We are going to begin our study of First Kings, and like the other books, we will not be going into it verse by verse, but try to bring out concepts that will help the reader do more of an in-depth study on their own. We will again look for Messianic themes. The books of First and Second Kings were originally one book, and we don’t know who the author was, but Jewish tradition says it was Jeremiah the Prophet.
1 Kings 1.1-53 gives us the account of David’s infirmities in his old age, and of how Adonijah (“my Lord is Yehovah”) tried to usurp the throne. It also tells us of what Bathsheba told David about it. She, of course, wanted her son Solomon to be king, and the prophet Nathan also agreed. So Nathan and Zadok the priest anointed Solomon. It will go on to say this news was brought to Adonijah and he was afraid , and he promised that he would not interfere with Solomon. So, let’s get into the chapter and pick up a few concepts.
David is old now and he is weak and could not keep warm (v 2). He was about 70 years old at the time and he had led a rough life, much of it outdoors in the elements. In order to keep him warm, David’s servants searched for a beautiful girl throughout Israel, and found Abishag (“my father is a wanderer”) the Shunammite (“double resting place”). She became a concubine of David but he did not co-habit with her, however. This was an acceptable practice, and Adonijah will condemn himself later by asking for Abishag as a wife. To marry a former wife of the king was seen as laying claim to the throne. Adonijah was renewing his bid for the throne and to Solomon, this was the last straw as we shall see.
In 1 Kings 1.5 Adonijah, being the oldest now, revealed his intentions by saying “I will be king.” We know Amnon, Absalom and Chileab were not around to rule, so he naturally thought he was next. We should look for allusions to the False Messiah in this story. But in Israel, it was Yehovah who determined who was king (Psa 75.6-7). Adonijah prepared chariots and fifty men to run before him. This was a way to announce he would be king. By doing this, he is copying the conduct of Absalom (another picture of the False Messiah) in 2 Sam 5.1.
David did not do a very good job raising his sons, and Adonijah was no exception (v 6). It seems David did not have a very good relationship with his father either. Any godly influence he had seems to have come from his mother. David refers to his mother as a “maidservant of Yehovah” several times in Psa 86.16 and 116.16. That is not an excuse because God treated him with comfort and correction. He could have learned how to be a good father.
In 1 Kings 1.7-8 we learn that there were two high priests at the time, Abiathar (“the father is great”) and Zadok (“righteous”). Abiathar followed Adonijah, but Zadok belonged to David. Zadok was from Aaron’s son Eleazar and he shared duties with Abiathar (2 Sam 8.17, 15.24).
In 1 Kings 1. 8-10 Adonijah has a banquet and Joab and Abiathar attended. They did not consult Yehovah about supporting Adonijah, and they turn against David. Joab may have wanted revenge for David’s pick of Amasa over him, and Abiathar may have been jealous of Zadok (2 Sam 8.17). So Adonijah offered korbanot by the stone of Zoheleth (“stone of the serpent”) in En-rogel (“fountain of the foot”). This was just south of the spring of Gihon, about a half mile. He invites all his brothers and all the men of Judah. But he did not invite Nathan, Benaiah or Solomon (v 11). But Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba intercede to David for Solomon (v 11-14).
In Judah, the mother of the king was queen (2 Kings 2.19) and Nathan takes the lead here because he knows God’s choice was Solomon. David had also told Bathsheba that Solomon would succeed him (v 17, 30). David did not know what was going on (v 11) so they tell David what Adonijah is doing (v 15-27).
So, in 1 Kings 1.28-37 we see arrangements being made to make Solomon king. They take Zadok and Benaiah (captain of the bodyguard in v 38) and take some of the warriors, and then have Solomon ride David’s mule, and go to the Gihon (“gusher”) Spring, about a half mile north of En-rogel where Adonijah was. Then Zadok and Nathan were to anoint Solomon as king. Then they were to show he was king by having him sit on David’s throne.
So, in 1 Kings 1.38-40, Solomon is anointed and heralded as king. They had the Cherethites and Pelethites go with them to the Gihon Spring (royal bodyguard). They took oil from the tent (ohel) that David made in 2 Sam 6.17 and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet and the people said, “Long live King Solomon.” Remember, the Mishkan was in Gibeon and the Ark was in the tent David made.
Now, a coronation ceremony in Judah consisted of five parts. First we have the “Investiture” with insignia. Second we have the “Anointing” followed by the “Acclamation.” Then we have the “Enthronement” and then the “Homage.” Anytime a king is coronated in the Scriptures it carries prophetic implications. Prophecies about the kingly Messiah are very ancient (Gen 49.10, Num 24.17). These verses tell us the coming king must be from Judah. This will be realized with David, but there is another one coming (Jer 23.5-6; 33.15-16). Yeshua will fulfill this prophecy (Luke 1.32-33).
Was Yeshua ever proclaimed as king? He was referred to in his life as Son of David, the king of the Jews and King of Israel in John 1.48-49). When he rode into Jerusalem on Nisan 10 in Luke 19.37-38 he rode on a donkey (like Solomon does) and the people recognized what he was doing. He was showing his “identification” as king (Zech 9.9). In order to have a king you must have a coronation. Yeshua will be coronated on Yom Teruah (Rosh Ha Shanah), year 6001 from creation, in Heaven after the people have been gathered together in what is called the “Natzal” or “rapture” (Dan 7.9-10, 13.14).
In Rev 4.1-11 and Rev 5.1-14 we have passages indicating that this is Yom Teruah, and we have a court scene like in Dan 7. God the Father is on the throne till Rev 5, then Yeshua is given the kingdom. What we should take notice of is John is called to this coronation in Rev 4.1 as a witness, and so will all the believers in the Natzal. Several Psalms speak of the coronation of Yeshua, like Psalm 2 and Psalm 47.
1 Kings 1.41-49 tells us that Adonijah wasn’t even finished with his banquet when he hears the sound of Solomon’s coronation, about a half mile away. The whole city was making noise. He finds out that David has made Solomon king and now Adonijah was afraid. 1 Kings 1. 50-53 says that Adonijah “took hold of the horns of the altar” and this was probably the closest one on Araunah’s threshing floor (2 Sam 24.25). The Mishkan Altar was at Gibeon. This was an ancient custom in other lands, but it was not used in Israel to protect a guilty person (Exo 21.14).
But Solomon showed Adonijah a brief measure of grace and mercy. He did tell him that if Adonijah ever showed even the slightest instance of rebellion, treason or crime, he would be killed. So Adonijah was brought from the altar and he came before Solomon. He prostrated himself before Solomon, Solomon said, “go to your house” in peace. In other words, take care of the affairs of your family and leave the kingdom to me.
We will pick up here in Part 2.
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