1 Kings 2:13-18

II. ADONIJAH'S SECOND CONSPIRACY AGAINST SOLOMON 2:13-35

At the collapse of his first conspiracy, Solomon had magnanimously spared the life of Adonijah. The traitor was spared on condition that he show himself a worthy man and not get involved in any political intrigue again. Adonijah should have learned his lesson. But apparently he never relinquished his claim to the throne, nor overlooked any possibility of undermining his brother. The present paragraph describes (1) the subtle plot devised by Adonijah (1 Kings 2:13-18); (2) the innocent petition made on his behalf by Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:19-21); and (3) the stern punishment meted out by Solomon (1 Kings 2:22-25).

A. THE PLOT DEVISED BY ADONIJAH 2:13-18

TRANSLATION

(13) Now Adonijah son of Haggith came unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, In peace do you come? And he said, In peace. (14) Then he said, I have a matter to discuss with you. And she said, Speak it. (15) And he said, You certainly know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces upon me that I should rule; but the kingdom has turned about and has become my brother'S, for it was his from the LORD. (16) But now one favor I am about to ask of you; do not deny me. And she said unto him, Speak it. (17) And he said, Speak, I pray you, to Solomon the king (for he will not deny you) that he give to me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife. (18) And Bathsheba said, Fine! I will surely speak on your behalf to the king.

COMMENTS

It is generally agreed among commentators that Adonijah was making a second and more subtle bid for the throne in requesting the hand of Abishag. By means of Abishag the former concubine of the king he hoped to accomplish what his chariots, horsemen and banquets had not accomplished. In order to gain a favorable disposition from the young king, Adonijah spoke to and won the sympathies of the most powerful woman in the land, Bathsheba the queen mother. She naturally was surprised at a visit from her former antagonist and so she questioned him as to his intentions (1 Kings 2:13). Adonijah responded that he had come peaceably, and that he simply had a matter he wished to discuss with her (1 Kings 2:14).

Adonijah prefaced his petition with a statement designed to win the womanly sympathies of Bathsheba. First, he affirmed that the throne of Israel was legally his: You know that mine was the kingdom! The words in italics are emphasized in the Hebrew. Because of his seniority among the sons of David, Adonijah still thought that the throne was rightfully his. To his initial statement Adonijah added And upon me all Israel had set their faces that I should reign. That Adonijah exaggerated his acceptance among the general populace is obvious. If all Israel had backed Adonijah, there was no way that Solomon could have gained the crown. But this shrewd prince was not interested in an accurate assessment of his earlier bid for power. This was psychological ply.

Now the implication in what Adonijah had said thus far was that he should have and could have had the throne but for the part taken by Bathsheba in thwarting his efforts. Seeing that he had by these assertions and insinuations aroused the ire of the queen mother, Adonijah hastily added: But it was God's will that the kingdom be transferred to my brother (1 Kings 2:15). By this statement Adonijah led Bathsheba to believe that he had resigned himself to his fate and that he now acquiesced in Solomon's supremacy. But had not Adonijah known of the divine appointment of Solomon long before his attempted usurpation? It is hard to believe otherwise. Bathsheba should have realized that she was being manipulated, and that Adonijah had not relinquished his claim to be rightful king. But Bathsheba listened with a mother's heart instead of with a queen mother's head. Poor Adonijah, she thought. On the verge of stepping through the threshold of greatness to the crown of Israel he had been thwarted by the hand of God!

Having gained the sympathy of Bathsheba, Adonijah was ready to present his petition (1 Kings 2:16). I have only one request, he pleaded, and I beg you not to deny it to me (lit., turn not away my face, i.e., repulse me). He then asked Bathsheba to speak to her son on his behalf that he might be permitted to marry Abishag. He spiced up his request with a bit of flattery when he remarked parenthetically that the king would never deny a request by his mother (1 Kings 2:17). The argument implied in Adonijah's request is that possession of Abishag was but slight compensation for the loss of the kingdom which was rightfully his.

Apparently Bathsheba did not question Adonijah about his motives for wanting to marry the Shunammite. Her woman's intuition told her that Adonijah had fallen in love with this most beautiful young maiden. That love (or lust) might possibly have motivated Adonijah's request cannot be denied. But higher aspirations were certainly involved as Solomon instantly recognized (cf. 1 Kings 2:22). Taken in by Adonijah's self-pity, his hypocritical piety and his flattery, Bathsheba without hesitation agreed to act as his agent before the king (1 Kings 2:18).