solomon to his coronation banquet, suggesting that Solomon and Bathsheba would be seen as enemies of the throne after David's death (I Kings 1:18-21).
Nathan followed Bathsheba, corroborating her report and directly questioning David's involvement: "Did you endorse Adonijah without letting us know?" (I Kings 1:22-27). This was a crucial intervention, forcing David to confront the situation and reaffirm his commitment to Solomon.
David's Decisive Action (I Kings 1:28-40)
Despite his physical weakness, David's mind remained sharp. He reaffirmed his previous promise to install Solomon as king (I Kings 1:28-30). Instead of engaging in armed conflict, as Absalom had done, David wisely assessed the situation. He recognized that the majority of the people remained loyal to him and would support his chosen successor.
David then commanded his loyal servants to anoint Solomon at Gihon, proclaim him king before all the people, and place him on David's throne (I Kings 1:32-35). This public declaration was a strategic move to solidify Solomon's claim and unite the kingdom behind him.
Obediently, David's servants carried out his orders, and the people rejoiced (I Kings 1:36-40). The sound of the celebration reached Adonijah and his followers, who were feasting nearby.
The Collapse of Adonijah's Coronation (I Kings 1:41-53)
The sound of the ram's horn announcing Solomon's coronation sent shockwaves through Adonijah's gathering (I Kings 1:41). The arrival of Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest, brought a brief moment of hope for Adonijah, but it was quickly dashed. Jonathan delivered the crushing news of David's actions and Solomon's ascendance to the throne (I Kings 1:42-48).
Adonijah's supporters, realizing their cause was lost, abandoned him and fled (I Kings 1:49). Adonijah, fearing for his life, sought refuge at the tabernacle, grasping the horns of the altar as a plea for mercy (I Kings 1:50-51).
Solomon, in a display of wisdom and restraint, granted Adonijah a reprieve, conditional upon his loyalty (I Kings 1:52). When Adonijah appeared before Solomon and paid homage, the king sent him home (I Kings 1:53). However, this was an uneasy truce, and the seeds of future conflict remained.
I Kings 1 highlights the complexities of leadership transitions and the importance of divine sovereignty in the selection of leaders. While human ambition and political maneuvering played a role, God's plan for Solomon to succeed David ultimately prevailed. The chapter also serves as a reminder of the lasting consequences of sin and the need for wise and decisive action in the face of adversity. It underscores the importance of faithfulness, obedience, and trusting in God's plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain.
Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
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.
So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
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.
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.
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
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.
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En–rogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bath–sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
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.
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?
Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
And Bath–sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.
And Bath–sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
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.
And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:
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.
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.
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.
And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
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.
And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
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.
But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
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?
Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath–sheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.
And the king sware, and said, As the Lord liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,
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.
Then Bath–sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.
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.
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:
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.
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.
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the Lord God of my lord the king say so too.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
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:
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.
And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
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.
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.
And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
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.
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.
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.
I Kings 1 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the transition of power from the aging King David to his son Solomon. This chapter is not simply a historical account, but a powerful narrative filled with political intrigue, family drama, and the fulfillment of God's sovereign plan. It highlights the challenges of leadership succession and the enduring consequences of past sins.
David's Frailty and Adonijah's Ambition (I Kings 1:1-10)
As the events of I Kings unfold, we find David in his twilight years, weakened and struggling with the cold (I Kings 1:1). His servants seek a solution and find Abishag, a beautiful young woman from Shunem, to care for him and provide warmth (I Kings 1:2-4). Abishag's role is more than just a caregiver; her presence later becomes a point of contention in the struggle for the throne, as Adonijah will later seek to marry her in I Kings 2, a move that is interpreted as a claim to the kingship.
This backdrop of David's physical decline sets the stage for Adonijah's bold move. David's fourth son, and likely the eldest living at this point, Adonijah saw an opportunity to seize the throne (I Kings 1:5). Perhaps assuming he was the rightful heir due to his age, and in the absence of a clear public declaration from David regarding Solomon, Adonijah declared, "I will be king!" (I Kings 1:5).
Adonijah's actions bear a striking resemblance to those of Absalom (see 2 Samuel 15:1-10). He built a following through self-promotion, charm, and charisma. He secured the support of influential figures like Joab, David's military commander, and Abiathar the priest (I Kings 1:7), as well as many of his royal brothers and men of Judah (I Kings 1:9). This growing support made Adonijah's claim to the throne a serious threat. The seeds of division, sown by David's past transgressions, continued to sprout and cause unrest within the kingdom.
Nathan, Bathsheba, and the King's Promise (I Kings 1:11-27)
The prophet Nathan and Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, recognized the gravity of the situation (I Kings 1:11). They understood that Adonijah's actions could jeopardize Solomon's future and their own safety. Remember David's sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12) and the lasting consequences it had on his family and kingdom.
Together, Nathan and Bathsheba devised a plan to remind David of his promise to crown Solomon as king (I Kings 1:12-14). Bathsheba approached David, reminding him of his oath (I Kings 1:15-17). While this specific promise isn't recorded elsewhere in Scripture, it highlights the importance of private commitments and their potential impact on public affairs. She pointed out that Adonijah had not invited Solomon to his coronation banquet, suggesting that Solomon and Bathsheba would be seen as enemies of the throne after David's death (I Kings 1:18-21).
Nathan followed Bathsheba, corroborating her report and directly questioning David's involvement: "Did you endorse Adonijah without letting us know?" (I Kings 1:22-27). This was a crucial intervention, forcing David to confront the situation and reaffirm his commitment to Solomon.
David's Decisive Action (I Kings 1:28-40)
Despite his physical weakness, David's mind remained sharp. He reaffirmed his previous promise to install Solomon as king (I Kings 1:28-30). Instead of engaging in armed conflict, as Absalom had done, David wisely assessed the situation. He recognized that the majority of the people remained loyal to him and would support his chosen successor.
David then commanded his loyal servants to anoint Solomon at Gihon, proclaim him king before all the people, and place him on David's throne (I Kings 1:32-35). This public declaration was a strategic move to solidify Solomon's claim and unite the kingdom behind him.
Obediently, David's servants carried out his orders, and the people rejoiced (I Kings 1:36-40). The sound of the celebration reached Adonijah and his followers, who were feasting nearby.
The Collapse of Adonijah's Coronation (I Kings 1:41-53)
The sound of the ram's horn announcing Solomon's coronation sent shockwaves through Adonijah's gathering (I Kings 1:41). The arrival of Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest, brought a brief moment of hope for Adonijah, but it was quickly dashed. Jonathan delivered the crushing news of David's actions and Solomon's ascendance to the throne (I Kings 1:42-48).
Adonijah's supporters, realizing their cause was lost, abandoned him and fled (I Kings 1:49). Adonijah, fearing for his life, sought refuge at the tabernacle, grasping the horns of the altar as a plea for mercy (I Kings 1:50-51).
Solomon, in a display of wisdom and restraint, granted Adonijah a reprieve, conditional upon his loyalty (I Kings 1:52). When Adonijah appeared before Solomon and paid homage, the king sent him home (I Kings 1:53). However, this was an uneasy truce, and the seeds of future conflict remained.
I Kings 1 highlights the complexities of leadership transitions and the importance of divine sovereignty in the selection of leaders. While human ambition and political maneuvering played a role, God's plan for Solomon to succeed David ultimately prevailed. The chapter also serves as a reminder of the lasting consequences of sin and the need for wise and decisive action in the face of adversity. It underscores the importance of faithfulness, obedience, and trusting in God's plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain.