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SOLOMON BECOMES KING

1 Kings 1:1-53

Key Verses 1:48

“and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’”

Introduction

As we studied the book of Peter, we learned that there will be the day of the Lord. False teachers deliberately forget God’s creation and judgment by the flood. But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire. God is eternal. God’s kingdom has no end and there is no way to stop it. It just keeps going until it reaches the clear ending point. No one or nothing is able to stop it. Even this pandemic is not able to stop us from preaching the word! God made lots of promises to his chosen people, the Israelites, and some of those promises had conditions. The books of 1 & 2 Kings give a chronology of God’s promise from King David’s death in 970 BC and the complete exile of Israelites and Judahites in 586 BC. These books that we are going to go through may just look like a historical account, but the historically significant people are not the focus. The focus is on promise. Either the focus is on how God fulfills his promises or how the people treat their promise to God. Ultimately, through the promises, we will see God is in charge and is directing his kingdom not to be merely a physical one, but to be a kingdom of people’s hearts. As a background, the books of 1 & 2 Kings are sometimes considered one book with 1 & 2 Samuel. In Hebrew Bible, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles were one big volume book. But in the Septuagint Greek version, they were divided into independent books. So the book of Kings is known to be a direct continuation of the book of Samuel. There is no explicit statement of purpose in the books, but by reading the contents the main purpose that Kings were written was to give an account to the exiled Jews on how they became exiled. It is most likely that these books were written during the Babylonian exile in around 550 BC. The Israelites were God’s chosen people; how could these brutal nations take God’s people into exile? The answer is that God kept his promise. May the Lord bless our studying on 1 Kings so that we may continue to hold God’s promise and preach His word in season and out of season.

1. Read verses 1-10. How was David served by His attendants? (1-4) What might people think when he was very old? What did Adonijah do to become a king? (5, 6) Who supported Adonijah and who did not? (7-8) Who did he invite to his party and who did he leave out? (9-10)

1-1, Read verses 1-10.

When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. 2 So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.” 3 Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her. 5 Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses[a] ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6 (His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.) 7 Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah. 9 Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.

1-2, How was David served by His attendants? (1-4)

The passage starts out, “When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. So his attendants said to him, ‘Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.’
By this point in time David was around 70 years old. Like many older people, David was having trouble staying warm. Instead of having heating pads and electric blankets to help, it was a common practice to keep someone warm with the body heat of another person. So they found Abishag. She tended to the king's needs.
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.”

1-3, What might people think when he was very old?

Because David was getting old, there was a need to name a successor. David had already chosen who would be the next king, but it wasn’t publicly known.
So naturally people might think that his successor would be established by the order of birth.

1-4, What did Adonijah do to become a king? (5, 6)

5 Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6 (His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)

Now Adonijah was David’s fourth son and his oldest living son. The third oldest Absalom was killed after trying to take the throne for himself, and Absalom murdered the oldest Amnon because he raped Absalom’s full sister Tamar. All these events left Adonijah as the oldest.
Being the oldest Adonijah assumed that he would become the next king, so he started to make himself look good by getting a posse and cruising around Jerusalem in his tricked out chariot with his entourage in tow.
It was the king's duty to name a successor, but Adonijah was circumventing the king’s authority and trying to make himself king. He was acting suspiciously like Absalom.

1-5, Who supported Adonijah and who did not? (7-8)

7 Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah.

1-6, Who did he invite to his party and who did he leave out? (9-10)

9 Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.

Adonijah, received support from a number of key people, and when he felt confident enough, he made some sacrifices and had a feast.
Adonijah invited most of the important people, except those who knew of David’s choice for Solomon to succeed David.
Why else would Adonijah invite all the king’s sons, his brothers, except Solomon? Adonijah knew whom David had chosen, but he wanted to take the throne for himself. It was his preconceived plan and it was implemented accordingly!

2. Read verses 11-35. What did Nathan and Bathsheba do? (11-27) In reply whom did David want to establish as king? (28-30) What command did he give Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah? (31-35)

2-1, Read verses 11-35.

11 Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? 12 Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.” 15 So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. 16 Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king. “What is it you want?” the king asked. 17 She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18 But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. 19 He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20 My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.” 22 While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 And the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground. 24 Nathan said, “Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? 25 Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite. 27 Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?” 28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. 29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 30 I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” 31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!” 32 King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon.34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

2-2, What did Nathan and Bathsheba do? (11-27)

Nathan, who took notice of what was going on, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother and told her what was going on.
If Adonijah was going to take the throne on his own, then Bathsheba and Solomon were going to be killed because they were a threat to his kingdom.
Nathan prompted Bathsheba to talk to David about his promise to make Solomon king. This passage mentions that David promised Bathsheba that Solomon would become king.
Adonijah was trying to go against that promise, but Nathan and Bathsheba remind David of the very promise he made. When this is brought to David’s attention, he wastes no time in making Solomon king.

2-3, In reply whom did David want to establish as king? (28-30)

28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. 29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 30 I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

“As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel…” Although David was very weak by now, he remembered how the Lord delivered him out of the hands of enemies throughout his lifetime.
So he put his trust in the Lord who had been faithful and would keep His promise to make Solomon a king.

2-4, What command did he give Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah? (31-35)

31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!” 32 King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon.34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

David tells Nathan the prophet and Zadok the priest, “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon.
There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.” (1:33-35)
David wanted to make sure that everyone knew that Solomon was David’s choice for king, so he put Solomon on his mule, had the priest and prophet anoint him before the Lord and had Solomon sit on the throne.

3. Read verses 36-53. How did 3 servants and the people respond? (36-40) How did Adonijah and his followers hear the news and what did they do? (41-53) What can we learn from the two different ways these men became kings?

3-1, Read verses 36-53.

36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 37 As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!” 38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”40 And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound. 41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?” 42 Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.” 43 “Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule, 45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. 46 Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. 47 Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed 48 and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’” 49 At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 52 Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”

3-2, How did 3 servants and the people respond? (36-40)

Just as David instructed, these 3 servants obeyed exactly to make Solomon a king. In verse 36 only, the word “Lord” “lord” or “God” is repeated up to 6 times. It indicates that Benaiah accepted deeply that it happened according to God and His absolute plan.

3-3, How did Adonijah and his followers hear the news and what did they do? (41-53)

41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?” 42 Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.” 43 “Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule, 45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. 46 Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. 47 Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed 48 and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’” 49 At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 52 Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”

These were extremely clear signs that Solomon was now king. When word reached Adonijah as to what was going on, his guests scattered, Adonijah became scared for his life and pleaded with Solomon to spare him. Solomon let him live on the condition that no evil was found in him, meaning if he tried anything sneaky, Adonijah would die. But Solomon began his rule with mercy.

3-4, What can we learn from the two different ways these men became kings?

Adonijah wanted to become a king by his own choice and struggle among the people. His ongoing effort to become a king led to deceit, violence, and lawlessness. He ended up facing his early and abrupt death in chapter 2.
Solomon was chosen by God. God is the One who ultimately appoints rulers because every authority stems from the Sovereign Lord as we had learned in the book of 2 Peter. Nathan stepped up at the time of crisis to remind David of God’s promise to establish Solomon as a king.
We are called to submit to God’s will and to live continually where God has placed us in life. 1 Peter 2:9 reads, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness.”

Conclusion

We human beings have freedom. We Americans value freedom. So we can choose anything that we want, but we may well tremble at the consequences. That is why we must willingly decide to choose either God’s best way rather than our own seemingly better way. Adonjiah chose his own way and faced a dreadful consequence. Through this passage we learned that it is our best interest to choose God’s best way in accordance with His words of promises. In this pandemic, we are praying always to have faith in God and live by faith, not by sight or our emotion. May the Lord help us to grow as a servant of God’s truth and preach the word and raise up a disciple at a time(like one person Solomon at a time) for God’s glory. Amen.

One word: my eyes to see a successor!