In 1 Kings 1-2 we see two men who have claims to be king of Israel. One has a rightful claim and the other does not. The first of which is Adonijah. Adonijah made a claim to the throne. He was the next born after Absalom to Haggith. Since Amnon and Absalom were dead, Adonijah was now the eldest son. Although it wasn’t always strictly adhered to in the Bible the general modus operandi is that the bulk of an inheritance in Ancient Near East cultures went to the eldest son. I have to assume that Adonijah knew nothing of God’s promise to David (2 Sam 7) nor did he know of the promise to Bathsheba to make Solomon king but Nathan was aware of this promise (1 King 1:17). Adonijah also managers to draw Joab and Abiathar into this plot to claim the throne. I’m guessing Joab goes along with Adonijah because he doesn’t see Solomon fit to ascend to the throne.
Solomon was the other heir to the throne. I am not necessarily sure he was prepared to ascend to the the throne but he is supported by his mother Bathsheba, Nathan the prophet and by promises and swearing, David. This is to say the Lord was also on Solomon’s side. Nathan gets wind of the aforementioned plot and works with Bathsheba to get David to formally/officially announce his replacement. They inform David that Adonijah had “become king” and now the eyes of all Israel are on you (David), to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. At this point David’s hand is forced, if he doesn’t act Solomon’s life is in danger as is Bathsheba’s. Nathan, as part of the plan to seat Solomon on the throne now enters the scene again and confirms the situation.
David then makes and oath to fulfill his promise to Bathsheba, “I will surely carry out today what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place." He proceeds to make Solomon king and Zadok anoints Solomon with oil and sound the trumpets. The tide has now been turned on Adonijah and Joab. Solomon offers Adonijah amnesty if he “behaves” .If he acts evil he’ll die. David exhorts Solomon to walk in the ways of the Lord and obey Him. He also warns him of the duplicitness of Joab and his actions. David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David after reigning for forty years.
Enter Adonijah: He requests through Bathsheba to have Abishag as his wife. Abishag had been appointed as helper to David is his waning years of life thereby being part of David's inner circle. The request was viewed by Solomon as deliberate subterfuge.
By asking this Adonijah is viewed by Solomon as making a “backdoor” attempt at the throne once held by David. Once Solomon realizes this as noted in verse 22, “King Solomon answered his mother, 'Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him, after all, he is my older brother…” Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died. Joab being a coconspirator at one point realizes Adonijah’s fate will be his own flees to the tent of the Lord and holds the horns of the alter. After some wrangling Joab is also put to death. Solomon then reigns in power.
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