1 Kings 1:28 – 53 “Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So, she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”
Bathsheba bowed face down in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So, they came before the king.
“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”
“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”
Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”
All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound. (The Gihon Spring is only 800 meters, or a few minutes’ walk from Ein Rogel.)
Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab. As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”
“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule. Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.
Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’
And the king has bowed in worship on his bed, saying, ‘May the LORD God of Israel be praised! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”
At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered. But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.
It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’” And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”
So, King Solomon summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”
Just as Adonijah is beginning to think that this coup is going to work, everything falls apart. David might be in failing health, but there’s nothing wrong with his brain. When Bathsheba and Nathan inform David of what Adonijah is attempting, David immediately issues the orders necessary to elevate Solomon to the throne. Zadok the high priest and Benaiah, the head of the mighty men, set Solomon on the king’s mule and go to the Gihon spring, accompanied by the Cherethites and Pelethites who have formed David’s body guard for years. Using the anointing oil from the temple, Zadok anoints Solomon and blows the shofar, the ram’s horn. All the people who have accompanied Solomon begin shouting and playing instruments. There is so much noise that the earth shakes. Then Solomon returns to the palace and sits on David’s throne. King David himself hails Solomon as his successor, saying,” May the LORD God of Israel be praised! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”
Fearing the wrath of Solomon, Adonijah rushes to the temple and grasps the horns of the altar, seeking refuge from Solomon. After all, if Adonijah’s takeover had succeeded, Adonijah would have gleefully murdered Solomon without a qualm. Solomon makes an interesting pronouncement concerning Adonijah, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.” Solomon knows Adonijah is not a man of good character, and when ordered to go home and stay there, Adonijah will find it difficult to stay home.
APPLICATION: The chorus from the country western song “The Gambler” says, “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.” For every ruler or every head of an organization, the time comes when he or she must hand over authority. David has delayed in acknowledging Solomon as his successor. Now Adonijah’s attempted takeover has given David the necessary impetus to anoint Solomon as king and fulfill his promise to Bathsheba. Blessedly, there are still righteous men surrounding David in the persons of Nathan the prophet, Zadok the high priest and Benaiah, as well as David’s body guard. Once David has set things in motion, these men move swiftly and decisively. The noise of Solomon’s celebration drowns out Adonijah’s little party.
If David anointed Solomon earlier, would the mess with Adonijah have been averted? Tough to call. Even though David knows that his health is failing, it is tough to give over power to someone else. Adonijah’s attempt to seize power provides the strong nudge that David needs to let go and allow Solomon to become king. David is really not losing anything; his health no longer allows him to be the strong leader that Israel needs. And nobody is going to deny David the honor he richly deserves. There has been, is, and always will be only one King David.
May God help those of us who are leaders to know when it’s time to hand over. And may God supply capable and diligent successors so that we may hand over without regrets.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help each of us to know when it is time to relinquish control. Please give us competent people to whom we can hand over leadership. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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