David Makes Solomon King
Introduction:
Adonijah, one of David’s sons, has declared himself king at En Rogel without David’s approval. Nathan and Bathsheba alert David about this event, and these verses record David’s decisive public response.
1 Kings 1:28-40 NLT
David Makes Solomon King<BF|R>28 King David responded, “Call Bathsheba!” So she came back in and stood before the king. 29 And the king repeated his vow: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has rescued me from every danger, 30 your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the Lord, the God of Israel.”
31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground before the king and exclaimed, “May my lord King David live forever!”
32 Then King David ordered, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came into the king’s presence, 33 the king said to them, “Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule. 34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then escort him back here, and he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 “Amen!” Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied. “May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, decree that it happen. 37 And may the Lord be with Solomon as he has been with you, my lord the king, and may he make Solomon’s reign even greater than yours!”
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king’s bodyguard took Solomon down to Gihon Spring, with Solomon riding on King David’s own mule. 39 There Zadok the priest took the flask of olive oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon with the oil. Then they sounded the ram’s horn and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound.
Examine the Scriptures
1 Kings 1:28-40 NLT
David Makes Solomon King
28 King David responded, “Call Bathsheba!” So she came back in and stood before the king.
In the culture of that time it would have been customary for Bathsheba to leave the room when Nathan entered.
29 And the king repeated his vow: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has rescued me from every danger, 30 your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the Lord, the God of Israel.”
King David repeats his vow to Bathsheba.
Swearing “As surely as the LORD lives” meant that David’s intended action was certain to take place.
- David reassured Bathsheba that Solomon would be the next king by repeating his earlier vow.
David planned to act “this very day”.
Remember: David knew that it was the Lord’s will for Solomon to be the next king of Israel.
31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground before the king and exclaimed, “May my lord King David live forever!”
This is the conventional language of the day for addressing a king.
Bathsheba is reaffirming her loyalty to David.
The words Bathsheba spoke implied that she believed that the king had acted righteously (carrying out God’s plans) and was worthy of God’s blessing.
- The words Bathsheba spoke to David implied that she believed that the king had acted righteously and was worthy of God’s blessing.
32 Then King David ordered, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.”
A priest – represents religious authority.
A prophet – represents divine will.
The captain of the king’s bodyguard – represents executive power.
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. (2 Samuel 20:23)
- David summoned three men who represent the pillars of a stable kingdom.
These three men would be acting as representatives of the king.
These men would have been respected by the general population.
When they came into the king’s presence,
33 the king said to them, “Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring.
The servants of your lord ESV
Your lord’s servants NIV
- The king told Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah to take Solomon to Gihon Spring.
David would not be able to make this trip.
More detail about “my officials” is given in verse 38.
Likely this referred to David’s special troops.
The Kerethites and Pelethites under the leadership of Benaiah appear to be foreign mercenaries or special troops who were loyal to David. (2 Samuel 23:22-23)
Gihon Spring was Jerusalem’s major water sources.
In this common gathering place, Solomon’s anointing would be well known.
Apparently this location was not be visible to Adonijah’s supporters at En-rogel due to the terrain.
- The En Rogel spring was where Adonijah was feasting with his guests.
In verse 41 (our next lesson) we read that “Adonijah and his guests heard the celebrating and shouting” from Solomon’s anointing ceremony.
Solomon is to ride on my own mule.
Solomon riding on David’s mule marks him as David’s favored son.
Riding the king’s mule was a sign of prestige.
The king’s mule was a symbol of royal authority.
Normally no one else was allowed to ride the king’s mule.
Allowing Solomon to ride David’s mule publicly meant:
Solomon had David’s blessing.
“This is my chosen successor.”
- Solomon riding on the king’s mule implied his kingship.
34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel.
Saul and David had been anointed by Samuel, the Lord’s priest and prophet.
There does not appear to be a prophet with Adonijah as he is attempting to be the king over Israel and Judah.
- The presence of the prophet Nathan gave Solomon’s coronation evidence of the Lord’s blessing.
**Throughout the book of Kings, God identified His chosen kings through prophets.
Blow the ram’s horn and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
- The blowing of trumpets signaled a public assembly where the people corporately recognized Solomon’s new status as successor to David.
An expression of recognition and acclamation of a new king.
A similar acclamation had been made for Adonijah.
35 Then escort him back here, and he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”
- David appointed Solomon to be ruler over Israel and Judah.
As king, David had the authority to appoint the next king.
Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah were acting on David’s behalf.
36 “Amen!” Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied. “May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, decree that it happen.
- Benaiah was responsible to escort Solomon back to Jerusalem.
Benaiah wanted the appointment of Solomon to be God’s will.
37 And may the Lord be with Solomon as he has been with you, my lord the king, and may he make Solomon’s reign even greater than yours!”
This is an expression of total loyalty to David and Solomon, it is in no way a negative statement of David’s reign.
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king’s bodyguard took Solomon down to Gihon Spring, with Solomon riding on King David’s own mule.
Note the differences in the following translations:
1 Kings 1:38 ESV
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon.
1 Kings 1:38 NIV
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.
Most scholars believe they were non-Israelite professional soldiers.
An elite military unit that functioned much like a royal guard or special forces.
We discussed this briefly in 2 Samuel 20:23 (Lesson 281)
David’s special troops.
The Kerethites and Pelethites appear to be foreign mercenaries or special troops who were loyal to David.
39 There Zadok the priest took the flask of olive oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon with the oil.
Most scholars understand the “sacred tent” in 1 Kings 1:39 to refer to David’s tent in Jerusalem, where the ark was located, not the Gibeon tabernacle (tabernacle of Moses).
Anointing with oil signifies divine appointment and empowerment.
- Anointing an individual signifies that the person being anointed was chosen, empowered, and set apart for God’s service.
This act gave the ceremony divine sanction.
Solomon is not self-appointed; he is set apart by God.
Then they sounded the ram’s horn and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”
- The blowing of the trumpet and the people’s shout, “Long live King Solomon!” made Solomon’s coronation public, audible, and unmistakable.
At the same time, Adonijah’s feast was private and exclusive.
40 And all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound.
Solomon has the support of the people.
Solomon has God’s blessing.
- The celebration of Solomon’s anointing was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound.
Those attending Adonijah’s banquet at En-rogel could not see the celebration, but it was so noisy that they could hear it.
