Solomon Asks for Wisdom

Introduction:

The transfer of leadership in Israel had gone from David to Solomon.  Solomon described himself “like a little child who doesn’t know his way around”. 

Solomon had a lot to learn. He was making some good choices and good decisions, but at the same time some of his decisions would have disastrous consequences in the long run.

1 Kings 3:1-15 NLT
Solomon Asks for Wisdom
^3:1 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and the wall around the city. ² At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local places of worship, for a temple honoring the name of the Lord had not yet been built.
³ Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship. ⁴ The most important of these places of worship was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings. ⁵ That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
⁶ Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.
⁷ “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. ⁸ And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! ⁹ Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. ¹¹ So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— ¹² I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! ¹³ And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! ¹⁴ And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”
¹⁵ Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Kings 3:1-15 NLT

Solomon Asks for Wisdom 

^3:1 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters.

• Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh King of Egypt.

Pharaoh’s daughter was the most politically significant of Solomon’s 700 wives.

Solomon strengthens his kingdom through marriage diplomacy.

Marrying Pharaoh’s daughter was politically wise, but spiritually questionable

Consider the following:

Israel had been told not to return to Egypt:

Deuteronomy 17:16 NLT
¹⁶ “The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’

Israel had been told not to intermarry with people of other nations:

Deuteronomy 7:1-4 NLT
^7:1 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are about to enter and occupy, he will clear away many nations ahead of you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These seven nations are greater and more numerous than you. ² When the Lord your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. ³ You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, ⁴ for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.

Looking ahead:

1 Kings 11:3-4 NLT
^11:1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. ² The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. ³ He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.
⁴ In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been.

Not all wise political decisions are spiritually wise. 

He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and the wall around the city.

1 Kings 7:8 NLT
⁸ Solomon’s living quarters surrounded a courtyard behind this hall, and they were constructed the same way. He also built similar living quarters for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married.

This could have been as much as 20 years later before she would have moved into her house.

• This alliance would benefited both Solomon and Pharaoh.

1 Kings 9:16 NLT
¹⁶ (Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had attacked and captured Gezer, killing the Canaanite population and burning it down. He gave the city to his daughter as a wedding gift when she married Solomon.

Gezer was a major Canaanite city guarding an important trade route (the Via Maris).

*Spiritual growth is weakened by disobedience. 

² At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local places of worship, for a temple honoring the name of the Lord had not yet been built.

ESV The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD. 

NIV   The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, 

• When Solomon began his reign, Israel did not yet have a single, permanent central place of worship like the Temple that would later be built in Jerusalem.

The Ark of the Covenant was in Jerusalem, having been brought there by David (2 Samuel 6).

The main worship site—where sacrifices were regularly offered—was still at the Gibeon, where the tabernacle (the portable tent of meeting from Moses’ time) was located (see 1 Kings 3:2–4).

Worship was divided between locations:

Jerusalem → housed the Ark (symbol of God’s presence)

Gibeon → housed the altar and tabernacle (place of sacrifices)

Because of this, people still sacrificed at “high places” (local worship sites), which is noted early in Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 3:2–3).

The open-air, hilltop worship centers that the Israelites inherited from the Canaanites had been rededicated to the Lord.

The Canaanites felt that the closer they got to heaven the more likely was the possibility that their prayers and offerings would reach their gods.

After the building of the Temple, worship at the high places was condemned.

Deuteronomy 12:1-5 NLT
The Lord’s Chosen Place for Worship
^12:1 “These are the decrees and regulations you must be careful to obey when you live in the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must obey them as long as you live.
² “When you drive out the nations that live there, you must destroy all the places where they worship their gods—high on the mountains, up on the hills, and under every green tree. ³ Break down their altars and smash their sacred pillars. Burn their Asherah poles and cut down their carved idols. Completely erase the names of their gods!
⁴ “Do not worship the Lord your God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods. ⁵ Rather, you must seek the Lord your God at the place of worship he himself will choose from among all the tribes—the place where his name will be honored.

• Worship at the high places was condemned.

³ Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship.

• Solomon loved the

“except”

Solomon continued worshipping at the high places.

“High places” were unauthorized worship sites, even if used for the Lord.

The temple had not yet been built, which partly explains this practice.

Solomon loved the Lord, yet still participated in these imperfect forms of worship.

Compromises?

*Spiritual growth is weakened by compromise. 

 ⁴ The most important of these places of worship was at Gibeon,

Gibeon was the most prominent high place.

1 Chronicles 21:29 NLT
²⁹ At that time the Tabernacle of the Lord and the altar of burnt offering that Moses had made in the wilderness were located at the place of worship in Gibeon.

A town about 7 miles northwest of Jerusalem, where the tabernacle of Moses and the original Bronze altar were located. 

so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings.

Read how this event is recorded in Chronicles.

2 Chronicles 1:2-6 NLT
² Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army, the judges, and all the political and clan leaders. ³ Then he led the entire assembly to the place of worship in Gibeon, for God’s Tabernacle was located there. (This was the Tabernacle that Moses, the Lord’s servant, had made in the wilderness.)
⁴ David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem. ⁵ But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri and grandson of Hur was there at Gibeon in front of the Tabernacle of the Lord. So Solomon and the people gathered in front of it to consult the Lord. ⁶ There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it. 

That is a lot of offering. 

 ⁵ That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream.

God initiates the encounter—this is grace, not earned favor.

God often gave revelation in dreams.

This dream was unique.  This was a two way conversation between the Lord and Solomon.

• The Lordappeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” 

Clearly, God was not upset with Solomon. 

⁶ Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.

• Solomon recognized and remembered God’s faithfulness to David. 

⁷ “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. 

• Solomon recognized God’s sovereignty. 

⁸ And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! 

The total population was estimated to be over four million people.

God’s promise to Abram:

Genesis 13:16 NLT
¹⁶ And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! 

⁹ Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Solomon’s response:

Solomon acknowledged God’s faithfulness to David.

Solomon recognized his own inexperience.

Some commentators say that Solomon was about 20 years of age (MacArthur being one of them.)

Solomon felt inadequate for the great task of leading Israel.

• Solomon recognized his dependence on God.

• Solomon asked God to give him an understanding heart so that he could govern God’s people well and know the difference between right and wrong. 

¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom.  

The Lord was pleased. 

¹¹ So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice 

and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— 

Typical desires many others in Solomon’s position would have asked for.

¹² I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! 

This wisdom is a supernatural gift from God.

¹³ And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! 

Solomon was one of a kind.

• God was pleased with Solomon’s request.

God gave Solomon a wise and understanding heart.

God gave Solomon things he did not ask for-riches and fame.

• God gave Solomon a wise and understanding heart and God gave Solomon things he did not ask for-riches and fame. 

¹⁴ And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”

“if” – conditional

Blessings can be conditional on continued faithfulness.

Unfortunately Solomon did not remain obedient to the covenant as his father David had.

Because of his disobedience, Solomon dies before reaching the age of 70.

Psalm 90:10 NLT
¹⁰ Seventy years are given to us!
Some even live to eighty. 

¹⁵ Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings.

This was a proper place of worship.

The Ark of the Covenant sat in David’s tent in Jerusalem before the temple was built. 

Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.

0

Solomon Establishes His Rule (part 3)

Introduction:

Review:

King David has died and Solomon is now king.  He is dealing with housekeeping issues in order to secure the throne.

Adonijah was the fourth son of David, and had previously declared himself king without David’s knowledge.

1 Kings 1:7-8 NLT
⁷ Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king.  

Adonijah is executed by Solomon.

Abiathar and Joab are guilty by association with Adonijah and they had to be dealt with.

In addition: 

Joab was a murderer, and these murders needed to be dealt with. 

Solomon sends Abiathar into exile to his hometown of Anathoth and removes him from the priesthood.

Joab was executed for “the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he”.

Now Solomon will deal with Shimei.

Shimei first appears in 2 Samuel 16:5–13 when David was fleeing Jerusalem during the rebellion of Absalom.

• Shimei cursed David.

2 Samuel 16:5-13 NLT
Shimei Curses David
⁵ As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. ⁶ He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. ⁷ “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. ⁸ “The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!”
⁹ “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. “Let me go over and cut off his head!”
¹⁰ “No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”
¹¹ Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. ¹² And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” ¹³ So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.

David refused to have him killed at that moment, saying the Lord might have allowed the cursing.

• Shimei asked David for mercy.

Shimei asks David for mercy.

After Absalom’s rebellion ended, Shimei hurried to meet David and begged for forgiveness (2 Samuel 19:16–23).

2 Samuel 19:16-23 NLT
¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across with the men of Judah to welcome King David. ¹⁷ A thousand other men from the tribe of Benjamin were with him, including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Saul, and Ziba’s fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king. ¹⁸ They crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the king’s household across the river, helping him in every way they could.
As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him. ¹⁹ “My lord the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. ²⁰ I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel to greet my lord the king.”
 ^… turning to Shimei, David vowed, “Your life will be spared.” 

• David spared Shimei’s life and swore he would not put him to death.

However, before David died he told Solomon to deal wisely with Shimei because of the wrong he had done (1 Kings 2:8–9).

1 Kings 2:8-9 NLT
⁸ “And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. ⁹ But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”

• Before David died he told Solomon to deal wisely with Shimei because of the wrong he had done (1 Kings 2:8–9).

1 Kings 2:36-46 NLT

Solomon Establishes His Rule (part 3)

³⁶ The king then sent for Shimei and told him, “Build a house here in Jerusalem and live there. But don’t step outside the city to go anywhere else. ³⁷ On the day you so much as cross the Kidron Valley, you will surely die; and your blood will be on your own head.”
³⁸ Shimei replied, “Your sentence is fair; I will do whatever my lord the king commands.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.
³⁹ But three years later two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath. When Shimei learned where they were, ⁴⁰ he saddled his donkey and went to Gath to search for them. When he found them, he brought them back to Jerusalem.
⁴¹ Solomon heard that Shimei had left Jerusalem and had gone to Gath and returned. ⁴² So the king sent for Shimei and demanded, “Didn’t I make you swear by the Lord and warn you not to go anywhere else or you would surely die? And you replied, ‘The sentence is fair; I will do as you say.’ ⁴³ Then why haven’t you kept your oath to the Lord and obeyed my command?”
⁴⁴ The king also said to Shimei, “You certainly remember all the wicked things you did to my father, David. May the Lord now bring that evil on your own head. ⁴⁵ But may I, King Solomon, receive the Lord’s blessings, and may one of David’s descendants always sit on this throne in the presence of the Lord.” ⁴⁶ Then, at the king’s command, Benaiah son of Jehoiada took Shimei outside and killed him.
So the kingdom was now firmly in Solomon’s grip.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Kings 2:36-46 NLT

Solomon Establishes His Rule (part 3) 

³⁶ The king then sent for Shimei and told him, “Build a house here in Jerusalem and live there. But don’t step outside the city to go anywhere else. 

Solomon told Shimei to build a house in Jerusalem and never leave the city.

This was to be Shimei’s permanent residence.

This is both mercy and restriction.

• Cursing David was a serious offense.

Exodus 22:28 NLT
²⁸ “You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers. 

Romans 13:1-2 NLT
Respect for Authority
^13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. ² So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

Ecclesiastes 10:20 NLT
²⁰ Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts.
And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom.
For a little bird might deliver your message
and tell them what you said.

Confinement to Jerusalem would greatly reduce the possibility of Shimei conspiring with any reaming followers of Saul, especially from among the Benjamites, against Solomon’s rule.

• Shimei was restricted to living in Jerusalem. The city would be his prison. 

³⁷ On the day you so much as cross the Kidron Valley, you will surely die; and your blood will be on your own head.”

• Solomon told Shimei that he would be executed if he disobeyed his sentence.   

³⁸ Shimei replied, “Your sentence is fair; I will do whatever my lord the king commands.”

• Shimei understood his sentence and agreed to live by it.

So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time. 

³⁹ But three years later two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath.

Achish was the king of Gath, one of the major cities of the Philistines.

Gath was about 30 miles southwest of Jerusalem.

When Shimei learned where they were, ⁴⁰ he saddled his donkey and went to Gath to search for them.

• Shimei violated Solomon’s sentence by leaving Jerusalem to retrieve two runaway slaves.

This demonstrated that Shimei had no more respect for Solomon’s authority than he had for David’s.  Shimei’s attitude had not changed. 

When he found them, he brought them back to Jerusalem. 

• Shimei’s disobedience may seem small and practical—but it directly violates the king’s command.

Disobedience often begins with justification (“I had a good reason”). 

⁴¹ Solomon heard that Shimei had left Jerusalem and had gone to Gath and returned. ⁴² So the king sent for Shimei and demanded, “Didn’t I make you swear by the Lord and warn you not to go anywhere else or you would surely die? And you replied, ‘The sentence is fair; I will do as you say.’ 

• Solomon reviewed the terms of Shimei’s sentence with Shimei.

⁴³ Then why haven’t you kept your oath to the Lord and obeyed my command?”  

⁴⁴ The king also said to Shimei, “You certainly remember all the wicked things you did to my father, David. May the Lord now bring that evil on your own head. 

• Solomon had given Shimei a chance to live out his life in Jerusalem, but because Shimei had disobeyed his sentence he would be held accountable for his actions.

Shimei’s earlier sin is now fully judged.

Shimei will receive the consequences of his own actions. 

⁴⁵ But may I, King Solomon, receive the Lord’s blessings, and may one of David’s descendants always sit on this throne in the presence of the Lord.” 

Solomon’s throne is established by God.

David’s dynasty would endure.

David’s throne would be established “forever”.

This points forward to the eternal kingdom through Christ.

The Lord’s blessings would come through the ruler of David’s line, not Saul’s.

Shimei had always been an advocate of King Saul. 

⁴⁶ Then, at the king’s command, Benaiah son of Jehoiada took Shimei outside and killed him.

• Solomon commanded Benaiah to execute Shimei.

This is the third execution carried out by Benaiah. (First Adonijah, then Joab, now Shimei.)

This completed the tasks assigned to Solomon by David just before David’s death.

• Solomon’s actions were necessary to secure the throne of David.

Solomon’s actions were neither unfair nor vindictive.

The new king had demonstrated both wisdom and mercy in dealing with his political enemies, men who had conspired against the will of God during David’s reign.

So the kingdom was now firmly in Solomon’s grip.

All internal threats are now removed:

Adonijah (rebellion)

Joab (bloodguilt)

Abiathar (disloyal priest)

Shimei (cursing and instability)

0

Solomon Establishes His Rule (continued)

Introduction:

Solomon is now king.  He has some more housekeeping issues to deal with in order to secure his throne.   In our previous lesson Solomon dealt with Adonijah by having him executed. In this lesson, two major figures from King David’s reign—Abiathar the priest and Joab the military commander—are judged for their past actions and their support of Adonijah’s attempt to take over the throne.

1 Kings 2:26-35 NLT
Solomon Establishes His Rule (continued)
²⁶ Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your home in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not kill you now, because you carried the Ark of the Sovereign Lord for David my father and you shared all his hardships.” ²⁷ So Solomon deposed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord, thereby fulfilling the prophecy the Lord had given at Shiloh concerning the descendants of Eli.
²⁸ Joab had not joined Absalom’s earlier rebellion, but he had joined Adonijah’s rebellion. So when Joab heard about Adonijah’s death, he ran to the sacred tent of the Lord and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. ²⁹ When this was reported to King Solomon, he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him.
³⁰ Benaiah went to the sacred tent of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king orders you to come out!”
But Joab answered, “No, I will die here.”
So Benaiah returned to the king and told him what Joab had said.
³¹ “Do as he said,” the king replied. “Kill him there beside the altar and bury him. This will remove the guilt of Joab’s senseless murders from me and from my father’s family. ³² The Lord will repay him for the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he. For my father knew nothing about the deaths of Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and of Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. ³³ May their blood be on Joab and his descendants forever, and may the Lord grant peace forever to David, his descendants, his dynasty, and his throne.”
³⁴ So Benaiah son of Jehoiada returned to the sacred tent and killed Joab, and he was buried at his home in the wilderness. ³⁵ Then the king appointed Benaiah to command the army in place of Joab, and he installed Zadok the priest to take the place of Abiathar.

Examine the Scriptures

Review:

King David has died and Solomon is now king.  He has some housekeeping issues to deal with in order to secure the throne.

Adonijah was the fourth son of David, and had previously declared himself king without David’s knowledge.

1 Kings 1:7-8 NLT
⁷ Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. 

1 Kings 2:17 NLT (Adonijah, speaking to Bathsheba.)
¹⁷ He replied, “Speak to King Solomon on my behalf, for I know he will do anything you request. Ask him to let me marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem.” 

Adonijah was still attempting to take over the kingdom.

Adonijah’s marriage to Abishag could have launched a claim to the throne, whether or not she was officially in David’s harem.

There is no evidence that Abiathar and Joab had anything to do with Adonijah’s request regarding Abishag, but both are pronounced guilty by association. (1 Kings 1:7-8) 

• Adonijah is executed by Solomon. 

Joab and Abiathar had agreed to help Adonijah become king.

• Abiathar and Joab are guilty by association with Adonijah and they had to be dealt with.

Previously:

In addition:

1 Kings 2:5-6 NLT
⁵ “And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me (King David) when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. ⁶ Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.

 Joab was a murderer, and these murders needed to be dealt with.

 1 Kings 2:26-35 NLT

Solomon Establishes His Rule (continued) 

²⁶ Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your home in Anathoth. You deserve to die,

Because of their support of Adonijah, both Abiathar and Joab had put their lives in jeopardy.

• Both Abiathar and Joab were guilty of conspiracy to commit treason.

but I will not kill you now, because you carried the Ark of the Sovereign Lord for David my father and you shared all his hardships.” 

Solomon tells Abiathar the priest that he deserves death because he supported Adonijah’s rebellion. However, because Abiathar served as a high priest and had faithfully shared all of David’s hardships Solomon merely removed him from his office and restricted him to his home town of Anathoth located three miles northeast of Jerusalem.

• Solomon sends Abiathar into exile to his hometown of Anathoth and removes him from the priesthood.

Solomon punishes wrongdoing but remembers past faithfulness. 

²⁷ So Solomon deposed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord, thereby fulfilling the prophecy the Lord had given at Shiloh concerning the descendants of Eli.

The book of Kings notes that this act of Solomon fulfilled God’s prophecy that Eli’s line of priests, of which Abiathar was a member, would be cut off (1 Samuel 2:30-35, part of the story of  Eli’s wicked sons).

1 Samuel 2:30-31 NLT
³⁰ “Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi (speaking to Eli) would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me. ³¹ The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. … 

See also 1 Samuel 22 (especially v. 20)

God is always faithful to His Word.

• Abiathar’s removal from office fulfills God’s judgment on Eli’s priestly house.

This transition prepares the way for Zadok’s priestly line, which becomes the dominant priesthood in Jerusalem. 

²⁸ Joab had not joined Absalom’s earlier rebellion, but he had joined Adonijah’s rebellion. So when Joab heard about Adonijah’s death, 

Adonijah was dead and Abiathar was removed from his office of high priest.  Joab knew that his time was coming.

• When Joab hears what happened to Adonijah and Abiathar, he realizes judgment is coming for him too. 

he ran to the sacred tent of the Lord and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. 

Joab sought refuge in the courtyard of the sacred tent.

• Joab runs to the altar of the Lord and grabs its horns, seeking sanctuary.

Look at Joshua 20 which talks about cities of refuge. 

Joshua 20:1-3 NLT
The Cities of Refuge
^20:1 The Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. 3 Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed.

Remember also: 1 Kings 1:50 NLT

⁵⁰ Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. 

In ancient Israel:

The altar sometimes provided temporary asylum for accidental killers.

But it did not protect deliberate murderers.

Joab had previously murdered:

Abner (2 Samuel 3)

Amasa (2 Samuel 20)

Both killings were acts of revenge and political ambition.

Joab like Adonijah grossly misinterpreted the use of places of refuge.

• The altar provided no real sanctuary to Joab, the rebel and murderer.

²⁹ When this was reported to King Solomon, he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him.

• Solomon ordered Benaiah to administer the death sought by King David.

1 Kings 2:5-6 NLT (David instructing Solomon.)
⁵ “And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. ⁶ Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace. 

King David’s instructions to Solomon are being carried out. 

³⁰ Benaiah went to the sacred tent of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king orders you to come out!”

But Joab answered, “No, I will die here.”

Solomon probably did not want to defile the tabernacle by shedding human blood there so he told Benaiah to order Joab to come out.

So Benaiah returned to the king and told him what Joab had said.
³¹ “Do as he said,” the king replied. “Kill him there beside the altar and bury him.

Joab refused to come out

This will remove the guilt of Joab’s senseless murders from me and from my father’s family. 

As long as Joab remained alive, David’s family bore some responsibility for Joab’s actions.  This would be an obstacle to God’s blessings and to Solomon’s reign.  (Remember the story of Achan)

Numbers 35:30-34 NLT
³⁰ “All murderers must be put to death, … ³³ This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder. ³⁴ You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.”

• By executing Joab, Solomon removes the bloodguilt from David’s family and the kingdom. 

³² The Lord will repay him for the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he.

God will hold the sinner accountable.

God is just.

• Joab was executed for “the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he”.

For my father knew nothing about the deaths of Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and of Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 

Joab had murdered two innocent commanders, Abner and Amasa, without David’s knowledge.

We has referred to these two murders earlier in the lesson.

Joab had murdered Abner and Amasa during a time of peace.

These deaths were unlawful assassinations.

Joab murdered Abner and Amasa to eliminate threats to his position.

These murders served Joab’s own self-interest. 

³³ May their blood be on Joab and his descendants forever, and may the Lord grant peace forever to David, his descendants, his dynasty, and his throne.”

Isaiah 2:2-4 NLT
² In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house
will be the highest of all—
the most important place on earth.
It will be raised above the other hills,
and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
³ People from many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of Jacob’s God.
There he will teach us his ways,
and we will walk in his paths.”
For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion;
his word will go out from Jerusalem.
⁴ The Lord will mediate between nations
and will settle international disputes.
They will hammer their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against nation,
nor train for war anymore. 

Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT
⁶ For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,^[a] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen! 

³⁴ So Benaiah son of Jehoiada returned to the sacred tent and killed Joab, and he was buried at his home in the wilderness. 

To be buried in one’s own land was an honor bestowed on Joab for his long service to David. 

³⁵ Then the king appointed Benaiah to command the army in place of Joab, and he installed Zadok the priest to take the place of Abiathar. 

Solomon restructures the leadership of the kingdom:

• Benaiah becomes commander of the army in place of Joab.

• Zadok becomes priest in place of Abiathar.

Zadok’s appointment returned the high priesthood to Eleazar’s line as it had been before Eli.

0

Solomon Establishes His Rule

Introduction:

King David has died, and Solomon is now king.  He has some housekeeping issues to deal with in order to secure the throne.

1 Kings 2:12-25 NLT
Solomon Establishes His Rule
¹² Solomon became king and sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.
¹³ One day Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, came to see Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. “Have you come with peaceful intentions?” she asked him.
“Yes,” he said, “I come in peace. ¹⁴ In fact, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“What is it?” she asked.
¹⁵ He replied, “As you know, the kingdom was rightfully mine; all Israel wanted me to be the next king. But the tables were turned, and the kingdom went to my brother instead; for that is the way the Lord wanted it. ¹⁶ So now I have just one favor to ask of you. Please don’t turn me down.”
“What is it?” she asked.
¹⁷ He replied, “Speak to King Solomon on my behalf, for I know he will do anything you request. Ask him to let me marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem.”
¹⁸ “All right,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”
¹⁹ So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak on Adonijah’s behalf. The king rose from his throne to meet her, and he bowed down before her. When he sat down on his throne again, the king ordered that a throne be brought for his mother, and she sat at his right hand.
²⁰ “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “I hope you won’t turn me down.”
“What is it, my mother?” he asked. “You know I won’t refuse you.”
²¹ “Then let your brother Adonijah marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem,” she replied.
²² “How can you possibly ask me to give Abishag to Adonijah?” King Solomon demanded. “You might as well ask me to give him the kingdom! You know that he is my older brother, and that he has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side.”
²³ Then King Solomon made a vow before the Lord: “May God strike me and even kill me if Adonijah has not sealed his fate with this request. ²⁴ The Lord has confirmed me and placed me on the throne of my father, David; he has established my dynasty as he promised. So as surely as the Lord lives, Adonijah will die this very day!” ²⁵ So King Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him, and Adonijah was put to death.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Kings 2:12-25 NLT

Solomon Establishes His Rule 

¹² Solomon became king and sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.

Read the first half of 1 Kings 2:24 (part of today’s lesson) 

²⁴ The Lord has confirmed me and placed me on the throne of my father, David; he has established my dynasty as he promised.

1 Chronicles 22:9-10 NLT
⁹ But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. ¹⁰ He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

• Solomon’s kingdom is firmly established.

Firmly established implies:

Divine approval

Political stability

Daniel 2:21 NLT
²¹ He (God) controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.

To establish a firm foundation for his reign Solomon had to deal with his and his father’s enemies.

These actions were considered essential for stabilizing the new regime and ensuring that past injustices were settled.

• Solomon had some “political” housekeeping issues to deal with in order to secure the throne.

¹³ One day Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith,

Haggith was one of David’s wives.

Adonijah was the fourth son of David, and had previously declared himself king without David’s knowledge. 

came to see Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. “Have you come with peaceful intentions?” she asked him.

“Have you come with peaceful intentions?”

Bathsheba had good reasons to ask this question.

1 Kings 1:5 NLT
Adonijah Claims the Throne
⁵ About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. 

Bathsheba would have known about this.

1 Kings 1:11 NLT
¹¹ Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and asked her, “Haven’t you heard that Haggith’s son, Adonijah, has made himself king, and our lord David doesn’t even know about it? 

“Yes,” he said, “I come in peace. ¹⁴ In fact, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“What is it?” she asked.

• Adonijah wants Bathsheba to do a favor for him. 

¹⁵ He replied, “As you know, the kingdom was rightfully mine;

Adonijah contradicted his supposed peaceful intentions when he declared that the kingdom was rightfully his.

As the oldest living son, some may have thought Adonijah had a legitimate claim to the throne.

all Israel wanted me to be the next king.

A gross exaggeration.

1 Kings 1:7-8 NLT
⁷ Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. ⁸ But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah.

But the tables were turned, and the kingdom went to my brother instead; for that is the way the Lord wanted it.  

• Adonijah knew that it was God’s will for Solomon to become the king of Israel. 

¹⁶ So now I have just one favor to ask of you. Please don’t turn me down.”

“What is it?” she asked.
¹⁷ He replied, “Speak to King Solomon on my behalf, for I know he will do anything you request. 

• Adonijah knows Solomon might refuse him directly, so he tries to make his request through Solomon’s mother. 

Ask him to let me marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem.”

Background:

Abishag functioned as a nurse and attendant for David in his dying days.

Abishag was considered part of the royal household (like a concubine).

Even though there were no sexual relations, she was:

Assigned exclusively to the king.

Living in the king’s quarters.

Functionally part of his royal court and household.

In ancient Near Eastern culture, this gave her the legal and political status similar to a concubine, regardless of whether the relationship was consummated.

• Although Abishag was a virgin, she would have been regarded by the people as belonging to David’s harem.

• In the ancient Near East, taking a former king’s concubine or wife was a claim to the throne.

Marriage to Abishag would have greatly strengthened Adonijah’s claim to the throne.

Adonijah’s request was not romantic—it was political.

It was a subtle attempt to revive his claim to kingship. 

¹⁸ “All right,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”

Bathsheba initially expressed caution.  However, Adonijah convinced Bathsheba that his intensions were peaceful.  He persuaded Bathsheba to speak to King Solomon on his behalf.

“Speak to King Solomon on my behalf, for I know he will do anything you request. Ask him to let me marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem.”

• Adonijah persuaded Bathsheba to speak to King Solomon on his behalf. 

¹⁹ So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak on Adonijah’s behalf. The king rose from his throne to meet her, and he bowed down before her. When he sat down on his throne again, the king ordered that a throne be brought for his mother, and she sat at his right hand.

The position of honor.

Psalm 110:1 NLT
A psalm of David.
¹ The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”

Solomon honors his mother:

He rises to meet her

Bows to her

Seats her at his right hand

This shows:

Respect for the queen mother

Her influential role in the royal court 

²⁰ “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “I hope you won’t turn me down.”

“What is it, my mother?” he asked. “You know I won’t refuse you.”

“You know I won’t refuse you.”

Solomon would not be able to live up to his initial response to Bathsheba’s “one small request”. 

²¹ “Then let your brother Adonijah marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem,” she replied.

• It appears that Bathsheba does not understand the significance of Adonijah’s request. 

²² “How can you possibly ask me to give Abishag to Adonijah?” King Solomon demanded. “You might as well ask me to give him the kingdom! You know that he is my older brother, and that he has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side.”

Solomon understood the intentions behind Adonijah’s request.

This request had far reaching consequences that would threaten Solomon’s throne.

Adonijah’s marriage to Abishag could have launched a claim to the throne, whether or not she was officially in David’s harem.

This request reveals lingering ambition.

• Solomon sees Adonijah’s request for what it really is, treason. 

²³ Then King Solomon made a vow before the Lord: “May God strike me and even kill me if Adonijah has not sealed his fate with this request. 

Adonijah has violated his terms of submission to David.

 1 Kings 1:52 NLT
⁵² Solomon replied, “If he (Adonijah) proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die.” 

²⁴ The Lord has confirmed me and placed me on the throne of my father, David; he has established my dynasty as he promised.

1 Chronicles 22:9-10 NLT (Repeated)
⁹ But you (David) will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. ¹⁰ He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

Solomon acknowledges:

God established him

God fulfilled His promise to David

His kingship is divinely ordained

This is crucial. Solomon is not acting out of personal insecurity but in defense of God’s established order.

1 Kings 11:42 NLT
⁴² Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.

1 Kings 14:21 NLT
²¹ Meanwhile, Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen from among all the tribes of Israel as the place to honor his name. Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, an Ammonite woman. 

So as surely as the Lord lives, Adonijah will die this very day!” ²⁵ So King Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him, and Adonijah was put to death. 

2 Samuel 20:23 NLT
²³ Now Joab was the commander of the army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s (David’s) bodyguard.

2 Samuel 23:20 NLT
²⁰ There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. 

• Adonijah is executed 

• God establishes His chosen king, and rebellion against His authority ultimately leads to judgment. 

 Solomon fulfilled one of David’s requests.

1 Kings 2:9 NLT
⁹ But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”

0

David’s Final Instructions to Solomon

Introduction:

David gives his final charge to Solomon.

This is the “passing of the torch” from King David to his son, Solomon.

Advice for spiritual living. (Verses 2-4)

Instructions about some people David had dealt with. (Verses 5-9)

1 Kings 2:1-11 NLT
David’s Final Instructions to Solomon
^2:1 As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:
² “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. ³ Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. ⁴ If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’
⁵ “And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. ⁶ Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.
⁷ “Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table, for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
⁸ “And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. ⁹ But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”
¹⁰ Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. ¹¹ David had reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Kings 2:1-11 NLT

David’s Final Instructions to Solomon 

^2:1 As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:
² “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. 

Hebrews 9:27 NLT
²⁷ And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment … 

Ecclesiastes 3:2 NLT
² A time to be born and a time to die. 

Genesis 3:19 NLT
¹⁹ By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.” 

Psalm 89:48 NLT
⁴⁸ No one can live forever; all will die.
No one can escape the power of the grave. 

• David faces the reality of death. 

David faces death with clarity, dignity, and intentionality.

David’s focus is not on himself, but on preparing Solomon to rule well. 

Take courage and be a man.  

Words Moses spoke to Joshua when he became the leader of Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:6-7 NLT
⁶ So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
⁷ Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land.

Words God spoke to Joshua when he became the leader of Israel.

Joshua 1:6-9 NLT
⁶ “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. ⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. ⁸ Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. ⁹ This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT
¹³ Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

A psalm of David

Psalm 27:13-14 NLT
¹³ Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. 

Psalm 31:23-24 NLT
²³ Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
²⁴ So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord! 

³ Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. 

Solomon’s call was to be a strong and courageous spiritual leader.

David had already fought the major wars and subdued Israel’s enemies.

1 Kings 4:25 NLT
²⁵ During the lifetime of Solomon, all of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety. …

Being strong includes:

Obeying God’s Word

Walking in His ways

Keeping His statutes and commandments

• David challenges Solomon to be spiritually strong and courageous.

Be spiritually strong and courageous.

• David connects Solomon’s success to his obedience to God’s covenant.

A bit of trivia.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

Instructions for Israel’s future kings.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20 NLT
¹⁸ “When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction (the Mosaic Law) on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. ¹⁹ He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. ²⁰ This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.

Obedience brings blessing; disobedience brings discipline. 

⁴ If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’

This conditional covenant promised:

Stability

Success

God’s favor

Enduring kingdom

The Lord’s covenant with David.

2 Samuel 7:11-16 NLT
¹¹ … “‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! ¹² For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. ¹⁵ But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”

“If you do this” does not appear in 2 Samuel 7:11-16 (no conditions attached to the promise in 2 Samuel.)

• The covenant promise to David was unconditional, however blessings to individuals was conditional.

Solomon and his descendants fell short of their covenant obligations.

• God’s promise lives on through Solomon—and ultimately through Christ.
  

⁵ “And there is something else.

• Solomon had some “political” housekeeping issues to deal with in order to secure the throne

These actions were considered essential for stabilizing the new regime and ensuring that past injustices were settled.

You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. 

• Joab had murdered two innocent commanders, Abner and Amasa.

Abner

Reference: 2 Samuel 3:26–30

Abner was the commander of Saul’s army.

Joab killed him at Hebron by stabbing him in the stomach.

Joab claimed revenge because Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel in battle (2 Samuel 2:23).

However, Abner had come in peace, so this act was considered murder, not justified warfare.

Amasa

Reference: 2 Samuel 20:8–10

Amasa had been appointed by David to replace Joab as commander.

Joab greeted him as a friend, took his beard as if to kiss him, and stabbed him in the stomach.

This was a deliberate act of treachery.

Joab had murdered Abner and Amasa during a time of peace.
These deaths were unlawful assassinations.

Joab murdered Abner and Amasa to eliminate threats to his position.

These murders served Joab’s own self interest.

Joab also killed Absalom.

Reference: 2 Samuel 18:14–15

Absalom was King David’s son who led a rebellion against him.

During battle, Absalom was caught hanging in a tree by his hair.

David had specifically commanded his commanders to spare Absalom (2 Samuel 18:5).

Joab ignored David’s order and thrust three spears into Absalom’s heart.

This was both disobedience to David and the killing of the king’s son.

• Joab deserved to die.

Joab deserved to die, however David let him live. Why??? 

⁶ Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.

“Don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace”.

Don’t allow him to die a peaceful death. (CEB)

Joab had become very powerful,

2 Samuel 20:23 NLT
²³ Now Joab was the commander of the army of Israel. 

Joab’s backing of Adonijah posed a serious threat to Solomon.

Unchecked injustice corrupts a kingdom.

• Solomon was instructed to prevent Joab from growing old and going to his grave in peace. 

⁷ “Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table,

• Be kind to the sons of Barzillai.

Give them a position of honor.

for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

Barzillai had shown kindness to David when he fled from Absalom.

Barzillai had supported David …

2 Samuel 19:32 NLT
³² He (Barzillai) was very old—eighty years of age—and very wealthy. He was the one who had provided food for the king during his stay in Mahanaim.

• Barzillai’s kindness was not forgotten. David honored his loyalty.

David wanted to provide for Barzillai and his family. 

⁸ “And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim.

• Remember Shimei.

Mahanaim was David’s refuge during Absalom’s rebellion.

2 Samuel 16:5-8 NLT
Shimei Curses David
⁵ As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. ⁶ He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. ⁷ “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. ⁸ “The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!”

2 Samuel 16:11 NLT
¹¹ Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it.

• Shimei had cursed David during Absalom’s rebellion.

When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. ⁹ But that oath does not make him innocent.

Exodus 22:28 NLT
²⁸ “You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.

 You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”

• Solomon was instructed to arrange a bloody death for Shimei.

¹⁰ Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. ¹¹ David had reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.

David died in 970 B.C.

David, the greatest king of Israel, dies like all men.

Yet God’s kingdom continues.

• The kingdom is now fully transferred to Solomon under God’s covenant authority.

0