Adonijah Attempts to Become King
September 27, 2019
Commentary
Prior to David’s ascension to the throne, he had been hunted and persecuted by his predecessor, King Saul. Now, once again, at the end of his life he is posed with a threat as to who will be the king. As the scene opens in chapter one, David is getting old and his domestic troubles have followed him to his deathbed. In his hour of weakness another one of his sons, Adonijah, takes advantage of his father’s condition and attempts to snatch the throne. Sensing that David expects Solomon to succeed him as king, Adonijah plots to install himself as king.
Adonijah was the fourth and probably the oldest surviving son of David (II Sam. 3:4). With this status, he no doubt, felt that he was the rightful heir to his father’s throne. Gaining the support of two of David’s most trusted deputies, Joab and Abiathar, he planned a coup (v. 9, 19, 26). Joab, David’s nephew (I Chron. 2:16), had been David’s famous general and Abiathar, the priest, had been a companion and confidant of David for years. With the military and religious backing, Adonijah summoned a group of followers to a feast and had them pronounce himself as the new king (v. 25). He had invited to this feast all the important people in the government who were not firmly allied with his father. However, he didn’t invite his brother, Solomon, or Bathsheba, the King’s wife. No doubt they would have been the first to be killed if the coup had succeeded.
Application
This is the story of a father who had never disciplined his son or opposed his wishes as a child (v. 6). If I had not been firm and consistent with scriptural discipline in my home I may have reaped some of the same results that David did.
1 Kings 1:1– 10 (NET)
1 King David was very old; even when they covered him with blankets, he could not get warm. 2 His servants advised him, “A young virgin must be found for our master, the king, to take care of the king’s needs and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you and keep our master, the king, warm.” 3 So they looked through all Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king was not intimate with her.
5 Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, boasting, “I will be king!” He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. 6 (Now his father had never corrected him by saying, “Why do you do such things?” He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.) 7 He collaborated with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported him. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s elite warriors did not ally themselves with Adonijah. 9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened steers at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, as well as all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors, or his brother Solomon.