David, Adonijah, Solomon I Kings 1

I Kings 1:5 "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." II Samuel 15:1 refer.

In review, David went into Geshur on a raid while he lived with the Philistines. He took Haggith, the kings daughter, and married her. Her first son was Absalom who also revolted against David but was defeated. Now Adonijah, his brother, is doing the same thing in the same way.

v7 "And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him."

David is very old and lying on his bed. He did nothing until Nathan the prophet made a plan with Bathsheba, mother of Solomon, to advise the king and spur him into action. Bathsheba was to go tell the king, then Nathan would come in and confirm all she said. So they put the plan into play while Adonijah has declared himself king with most acknowledging his ploy.

v11 "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?"

So, they told David, basically these words and he set in motion a plan to have Solomon declared king and to sit on his throne. It was a power play and Solomon won. Solomon also had the promise of God on his side making a majority.

v33 "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 Gibon: v34 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."

So it was that Solomon became king instead of Adonijah.

v51 "And it was told Solomon, saying Behold Adonijah fearth king Solomon: for lo he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar... v52 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."

Some of David's people went over to Adonijah and made a grave mistake. Joab was one, Abiathar the priest was another. We will read about them later. We must not forget that God made a covenant with David that his throne was established through the generations. Satan will do what he can to change that.

Psalm 2:2 "The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. v4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision."

Keywords: Old Old Story, Old Testament, Bible study, David, Kings, Adonijah, Joab, Nathan, Milton Southerland. David is old. Adonijah tries to become king. Solomon prevails.