David in His Old Age
Introduction:
1& 2 Kings is a continuation of 1 & 2 Samuel. 1 Kings begins where 2 Samuel ends.
In the original Hebrew Bible, 1 & 2 Kings were originally one single book, usually called Kings.
It may have been divided simply because two scrolls were easier to manage than one large scroll.
Together, Samuel and Kings relate the whole story of the monarchy, from its rise under the ministry of Samuel to its fall at the hands of the Babylonians. (Roughly 1100-560 BC, including 37 years in exile, 2 Kings 25:27) *
Author unknown
Events recorded in 1 Kings take place between 973 BC and 853 BC.
Events recorded in 2 Kings take place between 853 and 586 (* or 561) B.C. (ESV)
971-561 B.C. (MacArthur)
Beginning with:
King David died in 970 B.C.
Ending with:
The eventual exile:
Israel to Assyria (2 Kings 17)
Judah to Babylon (2 Kings 25)
Jerusalem fell to Babylon in 586 B.C.
Chronicles retells this same period with some differences.
1 & 2 Kings was written after the fall of Jerusalem in 586, between 561-538 B.C. (MacArhur)
The sad reality that this history revealed was that all the kings of Israel and the majority of the kings of Judah “did evil in the sight of the Lord”.
1 Kings 1:1-10 NLT
David in His Old Age
1:1 King David was now very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm. 2 So his advisers told him, “Let us find a young virgin to wait on you and look after you, my lord. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm.”
3 So they searched throughout the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king. 4 The girl was very beautiful, and she looked after the king and took care of him. But the king had no sexual relations with her.
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. 6 Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.
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.
9 Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers—the other sons of King David—and all the royal officials of Judah. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the king’s bodyguard or his brother Solomon.
Examine the Scriptures
1 Kings 1:1-10 NLT
David in His Old Age
1:1 King David was now very old,
2 Samuel 5:4-5 NLT
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all. 5 He had reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and from Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
1 Kings 2:11 NLT
11 David had reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
David would now be 70 years of age.
In the ancient Near East, a king’s physical vitality was often seen as a reflection of his ability to lead and protect the nation.
- King David is old and near death, and the question of succession—who will be king next—has not yet been publicly settled.
We know from scripture that God had already chosen Solomon (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 22:9–10), but we also know that this appointment was not universally known or accepted.
- David knew Solomon had been chosen by God to be the next king, but David had delayed making this public information.
That delay created confusion, ambition, and division.
and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm. 2 So his advisers told him, “Let us find a young virgin to wait on you and look after you, my lord. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm.”
This was in harmony with the medical customs of that time. (MacArthur)
- It was customary in ancient times to warm an elderly person not only by covering him or her with blankets, but also by putting a healthy person in bed with him or her. The body heat of the well person would keep the older person warmer.
David’s physical weakness stands in sharp contrast to his earlier strength as a warrior-king.
3 So they searched throughout the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king.
Shunem was located near the plain of Jezreel in the tribal territory of Issachar.
4 The girl was very beautiful, and she looked after the king and took care of him.
- Abishag was very beautiful, and she looked after the king and took care of him.
But the king had no sexual relations with her.
The fact that David did not have sexual relations with this “very beautiful” young woman is significant because it indicates that his physical powers were now weak.
Abishag’s role was medical and royal, not marital.
- Although Abishag remained a virgin she apparently became a part of David’s harem.
After David’s death, Adonijah asks Bathsheba to request that Solomon give him Abishag as a wife (1 Kings 2:13–17).
In the ancient Near East, taking a former king’s concubine or royal woman was a symbolic claim to the throne.
Remember when Absalom, David’s son, slept with David’s concubines.
More about this later.
Adonijah Claims the Throne
5 About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith,
Adonijah was David’s fourth son. He was approximately 35 years of age.
We do not know much about David’s wife Haggith, other than the fact she was Adonijah’s mother and that she would have been married to David during David’s Hebron reign.
Adonijah’s older brothers, Ammon, Daniel, and Absalom are all apparently dead.
Absalom instructed his servants to kill Amnon when he was drunk (2 Samuel 13:28–29).
David’s son Daniel—also called Chileab—has no recorded account of his death. Daniel (Chileab) was David’s second son, born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal.
(2 Samuel 3:3; 1 Chronicles 3:1). After these listings, Daniel is never mentioned again in the biblical narrative, apparently dying in his youth.
David’s son Absalom died after being killed by Joab, the commander of David’s army, during Absalom’s rebellion.
- Adonijah appears to be David’s oldest surviving son at the time of 1 Kings 1.
Adonijah began boasting, “I will make myself king.”
Adonijah assumed he would succeed his father.
Adonijah had:
The right age
The royal look
The military backing
But he was not God’s choice.
- Adonijah declared himself king.
David had the right, with God’s guidance, to appoint his own successor.
Adonijah must have known that David favored Solomon (see verse 10).
So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him.
Remember:
2 Samuel 15:1 NLT
Absalom’s Rebellion
15:1 After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him.
This is royal imagery—an attempt to look legitimate.
Distinct signs of kingship that appealed to the masses.
6 Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?”
- Apparently Adonijah was used to getting his own way, for David had never held him accountable for anything.
- David’s failure to discipline his sons contributed directly to rebellion by his sons:
Absalom rebelled.
Adonijah now repeats the pattern.
Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.
David treated Adonijah much like he had treated Absalom.
- Attractive physical appearance was an important asset for someone who wanted to become king.
1 Samuel 9:2 NLT
2 His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.
1 Samuel 16:12 NLT
12 So Jesse sent for him. (David) He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.
And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”
2 Samuel 14:25 NLT
25 Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot.
7 Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king.
Joab: David’s nephew and the commander of Israel’s army.
Joab had repeatedly disobeyed David.
Abiathar: One of two high priests serving during David’s reign.
God’s voice is missing from Adonijah’s movement
- Joab and Abiathar were among Adonijah’s supporters.
8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah.
Zadok: The other high priest serving during David’s reign.
Benaiah (a prominent military commander) and the mighty men: Military
David’s mighty men had followed him through years of danger and hardship.
Nathan: A prophet
Prophet and advisor to King David.
Spokesperson for God’s will, ensuring that God’s plan for the monarchy was followed.
Nathan the prophet had previously spoken God’s word to David (2 Samuel 7).
Three pillars of Israel’s leadership:
- Zadok, Benaiah, and Nathan were among those who supported David’s position.
9 Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers—the other sons of King David—and all the royal officials of Judah.
This event appeared to be more of a social gathering than a religious ceremony.
- Adonijah uses a religious ceremony to legitimize rebellion.
10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the king’s bodyguard or his brother Solomon.
Nathan, Benaiah, the king’s bodyguard, and Solomon were loyal to David and would have honored David’s wishes.
- Adonijah did not invite men to this “religious” ceremony who would not be supportive of his desire to become king.
