Solomon Executes Adonijah
August 21, 2020
Commentary
In the closing verses of chapter one Solomon, as the new King, forgave his brother Adonijah for his attempted takeover of the kingdom and told him to go his way and behave himself. Now in this passage we have a new and strange turn of events. Adonijah comes to Bathsheba (the Queen Mother) requesting that she go to Solomon (the King and her son) asking that Abishag (David’s nurse and part of his harem at the time of his death) be given to him to wife. He also stated to her that the kingdom was rightfully his. It was evident that he had not abandoned his hope of becoming king.
Bathsheba initially expressed caution but Adonijah convinced her that his intentions were peaceful. In her excitement to promote a seemingly innocent love affair, Bathsheba agrees to present his request to the king.
In the ancient East, often when a king died his harem became the property of the new ruler. For someone to take to himself one of the king’s wives would have been regarded as taking to himself the rights of the king. To take possession of a woman from the harem was understood to be taking claim to the throne. When Bathsheba comes to him with this request, Solomon recognized immediately the intentions of Adonijah. In his wisdom, he realized that the people would regard Abishag as a concubine and would interpret Adonijah’s marriage to her as a claim to the throne. Therefore, he called for Benaiah, the captain of the guard, to execute Adonijah for conspiracy.
Application
Motives are very important. I need to be completely honest in what I do and be sure that I am doing things for right reasons.
1 Kings 2:13– 25 (NET)
13 Haggith’s son Adonijah visited Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. She asked, “Do you come in peace?” He answered, “Yes.” 14 He added, “I have something to say to you.” She replied, “Speak.” 15 He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine and all Israel considered me king. But then the kingdom was given to my brother, for the Lord decided it should be his. 16 Now I’d like to ask you for just one thing. Please don’t refuse me.” She said, “Go ahead and ask.” 17 He said, “Please ask King Solomon if he would give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife, for he won’t refuse you.” 18 Bathsheba replied, “That’s fine; I’ll speak to the king on your behalf.”
19 So Bathsheba visited King Solomon to speak to him on Adonijah’s behalf. The king got up to greet her, bowed to her, and then sat on his throne. He ordered a throne to be brought for the king’s mother, and she sat at his right hand. 20 She said, “I would like to ask you for just one small favor. Please don’t refuse me.” He said, “Go ahead and ask, my mother, for I would not refuse you.” 21 She said, “Allow Abishag the Shunammite to be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.” 22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why just request Abishag the Shunammite for him? Since he is my older brother, you should also request the kingdom for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”
23 King Solomon then swore an oath by the Lord, “May God judge me severely, if Adonijah does not pay for this request with his life! 24 Now, as certainly as the Lord lives (he who made me secure, allowed me to sit on my father David’s throne, and established a dynasty for me as he promised), Adonijah will be executed today!” 25 King Solomon then sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he killed Adonijah.