The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands
1 king 2:1-46
Key Verse 2:46b
“The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands.”
Today’s passage shows that Solomon sat on the throne of his father David after his father died. Now he truly became the king over Israel. That does not mean his kingdom was established in his hands. Only after removing several evil people the kingdom was established securely in his hands.
What happened in today’s passage can an example of how the kingdom of Christ will be established. It is through purging of all evil through judgment.
We Christians are those who accept Jesus as our king. But that does not mean the kingdom of Christ is established in our hearts. Only after putting to death of all our earthly desires which is against the king Jesus, his kingdom can be established securely in our hearts.
So today let us see how Solomon established his kingdom in his hands and let us learn how to establish the kingdom of Christ in our hearts.
My message has two main parts.
Part I. King David’s final instruction before he died (v.1-12)
Part II. How the kingdom was firmly established in the Solomon’s hands (v.13-46)
Under two main parts, I have small divisions.
Part I. King David’s instruction
(1) Personal instruction for Solomon (v.1-4)
(2) Instruction for Joab (v.5-6),
(3) Instruction for sons of Barzillai (v.7),
(4) Instruction for Shimei (v.8-9),
(5) David’s death (v.10-12)
Part II. How the kingdom was firmly established.
(1) Deal with Adoninah (v.13-25),
(2) Deal with Abiathar the priest (v.26-27),
(3) Deal with Joab (v.28-35),
(4) Deal with Shimei (36-46)
For people in today’s passage I used two colors to help you understand it better because there are many people appear in it.
I used two colors in my small divisions, red color for Joab and Shimei, and blue color for sons of Barzillai, and Adoninah, and Abiathar the priest. It is because the red colored people, Joab and Shimei are mentioned in King David’s instruction. But there was no instruction for Adonijah, and Abiathar the priest. King David mentioned for the sons of Barzillai, but they are not mentioned in Solomon’s dealing with evil people because they are faithful people. So I made a different color for you to understand the passage better.
Part I. King David’s instruction (v.1-12)
(1) Personal instruction for Solomon (v.1-4)
Verses 1-4
“When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’”
When David realized his time for death drew near, he gave his son Solomon his final instruction. David was a very experienced king, but Solomon was inexperienced and young as king. So David could have wanted to share all his experience or wisdom he gained during his life as the secret of the prosperous life for Solomon. But he did not do so. He just helped him to obey the commands of the Lord.
David said if Solomon does what the Lord his God requires he will prosper in all he does and wherever he goes. It will also fulfill the Lord’s promise for David.
Verse 4b reads, “If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’”
This is the fulfillment of the dynasty. We need to remember David is the first king for his dynasty. So he concerned about his descendants to be kings. The Lord gave David the promise of dynasty. But it comes with one condition. “If your descendants watch how they live and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul.
“Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.” The phrase “you may prosper in all you do” reminds me of Psalm chapter 1. When a person meditates on the law of the Lord day and night he or she will be like a tree planted by streams of water, and whatever he or she does prospers.
David said, “you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.” Psalmist says, “Whatever they do prospers”. David and Psalmist are saying the same truth. Meditating the law of God and obeying will bring ultimate success from the Lord.
Part I. King David’s instruction
(1) Personal instruction for Solomon (v.1-4)
(2) Instruction for Joab (v.5-6),
(3) Instruction for sons of Barzillai (v.7),
(4) Instruction for Shimei (v.8-9),
(5) David’s death (v.10-12)
Part II. How the kingdom was firmly established.
(1) Deal with Adoninah (v.13-25),
(2) Deal with Abiathar the priest (v.26-27),
(3) Deal with Joab (v.28-35),
(4) Deal with Shimei (36-46)
Now David’s specific instruction for three people after teaching Solomon to walk in obedience to the Lord his God. The first person David mentioned is Joab son of Zeruiah.
Verses 5-6
“5 “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.”
What was so evil that David had to mention about Joab at first? Joab worked so hard as the commander of the armies under David. He won many victories and helped David in many critical times. But he had terrible sins. He killed two people in deception. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle. The sin of murdering two innocent people was so burdensome to David. David also murdered general Uriah and shed his innocent blood. But David confessed his sin and was forgiven, but Joab never acknowledged his sin. What Joab did was also known to Solomon since David said, “You yourself know what he did to me.”
Part I. King David’s instruction
(1) Personal instruction for Solomon (v.1-4)
(2) Instruction for Joab (v.5-6),
(3) Instruction for sons of Barzillai (v.7),
(4) Instruction for Shimei (v.8-9),
(5) David’s death (v.10-12)
Part II. How the kingdom was firmly established.
(1) Deal with Adoninah (v.13-25),
(2) Deal with Abiathar the priest (v.26-27),
(3) Deal with Joab (v.28-35),
(4) Deal with Shimei (36-46)
David remembered not only those who harmed him but also those who helped him. He mentioned the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. They helped him in the most critical time of his life. It was when he fled from his own son Absalom. His own son wanted to kill him, and David had to flee for his life! How much painful it would have been for David as a father to flee from his son! And the sons of Barzillai of Gilead stood by him. Verse 7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.” “Among those who eat at your table” means specially honored people by king. They have access to the king everyday. David was grateful for the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. So he mentioned to Solomon that he should honor them as he had honored them.
Part I. King David’s instruction
(1) Personal instruction for Solomon (v.1-4)
(2) Instruction for Joab (v.5-6),
(3) Instruction for sons of Barzillai (v.7),
(4) Instruction for Shimei (v.8-9),
(5) David’s death (v.10-12)
Part II. How the kingdom was firmly established.
(1) Deal with Adoninah (v.13-25),
(2) Deal with Abiathar the priest (v.26-27),
(3) Deal with Joab (v.28-35),
(4) Deal with Shimei (36-46)
Now David mentioned about Shimei. Verses 8-9
“8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”
David said, “and remember”. David does not want Solomon to forget Shimei. And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim.
Shimei called down bitter curses on David when David ran away for his life. He cursed David bitterly when David was in the lowest bottom of his life. His curse was bitter. He cursed David saying his misery comes from murdering Saul’s people which was not true. David’s trouble came from his murder and adultery.
But when Absalom died and David was returning to his throne again in Jerusalem, Shimei realized his life was in danger. So he came down to David at the Jordan river with one thousands Benjamintes. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ David showed the mercy of God. It reminds of the Lord’s forgiveness despite all of our terrible sins. The Lord wiped out all of our sins and consequences because he himself was punished for our sins.
Part I. King David’s instruction
(1) Personal instruction for Solomon (v.1-4)
(2) Instruction for Joab (v.5-6),
(3) Instruction for sons of Barzillai (v.7),
(4) Instruction for Shimei (v.8-9),
(5) David’s death (v.10-12)
Part II. How the kingdom was firmly established.
(1) Deal with Adoninah (v.13-25),
(2) Deal with Abiathar the priest (v.26-27),
(3) Deal with Joab (v.28-35),
(4) Deal with Shimei (36-46)
Verses 10-12
“10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. 11 He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.”
Part I. King David’s instruction
(1) Personal instruction for Solomon (v.1-4)
(2) Instruction for Joab (v.5-6),
(3) Instruction for sons of Barzillai (v.7),
(4) Instruction for Shimei (v.8-9),
(5) David’s death (v.10-12)
Part II. How the kingdom was firmly established.
(1) Deal with Adoninah (v.13-25),
(2) Deal with Abiathar the priest (v.26-27),
(3) Deal with Joab (v.28-35),
(4) Deal with Shimei (36-46)
Solomon got the instruction for Joab and Shimei. But he did not start to follow his father’s order. He was patient, waiting for God’s time. His patience reminds us what apostle Peter says, “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.” God does not want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to be saved. So he is patient instead of brining his judgment quickly. But evil people distort the Lord’s patience to their own destruction.
David did not mention about Adonijah. Solomon also forgave him completely from chapter one, saying that as long as no evil is found in him not even a hair of his head will fall to the ground. But Adonijah started his own destruction. It shows evil cannot hide in the heart of people. The desire of people will show up in their deeds.
Verses 13-18
“13 Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. Bathsheba asked him, “Do you come peacefully?” He answered, “Yes, peacefully.” 14 Then he added, “I have something to say to you.” “You may say it,” she replied. 15 “As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the Lord. 16 Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me.” “You may make it,” she said. 17 So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.” 18 “Very well,” Bathsheba replied, “I will speak to the king for you.”
Verses 19-22
“19 When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand. 20 “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.” The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.” 21 So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.” 22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother—yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!”
Verses 23-25
“23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! 24 And now, as surely as the Lord lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!” 25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.”
As a prince, Adonijah could have marry many beautiful women. But out of all women, he wanted to marry Abishag, David’s concubine.
Adonijah was a man of trouble. That is why Bethsheba asked him, “Do you
come peacefully” when he came to her. He is the fourth son of David and Solomon was the 10th son of David. He was a trouble maker. Now he requested Abishag as his wife.
Bathsheba agreed. Maybe she thought showing favor to Adonijah would please the trouble maker and Solomon’s kingdom could be safer. But when king Solomon heard about it, his response was totally different.
It was a custom in those days that new king or conquered king takes all the wives and concubines of old king or the defeated king. To do so is the sign of taking over all the powers and authority of the old king or defeated king. For example, Absalom slept with 10 concubines of David when he entered Jerusalem to be the new king in the place of his father David.
So the request of Abishag shows a sign of treason again. His deep seated secret desire was shown when he told Bethsheba in verse 15. “15 “As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the Lord.
Obviously treason was how king Solomon interpreted because he mentioned in verse 24. 24 And now, as surely as the Lord lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!”
What Adonijah did was a threat against the dynasty of Solomon. Why did Adonijah did such a foolish thing? Didn’t he know about what will come to him if the request went to king Solomon? Obviously he did not think so. He believed he would get what he wanted when he used Bathsheba for his favor. He knew how much king Solomon honored his mother. But his plan failed. Solomon through God’s help discerned what was going on in the heart of Adonijah.
King Solomon recognized that he needed to take a dramatic action immediately this time against Adonij and those who conspired together with him, Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!” So he swore to the Lord and killed Adonijah.
Solomon’s immediate and clean cut action can be an example of how speedily God’s judgment comes when it comes. At that time it is too late to repent. Since when God’s judgment starts no one can escape, we are commanded to take drastic and extreme measure against our sin as soon as we detect or sense any evil in our hearts.
Jesus taught his disciples, ‘if your eyes causes you to sin, gouge out! If your hand cause you to sin cut it off.” Jesus preached immediate and extreme measure in dealing with our sin. That is how the kingdom of Christ can be established in our hearts.
Part I. King David’s instruction
(1) Personal instruction for Solomon (v.1-4)
(2) Instruction for Joab (v.5-6),
(3) Instruction for sons of Barzillai (v.7),
(4) Instruction for Shimei (v.8-9),
(5) David’s death (v.10-12)
Part II. How the kingdom was firmly established.
(1) Deal with Adoninah (v.13-25),
(2) Deal with Abiathar the priest (v.26-27),
(3) Deal with Joab (v.28-35),
(4) Deal with Shimei (36-46)
After taking care of Adonijah, the king Solomon dealt with Abiathar the priest.
Verses 26-27
“26 To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.” 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.”
Abiathar’s silent to King’s charge “you deserve to die” shows that there was a possibility of conspiracy between Adonijah and Abiathar. Otherwise, Abiathar could tell king Solomon, “Lord, once I conspired with Adonijah. But after that I completely repented and I had have nothing to do with it anymore. Why are you doing this to me, Lord?” But he could not say it because there was evil in him.
King Solomon did not kill him. But he reserved his right to put him to death any time in the future by saying, “I will not put you to death now”. Solomon saved his life based on his past good deeds. He said, “because you carried the ark of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.” That was true. So even in this decisive and clean cut judgment, there was mercy shown to Abiathar.
Removing Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord fulfilled the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli. Solomon might not know it but it was also fulfillment of the Lord. This shows all the more what Solomon did was a right thing. Many things we do may fulfill the word of the Lord even though we may not know it if we do what is right.
Part I. King David’s instruction
(1) Personal instruction for Solomon (v.1-4)
(2) Instruction for Joab (v.5-6),
(3) Instruction for sons of Barzillai (v.7),
(4) Instruction for Shimei (v.8-9),
(5) David’s death (v.10-12)
Part II. How the kingdom was firmly established.
(1) Deal with Adoninah (v.13-25),
(2) Deal with Abiathar the priest (v.26-27),
(3) Deal with Joab (v.28-35),
(4) Deal with Shimei (36-46)
Now Joab heard the news. How did he respond?
Verses 28-30
“28 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar. 29 King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!”
30 So Benaiah entered the tent of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’”
But he answered, “No, I will die here.”
Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”
Verses 31-33
31 Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. 32 The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better men and more upright than he. 33 May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.”
Verses 34-35
34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country. 35 The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.
Joab fled to the tent of the Lord when he heard the news. It shows he was guilty. If he had nothing to do with any new conspiracy with Adonijah and Abiathar he could stay at home. And if king comes to kill him, he would say, “Why, Lord, do you want to kill your servant? Once I conspired with Adonijah but I repented completely. I have had nothing to do with him and any new conspiracy anymore. I am innocent. Please investigate!” But he fled in advance. It was a sign that some evil was in him. He knew he was guilty.
Taking hold of the horns of the altar did not save his life. His most terrible sin was murdering of two innocent people without David knowing it. It was the guilt of shedding innocent blood. What he did also cast a dark shadow on David and his descendants. Since David was king over Joab, David could not escape the suspicion of guilt of the innocent blood completely. So the time has come for David and his whole family to clear of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. That is why the king Solomon said in verses 31-33. Verses 31-33
31 Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. 32 The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better men and more upright than he. 33 May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.”
The positions of the commander in chief in the army and the high priest are so important that king Solomon immediately filled them.
Part I. King David’s instruction
(1) Personal instruction for Solomon (v.1-4)
(2) Instruction for Joab (v.5-6),
(3) Instruction for sons of Barzillai (v.7),
(4) Instruction for Shimei (v.8-9),
(5) David’s death (v.10-12)
Part II. How the kingdom was firmly established.
(1) Deal with Adoninah (v.13-25),
(2) Deal with Abiathar the priest (v.26-27),
(3) Deal with Joab (v.28-35),
(4) Deal with Shimei (36-46)
Now King Solomon deals with Shimei. Verses 36-40 “36 Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. 37 The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head.” 38 Shimei answered the king, “What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.” And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time. 39 But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran off to Achish son of Maakah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.” 40 At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath.”
Verses 41-45
“41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, 42 the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn you, ‘On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die’? At that time you said to me, ‘What you say is good. I will obey.’ 43 Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?” 44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. 45 But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure before the Lord forever.”
Verse 46
“46 Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and he died.
The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands.”
Shimei’s home town was Bahurim. When king Solomon ordered Shimei for city arrest in Jerusalem, Shimei did not protest. He knew he was guilty. It seems like he was even grateful. So he fully agreed with Solomon. In this judgment, the grace of the Lord is shown once more. David asked Solomon to bring his grey head down. But king Solomon gave him a new chance, an opportunity for him to live once more. It was the expression of the grace of God.
But it only took three years when Shimei broke his own oath. If I were him, I would put big sign in the front of my living room and remind me of this everyday. But Shimei did not do so to his own destruction. By removing Shimei the kingdom was established in Solomon’s hands.
We, Christians, are those who profess that Jesus is our king. But that does not mean the kingdom of Jesus is not firmly established in our hearts. We have so many evil desires that do not want Jesus to be our king in our hearts.
Only by removing all the evil desires of flesh through repentance, the kingdom of Christ will be firmly established in the hands of Christ, and he can rule our hearts as our true king.
Last night before I went to bed, I asked the Lord in prayer. “Lord, please teach me even one thing about Christ through this message, and help me to repent even one small sin that his kingdom may be established in my heart more securely.”
I believe this is how the Lord answered my prayer. He reminded me of Colossians 3:1 and 3:5.
Colossians 3:1
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
Colossians 3:5
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
Interestingly, I found today’s daily bread starts with Colossians too. And the passage of Colossians chapter 3 was preached through P. Moses Yoon, our General Director.
I believe the Lord spoke to me, “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God”. Christ is seated at the right hand of God in his throne. The best way for me to secure the kingdom of Christ to be established in my heart is to set my heart on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. My heart and its desire should be together with Christ. That is the safest way.
At the same time, in order to do so I need to put to death of my earthly desires. Colossians 3:5 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
In the past whenever I see the list of all evil desires, I did not know the Scripture displays our sins specifically one by one. I even do not know all the differences among sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. But this morning I realized why the word of God displays all of these sins one by one. It is to help us to repent our sins specifically because our sins are specific. If it is not clearly mentioned and shown, our sins may hide behind our back.
When I looked at them according to my prayer, “Greed which is idolatry” caught my eyes. Greed is idolatry.
Greed is to desire more than what is the proper amount. As the pastor of his church, I have enough honor and authority and even money. But I realized I wanted more money. I am not saying I wanted our church to support me more financially. I am amply supplied by the church! What I am saying is in my heart I have wanted more money all the time. And the word of God says it is greed. It is because the Lord has already given me enough money all throughout my life time whether I lived in plenty or in need.
But I have desired more money all the time, and that is my sin of greed. And it is idolatry because I seek money rather than God and I depend on it rather than God.
If you look at today’s passage, Adonijah, Abiathar, Joab, and Shimei, they are people of wealth and honor and authority and power. Adonijah was the fifth son of David, if I am correct. He was a princess! He had such power, honor, glory, and wealth. But he wanted more. He wanted the crown.
Abiathar was the high priest. He was the one who was honored the most as far as their worship of the Lord went. He was like Billy Graham in the past. But he wanted more. Maybe he wanted far more honor than Zadok the priest.
What about Joab? He was the commander in chief of Solomon’s army. He was the very top among all military. In our terms, he is like the secretary of defense! Didn’t he have money, power, authority and all others? Yes. But he wanted more!
About Shimei, do you think Shimei was poor that he had to saddle his donkey in search of his two run away slaves? No. He was rich and influential man among the Banjamites. He could bring one thousand Benjamites in such a short time to the river of Jordan in order to save his life. He was rich enough to have no problem to build himself a house in Jerusalem at King’s command. But he did not want to lose two slaves at the cost of his own life! Isn’t that greed? If not, what is it? How can we explain his behavior?
In conclusion, Solomon became king. But it does not mean his kingdom was firmly established in his hands. The evil people who did not want him to be their king or those who did not honor him as their king enough should be purged. In the same way for Christians who accept Jesus as their king, his kingdom will be established in their hearts firmly only when all their earthly desires are put to death and purged out.
One word:
The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands
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