CHAPTER TWO SOLOMON'S CORONATION 1 Kings 1:1-53 The passing of a powerful monarch was always a crucial time in ancient empires. This was particularly the case when David died. Monarchy was relatively new in Israel and no long-established tradition of succession existed to guide the nation through t... [ Continue Reading ]
I. THE CONSPIRACY OF ADONIJAH 1:1-10 David's final years were full of turmoil and tribulation and even as he lay critically ill and at the point of death he was yet to experience one last heartbreak. His disgruntled eldest son, Adonijah, tried to take advantage of David's condition and usurp the th... [ Continue Reading ]
B. ADONIJAH'S DESIGNS 1:5-10 TRANSLATION (5) Now Adonijah the son of Haggith was exalting himself, saying, Surely I will be king! And he prepared for himself a chariot, horses,[80] AND FIFTY MEN WHO WOULD RUN BEFORE HIM. (6) NOW HIS FATHER HAD NOT AFFLICTED HIM ALL HIS DAYS, SAYING, WHY HAVE YOU A... [ Continue Reading ]
I. THE COUNTER-MEASURES OF NATHAN 1:11-27 Adonijah's designs might have succeeded had it not been for the swift action of Nathan and Bathsheba. In narrating how the throne was made secure for Solomon, the author reports (1) Nathan's wise counsel to Bathsheba (1 Kings 1:11-14); (2) Bathsheba's impas... [ Continue Reading ]
B. BATHSHEBA'S IMPASSIONED PLEA 1:15-21 TRANSLATION (15) Then Bathsheba went unto the king to the chamber (now the king was very old and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering unto the king). (16) And Bathsheba bowed, and did homage unto the king. And the king said, What is your concern? (17) And s... [ Continue Reading ]
C. NATHAN'S TIMELY CONFIRMATION 1:22-27 TRANSLATION (22) And behold, while she was yet speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came. (23) And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And he came before the king, and bowed to the king upon his face to the ground. (24) And Nathan sa... [ Continue Reading ]
I. THE CORONATION OF SOLOMON 1:28-53 The impassioned plea of Bathsheba and the timely confirmation of Nathan served to impress the ailing king with the urgency of royal action in favor of Solomon. David decreed that Solomon should immediately be taken to the spring Gihon and anointed king. By this... [ Continue Reading ]
B. THE ANOINTING OF SOLOMON 1:38-40 TRANSLATION (38) So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down, and they caused Solomon to ride upon the mule of the king, and brought him to Gihon. (39) Now Zadok the priest had taken the hor... [ Continue Reading ]
C. THE APPREHENSION OF ADONIJAH 1:41-53 While Jerusalem was jubilant at the coronation of a new king, the assembly at En-rogel was filled with fear and apprehension. The two paragraphs of this section deal with (1) the report of Jonathan to the conspirators (1 Kings 1:41-48); and (2) the flight of... [ Continue Reading ]