I Kings Chapter 1
Please read: I Kings 1 –
Reading through this chapter it is striking how quickly the people have adapted to being a monarchy with all of the pomp and circumstance of a kingdom when in reality David was only the second man to ever sit on Israel’s throne. There were all the characteristics of a worldly kingdom, bowing low to the ground, the way of speaking to royalty, the loyalty and disloyalty, and all the attempts to assume power for self-gratification. And yet the kingdom belonged in reality to God, to Yahweh.
David was coming to the end of his life, and it is not surprising to read that there would be uprisings of a son wanting to take the power of the throne. Adonijah was probably the oldest living son of David and so he would have thought he should be given the throne. But David had declared some time ago that Solomon, the son of Bathsheba, would be his successor and apparently most everyone knew it. When Adonijah held a feast declaring himself the king of Israel, he invited all his half-brothers but did not invite Solomon. David had been told by the LORD that his son Solomon would be the one to succeed him. I Chronicles 22:5-9. It was God who would anoint whom He chooses to be king of Israel.
Let's Reflect
1. David, in his old age, was not able to get warm, so his staff searched for a beautiful young virgin to come and lie with him to help warm him. This young woman would have been honored to be asked to do such a task for her king. David probably blessed her by making her one of his concubines, meaning a servant that would have been taken care of. But the Bible tells us that David did not know her in the sense that he did not have sexual relations with her. What was her name?
2. The next scene is strange as we read that Bathsheba, his wife, comes in to talk to David, and there is the young lady tending to David. There is no outward jealousy, it seemed highly accepted. But she had come with an important message for David. What did Bathsheba tell David?
3. Adonijah had carefully planned how he would assume the throne. He asked 50 men to run ahead of him while he rode in a chariot with others who rode horseback or in chariots. He knew exactly how to make a good showing that he was powerful. Who of David’s men did he also encourage to go with him in this peaceful siege of the throne?
4. There were also notable men who were not invited to Adonijah’s parade, one being the prophet Nathan. It was Nathan who told Bathsheba that her life and her son’s life were in danger, and that the promise of David had been broken. What did Nathan do for Bathsheba besides letting her know about the situation?
5. According to verse 27 what question did Nathan ask David that was of course a rhetorical question?
6. Bathsheba was called back into the room and David made a promise to her. According to verse 31 in what way did Bathsheba say thank you to the king?
7. David directed his men to create a parade of his own to declare that Solomon was the next king of Israel. What was Adonijah doing when he heard all of the trumpets and noise of Solomon’s parade?
8. Adonijah learned how all David’s servants had gone to congratulate him for the naming of his son Solomon to succeed him. What was the reaction of the people attending Adonijah’s feast when they heard the news?
9. What was Solomon told about Adonijah’s reaction to the news? What was Solomon’s response?
