The Book of FIRST KINGS

Chapter 1

[1] Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
[2] 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.
[3] So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
[4] And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

1) Striking Development (V 1-4)

King David, whom we always picture as a youthful strong shepherd boy, has become stricken in years

His strength has certainly declined and decayed

He seems older than his years, but it isn’t always the years sometimes the mileage

Needing nursing care he is prescribed a recognized medical treatment of ancient world

Abishag, a young virgin, is selected to minister unto the king. She is probably made 1 of his concubines

[5] 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.
[6] 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.
[7] And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
[8] 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.
[9] 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:
[10] But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

2) Startling Declaration (V 5-10)

Adonijah, David’s oldest living son (for Amnon & Absalom dead & Chileab is unmentioned)

Adonijah “exalted himself”

Lk 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Adonijah says “I will be king”

He acts in the same rebellious spirit as did his rebellious brother Absalom (2 Sam 15:1)

King David had not appointed this young man, he just simply appointed himself

In fact it really is God who determines the next king

Joab, David’s Chief General along with the priest Abiathar help support Adonijah to seize the throne

Joab & Abiathar tarnished a life’s devotion because they thought of self rather than God’s will

While men like Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Davids mighty men wait for David

Adonijah set up a banquet to promote himself as king but did not invite everyone

He did not invite Nathan the prophet nor Solomon, Adonijah’s younger half brother

[11] 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?
[12] 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.
[13] 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?
[14] Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
[15] 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.
[16] And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
[17] 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.
[18] And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:
[19] 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.
[20] 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.
[21] 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.
[22] And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
[23] 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.
[24] And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
[25] 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.
[26] But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
[27] 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?

3) Stedfast Discernment (V 11-27)

Nathan the prophet goes to Bathsheba and asks if she has heard about Adonijah’s seizure of the throne

Nathan knows that Bathsheba and her son Solomon will be put to death upon Adonijahs reign

Nathan advises Bathsehba to approach King David and remind him of a promise he made

This promise was made concerning Solomon & the throne maybe around his birth

As she does, Nathan will enter and confirm her words and these events that are taking place

Nathan knew that David was indulgent towards his children, so it was presented convincingly

Display of grace- that a son of the wife David took through adultery & murder should be his heir

[28] Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath-sheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
[29] And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,
[30] 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.
[31] 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.
[32] 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.
[33] 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:
[34] 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.
[35] 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.
[36] And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
[37] 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.
[38] 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.
[39] 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.
[40] 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.

4) Stirring Decree (V 28-40)

David, upon hearing this news from Bathsheba and more importantly Nathan the prophet proceeds to act

King David vows to set things in order and confirms his promise to Bathsheba concerning Solomon

David gives special instructions as to the coronation of Solomon

1. Solomon is to ride Davids mule (humility and peacefully) (Jesus rode a mule)

2. King David commands Zadok and Nathan to anoint Solomon as king

3. The Trumpet is to sound

4. The people are to proclaim “God save King Solomon” announcing Solomon as king

5. Solomon shall set upon David’s throne

Benaniah will take the Kings personal guard to protect and promote Solomon as king

The command is given and followed accordingly ....Solomon is anointed KING

The people shouted “God save King Solomon” and the earth shook with their mighty voice

[41] 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?
[42] 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.
[43] And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
[44] 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:
[45] 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.
[46] And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
[47] 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.
[48] 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.
[49] And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
[50] And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
[51] 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.
[52] 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.
[53] 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.

5) Staggering Discovery (V 41-53)

While Solomon is made king, Adonijah’s self promotion & celebration is concluding

It was then they heard the trumpet and Jonathon came w/ news that David made Solomon king

The coronation ceremony is complete and the people have proclaimed Solomon as their king

Solomon has ascribed to the throne of David

Adonijahs guests suddenly leave the celebration afraid that they have committed treason

Adonijah went and grabbed the horns of the altar in an act calling for mercy as he has no hope

King Solomon hears that Adonijah is in fear for his life

The King says if Adonijah will be faithful and loyal he shall live but if NOT then he shall die

Adonijah is given this news and he comes and bows before King Solomon in thankfulness

King Solomon will allow Adonijah (a rival) to live and Adonijah is sent back to his own home