Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

David is called old and advanced in years, but he’s really only seventy (70) years old. Whatever the reason, David was no longer the merry and joyful Psalmist of Israel, but the aged king who had trouble keeping warm. For that end, a virgin girl was found for him. She was a young lady, pretty enough, and she cared for him. At night she cuddled up to him and provided him her body warmth – but it was not a sexual relationship (David was ‘advanced’ in years, remember?). Abishag the Shunammite was still his concubine, with all the privileges and issues that position granted.

Since David was being the old man in the castle, his son Adonijah – brother of Absalom – decided to get chariots with horses and have fifty men running before him. Does this sound familiar? I bet you can guess what’s next. He declared himself the next king. He was David’s fourth-born son. First born was killed by Absalom (2 Samuel 1:22-29). Third born was killed by Joab (2 Samuel 18:14-15). Second born was named Chileab, but is only mentioned once (2 Samuel 3:3). Perhaps with a mother as wise as Abigail he kept out of the crown shenanigans and lived a full and productive life on the sidelines. That leaves Mr. Fourth-born ready and willing and assuming that advanced in age Daddy can’t stop him. Scripture also mentions David had never rebuked him. He had been given the run of the kingdom. Spoiled children always cause trouble, which is why God warns us not to spoil them – regardless the method of punishment/rebuke, it is needed in EVERYONE’S life.

Adonijah collected Joab and Abiathar the priest and they joined him in his conspiracy. Prior to this, both these men had been loyal to David. But David’s inactivity seems to have pushed them to try and secure themselves places in the next dynasty. Perhaps all of them felt that David’s promised successor (Solomon, currently aged between 14 and 20 depending on how old David was when he slept with Bathsheba and how old he is here in ‘advanced’ age) was either too young or inappropriate. Also, David had made no formal announcement. He was aging, but had made no moves to secure the secession. In the absence of a clear successor, people often make their own. Which is exactly what our conspiracy proceeds to do.

Adonijah invites all his brothers and all the men of Judah down to the stone of Zoheleth, where he offers sheep, oxen, and fattened calves. He makes a big feast there. He does NOT invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David’s mighty men, Zadok the priest, Shimei, Rei, or Solomon (conspicuous). This was obviously not a spur of the moment rebellion. Adonijah seems to have known who would support and not support him, as well as who may have attracted too much attention and upset the cart (I’m thinking of Shimei, who had previously cursed David –  2 Samuel 16:5-13).

The prophet Nathan gets involved here, going to Bathsheba and getting her to go to David and tell him what’s happening – which he would come in and corroborate. Bathsheba went to David and showed him utmost respect. She asked him if he had changed his mind or if he was sticking to a previous promise (not mentioned before in scripture) that Solomon would be the next king. She gave him the news of what Adonijah was doing and mentioned that if his son succeeded, she and Solomon’s lives would be in danger (challengers to the throne and all that). While she was talking Nathan came in and asked whether or not David had appointed Adonijah his successor because he seemed to be having a victory feast to celebrate being king.

David’s response is given in shorthand here, but in greater detail in 1 Chronicles 28-29. David took an oath before Bathsheba that her son Solomon would be the next king. He called in Zadok the priest and Benaiah. He told them to take his royal mule (a symbol of royalty, especially royal success and peace), place Solomon on it, and take him down to Gihon. There Zadok and Nathan were to proclaim him king over Israel with trumpets and shouting. Then they were to come back and put Solomon on David’s throne and he would be king in David’s place. David was officially passing the reins of government to Solomon. They did everything David wanted.

Adonijah heard the noise and the shouts of Jerusalem’s celebration. He asked and was told the answer: Solomon has been proclaimed king by David. All of Adonijah’s guests panicked and took off. Adonijah himself ran to the tabernacle and grabbed hold of the altar horns. Solomon was told that his brother feared for his life. Solomon did what David often did. He showed mercy. He said that as long as Adonijah was a worthy men, not even a hair of his head would be harmed. But if he did wickedly, he would die. Pretty good deal. He was brought down from the altar, brought to Solomon, and Solomon made sure he understood and sent him home.

“Then David slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.” (1 Kings 2:10-11)

Now at seventy, David was about to die and gives his actual last words to Solomon in a charge. Since he had already set the crown on Solomon’s head, he could not command Solomon. He was instead asking with respect, father to son, for Solomon to do and not do certain things. First, to keep the commands of the Lord and to walk in His ways. To seek Him with all Solomon had and not to stray from it in heart, word, or deed. He repeated the blessings he had been given from God, and the framework in which they would operate. It was GOOD advice.

Next, David asked that Joab be dealt with. He had sided with Adonijah against David and Solomon. He’d killed Absalom in defiance of David’s orders. He’d murdered Abner with deception in a time of peace. And he’d killed Amasa with deception because Amasa took his job. David should have dealt with Joab himself, but whether because they were closely related, Joab was tied into the military so closely, or because Joab had helped David murder Uriah, David had not acted. He was asking Solomon to act justly and not let Joab get away with it.

David asked that the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite would be welcome at Solomon’s table, shown kindness for the help and support Barzillai had shown David during Absalom’s rebellion – which Solomon would have experienced firsthand. David asked that Shimei who cursed him be put to death. David had promised not to kill him himself, but felt the transgression was worthy of execution. In all these cases, he asked Solomon to use his own judgment, but felt Solomon would see it just as David saw it. Solomon was present for many of the incidences. David died at seventy years old and was buried in his beloved city. Solomon was king and firmly established the kingdom.

First thing Adonijah did was to petition Bathsheba for the hand of Abishag the Shunammite for his own wife. Solomon saw through this request. For Adonijah to take the previous king’s wife would strengthen his claim to the throne. He was put to death for his power play. Benaiah was sent down to execute him. He did. Next up was Abiathar the priest. He was not executed. Because of the many years of faithful service, until the big betrayal, he was exiled. He was removed from being eligible to be high priest – which fulfilled God’s word to Eli (1 Samuel 2:31-35). He was sent to Anathoth, to his own personal home. To be honest, I would read this as a complete removal as a priest period, but 1 Kings 4:4 lists Abiathar as a priest. Either that one is a different man or he could be a priest, but not a high priest.

Joab heard about this and fled to the altar and grabbed the horns – probably hoping for the same (original) leniency that Adonijah got. Benaiah was sent to execute him. Joab refused to leave the tabernacle. Benaiah checked with Solomon and went back and killed him right at the altar. Joab was buried in the wilderness in his own home. No honour for his good achievements, the innocent blood he put on his hands stained it all.

Shimei got a better deal. He was told that because David had given him respite, he would enjoy respite. The catch? Inside Jerusalem where he could be monitored. He was to build himself a house and live there. He could not leave the city. If he left, he would be killed. Shimei understood and agreed and seems to have been glad for the mercy. But three years later two slaves ran away and Shimei went after them, leaving the city. When he got back, he was executed for breaking the agreement. Benaiah was sent down to do it and he did.

Summary

Key Players: God, David, Solomon, Adonijah, Joab, Benaiah

Key Themes: Covenant, Succession, Rebellion, Justice

Key Verse(s): 1 Kings 1:1, 16-21, 32-37, 51-53; 2:10-12, 22-25, 26, 28, 44-46