1 Kings Chapter 1
Introduction to 1 Kings
The Book of 1 Kings opens one of the most significant historical and theological records in Scripture. Originally united with 2 Kings as a single volume in the Hebrew canon, the combined work traces the monarchy of Israel from its height under Solomon to its catastrophic decline. Jewish tradition assigns authorship to the prophet Jeremiah, and while the text does not identify its human writer, the internal evidence supports the idea of a prophetic historian who interpreted Israel’s history through the lens of covenant theology. Regardless of the human instrument, the ultimate Author is the Holy Spirit.
1 Kings covers approximately one hundred and twenty years of Israel’s history, beginning with the final days of King David and continuing through the reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah and the early years of Ahaziah in Israel. It is a record of great promise and sobering decline. The book reveals the blessings that flow from obedience to the covenant and the judgment that follows rebellion. Under Solomon, Israel enjoys unprecedented peace, wealth, and influence. Nevertheless, Solomon’s compromise sets in motion the division of the kingdom after his death. From that point forward, Israel and Judah walk two divergent paths. Judah retains a Davidic king in Jerusalem, while the northern kingdom is governed by a succession of dynasties marked by instability and idolatry.
The central theological theme of 1 Kings is the faithfulness of God to His covenant promises. God had pledged an everlasting dynasty to David, as recorded in Second Samuel 7:12 through 16, which says, “When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for My name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be My son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men. But My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee, thy throne shall be established for ever.”
The narrative of Kings is shaped by this promise. Every king of Judah is measured by the Davidic standard. Each life reveals either fidelity or failure, and the judgment recorded in the book is never arbitrary, it is always tied to the covenant God made with His people.
The book also emphasizes the ministry of prophets, who confront kings, call the nation back to obedience, and reveal the sovereignty of God. Elijah and Elisha stand at the forefront of this prophetic movement. Their ministries demonstrate that the destiny of Israel does not rest in political power, military might, or royal charisma. It rests entirely in the word of the Lord.
From a historical perspective, 1 Kings is indispensable. It records the construction of the temple, the division of the kingdom, military conflicts, dynastic struggles, and the spiritual condition of both nations. Yet the purpose is not mere historical preservation. The author interprets events through the inspired lens of God’s moral and covenant accountability. Success is tied to obedience, and every failure is the result of spiritual compromise.
From a theological standpoint, the book is a sober reminder that privilege does not guarantee faithfulness. Solomon possessed wisdom, wealth, and the visible blessing of God, yet his heart drifted because of compromise. This becomes a warning for every generation. God expects wholehearted devotion. Spiritual decline never begins suddenly. It begins with small compromises that eventually undermine the entire foundation.
For believers today, 1 Kings is a call to faithfulness, discernment, and obedience. It teaches that God is patient, but He does not overlook sin. It also reaffirms the certainty of His promises, particularly those made to David which ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Son of David and rightful King.
Solomon Is Made King
Introduction to the Books of Kings
The Books of First and Second Kings were originally one continuous historical record in the Hebrew Scriptures. The human author is not identified, though Jewish tradition has long held that Jeremiah composed the work. This is reasonable, although not provable, and the deeper point remains that the Holy Spirit directed the writing. The narrative spans nearly five centuries of Israel’s history, beginning with the final moments of David’s reign and extending to the fall of Jerusalem. It records the rise and fall of kingdoms, the heights of covenant blessing, and the depths of national apostasy. As Wiseman observed, the story moves from initiation to eclipse. It is a record of promise, failure, judgment, and persistent hope. Through every transition the sovereign hand of God is visible, guiding history toward the fulfillment of His covenant with David.
A. Adonijah’s Bid for the Throne
1. First Kings 1:1 through 4, King David’s Weak Condition
“Now king David was old and stricken in years, and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin, and let her stand before the king and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom that my lord the king may get heat. So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel and found Abishag a Shunammite and brought her to the king. And the damsel was very fair and cherished the king and ministered to him, but the king knew her not.”
This passage reveals the physical decline of David at the close of his reign. The man who had slain giants, commanded armies, ruled a nation, and endured decades of hardship could no longer keep his own body warm. David was around seventy years old at this time, yet his physical state reflects more than age. His many trials, battles, and burdens had worn heavily upon him. He lived the kind of life that condensed the experiences of several men into one lifetime, and the toll of these years now became undeniable.
His servants recommended a medical practice common in the ancient world, the use of a young attendant to provide bodily warmth. Although such a proposal sounds improper to modern ears, it carried no immoral implication in this context. Ancient physicians, including Galen, recorded the use of a human body’s natural warmth to restore another. Josephus refers to these attendants as physicians, confirming that this was understood to be a therapeutic measure. David almost certainly took Abishag as a concubine, which was socially accepted in that period even though it was not morally ideal. This explains why Adonijah’s later request for Abishag was regarded as an act of treason, because to claim the concubine of a king was a claim to the throne itself.
Abishag was a Shunammite, meaning she came from Shunem in the territory of Issachar. Some have tried to identify her with the Shulamite woman in the Song of Solomon, but this idea is purely conjecture and lacks linguistic or geographical support. The text simply portrays her as a beautiful young woman who served the king in his final days. Her presence underscores a more significant reality, that David’s strength was fading and the question of succession could no longer be delayed. David’s family history had been marked by intrigue, violence, and rebellion. With the king now frail and vulnerable, the stability of the kingdom hung in the balance.
2. First Kings 1:5, Adonijah’s Presumption
“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king, and he prepared him chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run before him.”
Adonijah, the fourth son of David, saw an opportunity in his father’s weakness. Amnon and Absalom were dead, and Chileab had vanished entirely from the historical record, suggesting that he either died young or was unfit for rule. Adonijah therefore assumed that he was the rightful heir. However, kingship in Israel was not determined by human custom alone. It was determined by the will of God, and God had already indicated that Solomon was the chosen successor.
The text states that Adonijah “exalted himself.” This phrase reveals his heart. Scripture repeatedly teaches that exaltation belongs to God alone. Psalm 75:6 through 7 declares, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south, but God is the judge, he putteth down one and setteth up another.”
Likewise James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up.”
Adonijah ignored these principles. Rather than waiting for God to raise him up, he seized power through ambition and political theater.
He prepared chariots, horsemen, and a contingent of runners to announce his presence as though he were already king. This was a strategic display designed to shape public perception and create momentum for his claim. It mirrored the methods of his brother Absalom, who had used the same tactics during his rebellion. Second Samuel 15:1 records Absalom’s use of chariots and runners, and Adonijah imitated him almost exactly. This reveals not only his arrogance but also his willingness to employ manipulation and force in order to seize authority. His actions amounted to the beginning of a coup.
3. First Kings 1:6, Adonijah’s Character
“And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so, and he also was a very goodly man, and his mother bare him after Absalom.”
This verse exposes the deeper roots behind Adonijah’s rebellion. Scripture notes that David had never displeased or rebuked his son. This introduces the pattern that contributed to the downfall of several of David’s sons. David had enormous strength as a warrior, leader, psalmist, and king, but he frequently failed to apply the same strength and discipline within his own household. His inability to correct his sons allowed their sinful desires to flourish unchecked. When a father does not teach a son to restrain his passions, the son will eventually be ruled by them.
David’s own childhood background may partially explain his weakness as a parent. First Samuel 16:11 depicts a distant and perhaps cold relationship with Jesse. David refers twice in the Psalms to his mother as a maidservant of the Lord, indicating that the most spiritually nurturing influence in his life came through her. Yet David’s lack of an earthly paternal example does not excuse his failures as a father. He personally knew the loving discipline of God. Psalm 23:4 declares, “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” David experienced the shepherding work of God that corrected and guided him. He should have drawn from the example of his Heavenly Father to shape his own parenting. Even before Proverbs was written, the theological principle later stated in Proverbs 29:17, “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest, yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul,” was well known in Israel’s wisdom tradition. David neglected this responsibility, and he suffered bitter consequences. As Trapp observed, David was too fond a father, and this softness returned upon his own head.
Scripture also notes that Adonijah was very goodly in appearance. David was naturally drawn to beauty, and many of his wives were strikingly beautiful. Consequently his children possessed the same traits, which often worked against them. Beauty can produce the illusion of competency and entitlement, giving a person unearned influence. In Adonijah’s case, physical attractiveness helped feed his pride. It encouraged him to assume that prominence and kingship naturally belonged to him.
4. First Kings 1:7 through 10, Adonijah’s Banquet
“And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they following Adonijah helped him. But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and the mighty men which belonged to David were not with Adonijah. And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth which is by En Rogel and called all his brethren the king’s sons and all the men of Judah the king’s servants. But Nathan the prophet and Benaiah and the mighty men and Solomon his brother he called not.”
Adonijah began building a political coalition to seize the throne. He enlisted Joab, David’s dominant military commander, and Abiathar, one of the two high priests. Both men were longstanding allies of David, which makes their betrayal particularly tragic. Instead of seeking the will of God or consulting David himself, they supported Adonijah’s self-promotion. Joab’s motives may have included resentment that David had favored Amasa over him after Absalom’s revolt and frustration that Benaiah now exercised increasing military influence. Abiathar may have resented the rising prominence of Zadok, creating a bitterness that eventually drove him into rebellion. As Maclaren noted, professional rivalry had begun to curdle into hostility.
Joab’s participation is not surprising. He had always been loyal to David personally, but not to David’s intentions. His loyalty was pragmatic rather than submissive. Patterson and Austel describe Joab’s support of Adonijah as entirely consistent with his history. Joab and Abiathar stained their legacy by choosing personal interest over obedience to God. As Maclaren states, they broke sacred bonds because they thought of themselves rather than the divine purpose.
In contrast, several of Israel’s most faithful leaders refused to join Adonijah’s conspiracy. Nathan the prophet, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the mighty commander, and David’s elite warriors remained loyal to God’s revealed will. Their refusal to participate demonstrates spiritual discernment and moral courage. They recognized that legitimacy comes from God’s decree rather than human ambition.
Adonijah attempted to legitimize his rebellion by holding a great sacrificial feast at the stone of Zoheleth. He slaughtered sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle, burning the fat as an offering to the Lord and using the meat to host a royal-style banquet. This gave a religious veneer to his self-exaltation. As Clarke explains, he wrapped his rebellion in the appearance of divine authorization, affecting to receive his authority from God. Yet the true servants of the Lord were conspicuously excluded. Nathan, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon were deliberately not invited. Their absence exposes the true nature of Adonijah’s feast. It was not an act of worship. It was a political tool designed to crown an unchosen king.
B. Nathan and Bathsheba Intercede for Solomon
1. First Kings 1:11 through 14, Nathan Tells His Plan to Bathsheba
“Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not. Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel that thou mayest save thine own life and the life of thy son Solomon. Go and get thee in unto king David and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne, why then doth Adonijah reign. Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee and confirm thy words.”
Nathan the prophet moved quickly once Adonijah’s conspiracy became known. As a faithful servant of God and a loyal counselor to David, he understood both the danger and the urgency of the situation. David was old, physically weak, and removed from active oversight of the kingdom. If the matter were not addressed immediately, Adonijah’s coronation would become irreversible and the covenant promise that God revealed concerning Solomon would be threatened.
Nathan approached Bathsheba first. This was strategic, because Bathsheba was both the mother of the chosen heir and someone with direct access to the king. He warned her that Adonijah had already proclaimed himself king and that David remained unaware of this development. This detail demonstrates not only David’s frailty but also the disorder that had developed in the court. For the king to be ignorant of a rival coronation reflects how disconnected he had become from national affairs.
Nathan’s message was stark. If Adonijah secured the throne, Bathsheba and Solomon would be killed. This was not speculation. In monarchies of the ancient world, it was standard practice for a newly seated king to eliminate all claimants to prevent future rebellion. Adonijah, who exalted himself and publicly displayed his ambition, would not hesitate to destroy any threat to his power. Nathan therefore urged Bathsheba to act swiftly in order to preserve both her life and the life of her son.
Bathsheba was instructed to remind David of his earlier oath, “Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.” Scripture does not record the original moment of this promise within the narrative of Kings, but First Chronicles 22:5 through 9 reveals David’s clear intention, confirmed by the word of the Lord, that Solomon would build the temple and inherit the throne. It was an act of astounding grace that the son born through the darkest failure of David’s life would become the heir to Israel’s kingdom. God redeemed the consequences of sin and poured grace where judgment might have been expected.
Nathan then explained the second part of the plan. While Bathsheba presented her case to David, Nathan would enter afterward and confirm her words. This approach was necessary because David’s nature as a father made him slow to believe evil about his sons. Even after Absalom murdered Amnon, David struggled to confront him directly. Nathan understood that a single witness would not be enough. Two converging testimonies would impress the seriousness of the situation upon David and prompt decisive action. Nathan’s strategy was wise, righteous, and grounded in the covenant promise God had made concerning the throne of Israel.
2. First Kings 1:15 through 27, Bathsheba and Nathan Tell David of Adonijah’s Bid for the Throne
“And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber, and the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. And Bathsheba bowed and did obeisance unto the king, and the king said, What wouldest thou. And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the Lord thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth, and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not. And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance and hath called all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the captain of the host, but Solomon thy servant hath he not called. And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. And lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. For he is gone down this day and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance and hath called all the king’s sons and the captains of the host and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they eat and drink before him and say, God save king Adonijah. But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and thy servant Solomon hath he not called. Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.”
Bathsheba entered the king’s chamber with reverence, bowing before David as was proper for the presence of Israel’s monarch. Scripture again emphasizes that the king was very old and dependent on the care of Abishag. This remark sets the stage for everything that follows. David was no longer capable of actively managing the affairs of the kingdom, which made the actions of Adonijah all the more dangerous. His physical weakness created a power vacuum, and unscrupulous men were eager to fill it.
Bathsheba reminded David of the solemn oath he had made before the Lord, that Solomon would be his successor and would sit upon his throne. This was not a casual promise but a sacred commitment grounded in the revelation God gave David concerning the temple and the future of the Davidic line, as recorded in First Chronicles 22. She informed him that Adonijah had proclaimed himself king, slain sacrifices in abundance, and gathered influential supporters. Yet the most telling detail was that Solomon had not been invited. The exclusion of Solomon exposed the treachery of Adonijah’s actions. A true and righteous coronation would never bypass the divinely chosen heir.
Bathsheba then appealed to David on personal grounds, saying that she and her son would be counted as offenders once David died if Adonijah secured the throne. In ancient monarchies, rivals to the throne were not merely dismissed, they were executed. Bathsheba knew that Adonijah would destroy both her and Solomon to solidify his power. Her words were tender yet urgent, reminding David that his inaction would cost the lives of those he loved.
While Bathsheba was still speaking, Nathan entered exactly as planned. The king’s attendants announced his arrival, and he bowed with deep respect, placing his face to the ground. Nathan had confronted David decades earlier over the sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, yet here at the end of David’s life he remained a trusted counselor and beloved friend. David never resented the prophet who rebuked him. As Trapp notes, David loved Nathan the more for his plain and fearless correction.
Nathan presented the same facts as Bathsheba, but with a different angle. He framed his words as a personal inquiry. He asked whether David had secretly appointed Adonijah, and if so, why he had not informed his servant. This question struck directly at the heart of the matter. Nathan knew that David had never chosen Adonijah. He also knew that David’s fatherly softness often prevented him from confronting the sins of his sons. By posing the question this way, Nathan drew David into action. If David had not authorized Adonijah’s coronation, then immediate correction was necessary. Nathan’s approach combined wisdom, loyalty, and absolute fidelity to God’s revealed will.
Bathsheba and Nathan together delivered a message that David could not ignore. The kingdom was on the brink of falling into the hands of a usurper. The heir chosen by God was in mortal danger. Israel waited for the king’s decision. David’s response would determine the future of the nation.
C. Solomon Is Made King
1. First Kings 1:28 through 30, David Vows to Set Things Aright
“Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. And the king sware and said, As the Lord liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead, even so will I certainly do this day.”
When David heard the united testimony of Bathsheba and Nathan, he acted immediately. He summoned Bathsheba back into his presence and reaffirmed before her the oath he had made earlier. He introduced his statement with the solemn formula, “As the Lord liveth.” This was the strongest oath an Israelite could make. David grounded this vow in his lifelong experience with God, describing Him as the One who redeemed his soul out of every distress. From the fields of Bethlehem to the caves of Adullam, from Saul’s relentless pursuit to the turmoil of Absalom’s rebellion, David had learned the covenant faithfulness of God. Now, in the final hours of his reign, he invoked that same faithfulness as he vowed to uphold God’s revealed will concerning Solomon.
David declared that Solomon would reign after him and sit on his throne, and he promised to fulfill this commitment “this day.” He would not delay. He recognized the urgency of the moment. Israel could not endure another civil war or another coup. The chosen king had to be installed without hesitation. David’s action demonstrated wisdom, decisiveness, and obedience. He corrected the problem quickly and righteously, ensuring the succession that God Himself had ordained.
2. First Kings 1:31 through 37, Arrangements for Solomon’s Anointing
“Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth and did reverence to the king and said, Let my lord king David live for ever. And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule and bring him down to Gihon. And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel and blow ye with the trumpet and say, God save king Solomon. Then ye shall come up after him that he may come and sit upon my throne, for he shall be king in my stead, and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, Amen, the Lord God of my lord the king say so too. As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be He with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.”
Bathsheba responded to David’s vow with gratitude and honor, bowing before the king and declaring the customary blessing, “Let my lord king David live for ever.” It was a polite expression of respect, though David knew his earthly life was nearing its end. Yet her reverence reflected her deep trust in David’s renewed decisiveness.
David then summoned the three men whose loyalty and righteousness were unquestioned: Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. These were the men who remained faithful when Adonijah rebelled. David entrusted the succession to these leaders because they were aligned with God’s will rather than the ambitions of men. Zadok represented priestly authority, Nathan represented prophetic authority, and David himself embodied royal authority. These three offices working in harmony foreshadow the perfect unification of prophet, priest, and king in the Lord Jesus Christ.
David outlined a precise and powerful plan to publicly establish Solomon as Israel’s rightful king. Solomon was to ride upon David’s own royal mule, a symbol of legitimacy and authority. He was to be anointed at Gihon by Zadok and Nathan, ensuring spiritual and ceremonial authenticity. A trumpet was to be blown to summon the people, and the proclamation “God save king Solomon” was to be shouted. After the anointing, Solomon was to enter Jerusalem and sit on David’s throne as the divinely appointed ruler of both Israel and Judah. David left no room for ambiguity. He ensured that the transition would be clear, public, and unmistakable. His five-point plan established Solomon in the sight of all.
This scene also reflects a spiritual truth for believers. Just as David wanted Israel to understand who the rightful king was, God desires His children to know with certainty who they are in Christ. Believers have been made heirs with Christ, destined to reign with Him, and God confirms this calling through the witness of His Word and Spirit. As David made Solomon’s identity publicly known, so God confirms the identity of those who belong to His Son.
Benaiah responded with a reverent “Amen.” He declared that the Lord God Himself must sanction Solomon’s reign, understanding that no earthly throne stands apart from the will of heaven. Benaiah prayed that Solomon’s throne would surpass even David’s, a request that was fulfilled in part during Solomon’s earthly reign. Solomon’s kingdom expanded its borders, reached unmatched wealth, and enjoyed unparalleled peace. Yet spiritually and eternally, David’s throne reaches its greatest fulfillment not through Solomon but through Jesus Christ, the Son of David whose kingdom shall never end.
3. First Kings 1:38 through 40, Solomon Is Anointed and Proclaimed King
“So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule and brought him to Gihon. And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle and anointed Solomon, and they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, God save king Solomon. And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.”
This passage records the public coronation of Solomon, carried out exactly according to David’s instructions. Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the commander were accompanied by the Cherethites and Pelethites, David’s elite royal guard. These loyal servants executed the ceremony with precision and dignity. Their presence demonstrated both military authority and covenant faithfulness. The forces that protected David would now protect Solomon, giving unmistakable legitimacy to his ascension.
Solomon was placed upon King David’s mule, a gesture of enormous symbolic weight. In the ancient Near East, riding upon the king’s beast was a privilege reserved exclusively for royalty. It functioned as a public declaration that Solomon was the authentic heir. Common people rode donkeys. Horses were used for war. But the mule, costly to acquire because Leviticus 19:19 forbade crossbreeding in Israel, was reserved for the highest rank. Clarke notes that using the king’s personal mule was evidence of David’s explicit appointment of Solomon as successor. No subject would dare ride the king’s animal unless authorized. Thus the royal mule served as an unmistakable sign of coronation.
The procession moved to Gihon, located in the Kidron Valley near Jerusalem’s primary water source. This was a strategic location. Crowds naturally gathered there, and the public nature of the ceremony ensured that news of Solomon’s anointing would spread quickly. In addition, Gihon lay near the southern boundary of the city, opposite the place where Adonijah held his private feast. This was a deliberate contrast. Adonijah’s self-exaltation took place in a secluded setting. Solomon’s coronation was open, public, and recognized by the legitimate leaders of Israel.
Zadok the priest then took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. This was not ordinary oil. It was the sacred anointing oil reserved for priests and kings. It symbolized the presence of the Spirit of God, the divine enabling necessary for ruling God’s people. The anointing marked Solomon as the Lord’s chosen king, set apart for holy service. It pointed forward to the ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who fulfills the office of prophet, priest, and king in absolute perfection.
After the anointing, the trumpet sounded and the people shouted, “God save king Solomon.” This proclamation echoed throughout the city, confirming publicly that the transition of power had taken place. The people rejoiced with such overwhelming enthusiasm that “the earth rent with the sound of them.” This does not mean the ground literally split but conveys the magnitude of their celebration. Their joy revealed the true state of the nation. Adonijah had gathered a faction, but Solomon possessed the hearts of the people. They recognized God’s choice and rejoiced in the righteous ascension of the true king.
Solomon’s coronation unfolded with the full weight of prophetic, priestly, and royal authority behind it. The Spirit of God, the support of the faithful, and the will of the nation all converged to confirm that the throne belonged to him. No amount of political maneuvering from Adonijah could compete with a coronation orchestrated by God Himself.
D. Solomon’s Mercy to Adonijah
1. First Kings 1:41 through 49, Adonijah Hears That Solomon Is Made King
“And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar. And while he yet spake, behold Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came, and Adonijah said unto him, Come in, for thou art a valiant man and bringest good tidings. And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king. And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule. And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard. And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom. And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed. And also thus said the king, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it. And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid and rose up and went every man his way.”
Adonijah’s coronation banquet was still underway when the sound of the trumpet announcing Solomon’s anointing echoed across Jerusalem. His feast, designed to strengthen his illegal claim to the throne, abruptly dissolved under the weight of divine providence. Joab, seasoned in the noise of battle and unrest, instantly recognized that the uproar in the city meant something significant had taken place. Before he could discern its meaning, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. Adonijah greeted him eagerly, assuming that his loyal supporter would bring good news. The irony is striking. Wicked men often expect affirmation when judgment is already at the door.
Jonathan did not bring blessing but truth. He announced that King David had formally appointed Solomon as king. He reported that Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the commander, and the royal guard escorted Solomon to Gihon, placed him on the king’s mule, anointed him, and proclaimed him with the trumpet’s blast. The entire city rejoiced so loudly that the sound shook the streets. Adonijah realized instantly that his attempt to seize the throne had collapsed. In one moment the shallow support he had gathered was eclipsed by the overwhelming and legitimate authority that God placed behind Solomon.
Jonathan further explained that Solomon was now sitting on the throne and that the king’s servants had blessed David, saying, “God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne.” Even more crushing for Adonijah, David himself bowed in gratitude and declared, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.” This single statement destroyed any hope Adonijah retained. It confirmed that the reigning monarch had publicly and joyfully recognized Solomon as his successor. There was no space left for negotiation or resistance.
When the guests at Adonijah’s feast realized the truth, panic seized them. They had aligned themselves with a false king. Their political gamble had failed instantly and dramatically. The same men who had eaten with Adonijah in confidence rose quickly and departed in fear, each fleeing to preserve his own life. Wicked alliances dissolve quickly when judgment draws near. As Trapp observes, the final course of Adonijah’s banquet was not a delicacy but terror.
This moment captures a timeless truth. When God establishes His chosen king, no human plot, no political force, and no ambitious rival can stand. The Lord raised Solomon up, and the Lord tore Adonijah down. Every attempt at self-exaltation collapses under the weight of God’s sovereign decree.
2. First Kings 1:50 through 53, Solomon’s Mercy to Adonijah
“And Adonijah feared because of Solomon and arose and went and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold Adonijah feareth king Solomon, for lo he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword. And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth, but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. So king Solomon sent and they brought him down from the altar, and he came and bowed himself to king Solomon, and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.”
When the truth of Solomon’s coronation reached Adonijah, fear seized him immediately. His confidence evaporated the moment he realized that his attempted coup had failed and that the legitimate king was now enthroned. Knowing the customary practice of ancient kingdoms, Adonijah expected death. It was common for new monarchs to eliminate all rivals to secure stability. Adonijah therefore fled to the tabernacle and grasped the horns of the altar, the most sacred place accessible to him. The altar symbolized the presence, mercy, and justice of God, and in the ancient world it often functioned as a place of sanctuary. Gripping its horns was a plea for protection, an appeal for mercy.
Yet this act did not guarantee safety under God’s law. Exodus 21:14 states, “But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from Mine altar, that he may die.” Israel understood that the altar was not a refuge for premeditated wickedness. Sanctuary was never intended to shield a guilty rebel from righteous judgment. Adonijah’s gesture expressed desperation, not innocence.
When word reached Solomon, the young king responded with remarkable grace. Instead of executing Adonijah, which would have been expected and politically justified, Solomon offered him conditional mercy. He declared, “If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth.” This condition established that Adonijah’s life would continue only if he proved loyal and abandoned all pretensions to the throne. Solomon made it clear that mercy would not be extended to rebellion. “If wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.” This was justice tempered by grace, and grace strengthened by righteousness. Solomon balanced mercy with alertness, knowing that ambition left unchecked can soon revive.
Adonijah was summoned and brought down from the altar. He presented himself before Solomon and bowed low, acknowledging the authority of the rightful king. This posture demonstrated submission and gratitude. He knew that he had received life when death was deserved. Solomon then dismissed him with the words, “Go to thine house.” The command carried both mercy and warning. Solomon allowed him to live, but placed him under quiet observation. Adonijah was restored to his home, but not to influence.
This act displays the strength of Solomon’s early reign. He did not rule through vengeance or fear. He extended mercy where others would have chosen retaliation. Yet his mercy did not compromise justice. His clemency foreshadows the character of Christ, the greater Son of David, who extends mercy to sinners while upholding perfect righteousness.
