… He shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 1 Kings 1:35
Adonija attemps to take the Throne 1:1-27. David is old and feeble. But still he hesitates to confirm the succession of Solomon, which he has promised to do. Another son, Adonija, invites key supporters to a feast, intending to make himself king. Other advisors warn David. Unless he acts, both he and Solomon will likely to be killed!
5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.) 7 Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David were not with Adonijah.
David makes Solomon co-regent 1:28-53. David acts with his old decisiveness. He has Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet escort Solomon to the springs at Gihon, where David had first won the city (2 Sam. 5:6-9). All Jerusalem breaks out in spontaneous demonstration. When the news is brought to Adonijah, his supporters skip away, and Adonija begs Solomon for his life. The request is granted — so long as this brother of Solomon keeps his place.
28 Then King David answered and said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29 And the king took an oath and said, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, 30 just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I certainly will do this day.” 31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and paid homage to the king, and said, “Let my lord King David live forever!”
32 And King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. 33 The king also said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. 34 There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel; and blow the horn, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! May the Lord God of my lord the king say so too. 37 As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”
Bathsheba – mother of Absalom, Adonijah and Solomon
Joab – again does not follow David’s order but makes his own decision to support Adonija.
Faithful leaders – Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
Unfaithful leaders – Joab and Abiathar
–> Solomon was betrayed by top leaders and his own brothers.
