1 Kings 1 - Introduction

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 the transfer of power. It would seem that the people expected David to nominate his successor (1 Kings 1:20); but the tribal elders reserved for themselves the right of final endorsement.[73] Though David had privately tapped Solomon to succeed him, he does not appear to have made any public, formal announcement of his decision. This left the door open for Adonijah, David's eldest son, to make a bid for the throne. The first two Chapter s of Kings relate how the efforts of Adonijah were foiled and how Solomon was anointed and established as the third king of the United Kingdom. Details concerning the last days of David have been included for the purpose of (1) closing the account of David's reign; (2) setting the stage for the dramatic coronation of Solomon; and (3) providing an explanation for the bold moves made by Solomon at the outset of his reign (chap. 2).

[73] Cf. 2 Samuel 5:3; 1 Kings 12:1 ff.

The material contained in chapter one lends itself to the following analysis: (1) the conspiracy of Adonijah (1 Kings 1:1-10); (2) the counter-measures of Nathan (1 Kings 1:11-27); and (3) the coronation of Solomon (1 Kings 1:28-53).

SPECIAL STUDY
THE CHRONOLOGY OF SOLOMON'S ACCESSION

This study deals with the question much debated among commentators, viz., Had David publicly designated Solomon as his successor prior to the Adonijah revolt? That it was known privately that Solomon should succeed his father is obvious from a reading of both Kings and Chronicles. With a great deal of assurance it can be affirmed that at least five people knew that David's choice for his successor was Solomon: David himself, Nathan, Bathsheba, Adonijah, and Solomon.

In 1 Chronicles 22:7-10, David relates to his son, that even before his birth God had designated Solomon to be the builder of the Temple and the ruler of Israel. God had said: I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever (1 Kings 1:10). Scholars generally assume that David had reference to the oracle delivered to him by Nathan the prophet which is recorded in 1 Chronicles 17 and 2 Samuel 7. Solomon, however, is not specifically mentioned in either version of the Nathan oracle. Furthermore, some time appears to have elapsed between the proclamation of the Nathan oracle and David's marriage to Bathsheba. For these reasons one must entertain the possibility that David received directly or through Nathan subsequent revelation specifying which of his sons was in view in the original Nathan oracle of 1 Chronicles 17 and 2 Samuel 7.

Scripture also states that David had given an oath to Bathsheba that her son Solomon would succeed to the throne (1 Kings 1:13; 1 Kings 1:17). There is no indication when this oath was taken. That it necessarily would have to follow the marriage to Bathsheba and precede the Adonijah rebellion is obvious. The oath may have been taken even before Solomon was born, in which case Bathsheba would have known for fifteen or more years that her son would be king.

Nathan certainly knew prior to the revolt of Adonijah that Solomon would be king. He had either been present when David gave his oath to Bathsheba, or was told of it by the one or the other (1 Kings 1:13). Even before that, Nathan may have known that Solomon would be king. It is quite reasonable to assume that the word of God which came to David concerning the future reign of Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:9-10) was brought by Nathan.

That Adonijah recognized Solomon as the king's choice is evidenced in the fact that he was the only brother of Adonijah not invited to the En-rogel banquet (1 Kings 1:10). Had David made an announcement to his family and members of the court? Or had Adonijah drawn this conclusion from the favoritism shown to Solomon? There is no way to answer these questions.

But the important question is, Had there been any public, formal announcement that Solomon would succeed David prior to Adonijah's revolt? The answer to this question depends on where one places the events of 1 Chronicles 23-29 in the reign of David. More specifically, the question hinges on the interpretation of 1 Chronicles 23:1: Now when David reached old age, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. Immediately following this verse the Chronicler has recorded that David called a great national convention at which he reorganized the religious and civil officers (1 Chronicles 23-27), rose to his feet (1 Chronicles 28:2) and delivered a lengthy and magnificent farewell speech (1 Chronicles 28:1 to 1 Chronicles 29:19). These events are followed by a second anointing of Solomon: And they made Solomon son of David king a second time, and they anointed him as ruler for the LORD, and Zadok as priest (1 Chronicles 29:22).

Now how do these Chapter s in Chronicles fit with relation to the picture of 1 Kings 1 of a bed-ridden, decrepit David being forced by circumstances to declare himself in favor of Solomon? Should one think of the great national assembly of 1 Chronicles 23-29 occurring earlier in David's reign when the king was in much better health? Or should these events be placed after the Adonijah rebellion and the anointing at the Gihon? Does 1 Chronicles 23:1 describe a separate and distinct declaration of Solomon apart from his anointing in 1 Kings 1:39 and his second anointing in 1 Chronicles 29:22? On these questions commentators have taken four different positions.

1. According to Keil,[102] Solomon's accession took place in three stages: He was nominated as king by David sometime prior to the rebellion by Adonijah (1 Chronicles 23:1). He was anointed king by Nathan and Zadok at the Gihon (1 Kings 1:39). He was subsequently anointed by the national assembly of leaders convoked by David before his death (1 Chronicles 29:22).

[102] Keil, BCOTc, pp. 252, 300-301.

2. Crockett[103] sees two stages in the accession of Solomon. In 1 Chronicles 23:1 Solomon was made king the first time at a national convention called by David before the revolt of Absalom. He thinks that 1 Chronicles 29:22 is parallel to 1 Kings 1:39 and over this material he places the caption, Solomon Made King -the Second Time.-'

[103] Crockett, HBSKC, pp. 142, 160-161.

3. Ellison[104] and others see 1 Chronicles 23:1 as nothing more than a literary device summarizing what is later treated more fully in 1 Chronicles 29:22. In this arrangement Solomon ascends the throne in two stages, the first being his emergency anointing at Gihon (1 Kings 1:39), and the second being his anointing at the national convention in 1 Chronicles 29:22.

[104] Ellison, NBC, pp. 350, 352.

4. Rawlinson,[105] Barker,[106] Edersheim[107] and many others see 1 Chronicles 23:1 as a summary of and brief allusion to the events of 1 Kings 1. It grieved the Chronicler too much to record the circumstances under which Solomon was anointed the first time. Concerning the second anointing he goes into quite some detail in 1 Chronicles 29.

[105] Rawlinson, BCc, p. 252.
[106] Barker, PC, p. 374.
[107] Edersheim, BH, V, 55.

If David had made a formal, official pronouncement in favor of Solomon prior to Adonijah's attempted coup, it is difficult to explain why Nathan and Bathsheba were so concerned to secure from him such a pronouncement in 1 Kings 1. Bathsheba's words in 1 Kings 1:20 are the death knell to any view making 1 Chronicles 23:1 refer to an actual anointing of Solomon (Crockett) or for that matter to his formal nomination (Keil): And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you that you might declare to them who shall sit upon the throne of my lord the king after him. The best viewand the view of the majority of commentatorsis that 1 Chronicles 23:1 is an allusion to the events of 1 Kings 1. The Chronicler deliberately has chosen to omit the grim details of how David was forced by the actions of his eldest son to elevate Solomon to the throne.

If, then, Solomon's initial formal nomination and elevation to the throne is recorded in 1 Kings 1, where do the events recorded in 1 Chronicles 23-29 fit in? The only conclusion can be that these Chapter s narrate actions taken by David subsequent to the anointing of Solomon recorded in 1 Kings 1. Thus between chapter one and two of I Kings, David mustered enough physical strength and mental alertness to convoke a national assembly, initiate certain administrative changes, and deliver his final address to the leadership of the tribes. In the colorful language of Kitto:[108] The waning spark of David's life gleamed up once again before it finally expired. It is then recorded that those present in the assembly made Solomon the king the second time and anointed him unto the LORD to be prince (1 Chronicles 29:22). After this it is said: Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him (1 Chronicles 29:23). The Chronicler emphasizes the universal acceptance of Solomon by adding: And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons of King David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king (1 Chronicles 29:24).

[108] Kitto, HB, p. 334.

If the preceding reconstruction of events is correct, then Kings records one anointing of Solomon the details of which Chronicles ignores, while Chronicles mentions a second anointing passed over in Kings. Concerning this, Robert Jamieson[109] has observed:

[109] Jamieson, JFB, p. 509.

This mention of a second anointing, in a historical book which does not record the first, and the description of the first in another historical book which does not contain any allusion to the second, forms an undesigned coincidence which furnishes a strong confirmation of its truth.

THE TWO CORONATIONS OF SOLOMON

First Coronation

Second Coronation

1 Kings 1:1 to 1 Kings 2:11

1 Chronicles 28-29

At Gihon

At the Palace

Necessitated by Adonijah's actions

Planned by David's authority

Made king by David

Made king by the assembly

Anointed by Zadok

Anointed by the assembly

Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father.. 1 Chronicles 29:23

REVIEW OF CHAPTER TWO

I. FACTS TO MASTER
A. What role did each of the following play in the anointing of Solomon:

1. Abiathar

6. David

2. Abishag

7. Joab

3. Adonijah

8. Jonathan

4. Bathsheba

9. Nathan

5. Benaiah

10. Zadok

B. Know the significance of the following places mentioned in chapter 1:

1. En-rogel
2. Gihon
3. Shunem

II. QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1.

What evidence is there in the life of David that he failed as a father?

2.

Why did Adonijah's cause gain such solid support even from those noted for their loyalty to David?

3.

Why was Nathan so concerned about the activities of Adonijah?

4.

What is the psychology behind the plan by which Nathan proposed to stir the aged king to action?

5.

When had David given Bathsheba an oath that her son would be king?

6.

When and how had God revealed to David that Solomon was the divine choice?

7.

Why was the Gihon chosen as the scene of Solomon's anointing?

8.

What steps did David take to make sure the people knew he approved of Solomon's anointing?

9.

How many times and in what sequence was Solomon made king or anointed?

10.

What oil was used in Solomon's anointing? Why was oil used? Were kings always anointed?

11.

Why was Solomon so magnanimous in sparing the life of Adonijah on the day of his anointing?

Lessons in Living

THE TWO BROTHERS

ADONIJAII

SOLOMON

Endued with Beauty

Endued with Wisdom

Admired of Men

Loved of God (2 Samuel 12:24)

Ambitious

Pious (1 Kings 3:3)

Sought to Force Events

Waited Patiently for the Lord

Rebelled against his Father

Reverenced his Mother

Rejected by God

Chosen by God

Lost Everything

Gained a Kingdom