Adonijah Bows before Solomon
Introduction:
We are currently at a point in Israel’s history where two groups of people are each attempting to determine Israel’s next king.
The city is buzzing, ram’s horns are blowing, and the political showdown is coming to a climax.
Reflect on the following verses:
Daniel 2:20-21 NLT
20 He (Daniel) said,
“Praise the name of God forever and ever,
for he has all wisdom and power.
21 He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
Romans 13:1 NLT
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.
1 Kings 1:41-53 NLT
Adonijah Bows before Solomon
41 Adonijah and his guests heard the celebrating and shouting just as they were finishing their banquet. When Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn, he asked, “What’s going on? Why is the city in such an uproar?”
42 And while he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” Adonijah said to him, “for you are a good man. You must have good news.”
43 “Not at all!” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has just declared Solomon king! 44 The king sent him down to Gihon Spring with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, protected by the king’s bodyguard. They had him ride on the king’s own mule, 45 and Zadok and Nathan have anointed him at Gihon Spring as the new king. They have just returned, and the whole city is celebrating and rejoicing. That’s what all the noise is about. 46 What’s more, Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne as king. 47 And all the royal officials have gone to King David and congratulated him, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s fame even greater than your own, and may Solomon’s reign be even greater than yours!’ Then the king bowed his head in worship as he lay in his bed, 48 and he said, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who today has chosen a successor to sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it.’”
49 Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered. 50 Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. 51 Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, “Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!”
52 Solomon replied, “If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die.” 53 So King Solomon summoned Adonijah, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed respectfully before King Solomon, who dismissed him, saying, “Go on home.”
Examine the Scriptures
1 Kings 1:41-53 NLT
Adonijah Bows before Solomon
41 Adonijah and his guests
According to 1 Kings 1:7–9, those with Adonijah there included:
Joab son of Zeruiah – David’s long-time military commander.
Abiathar the priest – one of David’s priests, formerly loyal but now siding with Adonijah.
Adonijah’s brothers, the king’s sons (except Solomon).
All the royal officials of Judah whom he invited to the feast.
heard the celebrating and shouting just as they were finishing their banquet.
- The celebration of Solomon’s anointing was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound. (v. 40)
Some commentators suggest a distance of ½ mile or less between Gihon spring and En Rogel spring.
- Those attending Adonijah’s banquet at En-rogel could not see the celebration, but it was so noisy that they could hear it.
Apparently this location was not be visible to Adonijah’s supporters at En-rogel due to the terrain.
When Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn, he asked, “What’s going on? Why is the city in such an uproar?”
- The blowing of the ram’s horn, a signal that an official function was taking place, got Joab’s attention.
It’s fitting that Joab, the seasoned general, is the first to recognize the sound of the trumpet.
In Old Testament history, ram’s horns were blown to:
Announce God’s presence
Call people to repentance
Proclaim kingship
Signal war or victory
Mark holy days
42 And while he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived.
- Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, arrived with news for Adonijah.
Previous to this time Jonathan was serving King David.
2 Samuel 15:36 NLT
36 and they will send their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan to tell me what is going on.”
2 Samuel 17:17 NLT
17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been staying at En-rogel so as not to be seen entering and leaving the city. Arrangements had been made for a servant girl to bring them the message they were to take to King David.
“Come in,” Adonijah said to him, “for you are a good man. You must have good news.”
Apparently Adonijah was unaware of the event taking place at Gihon Spring.
43 “Not at all!” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has just declared Solomon king! 44 The king sent him down to Gihon Spring with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, protected by the king’s bodyguard. They had him ride on the king’s own mule, 45 and Zadok and Nathan have anointed him at Gihon Spring as the new king. They have just returned, and the whole city is celebrating and rejoicing. That’s what all the noise is about. 46 What’s more, Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne as king.
- Jonathan shares details of how Solomon ended up seated on the royal throne and, crucially, David’s blessing of the succession.
- The news that Jonathan was delivering was disastrous news for Adonijah.
47 And all the royal officials have gone to King David and congratulated him, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s fame even greater than your own, and may Solomon’s reign be 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. (verse 37 – previous lesson)
- Royal officials now bless David, praising God for establishing Solomon’s reign.
God’s will for Israel is now being publicly affirmed.
Notice the constant shift in loyalties.
Then the king bowed his head in worship as he lay in his bed, 48 and he said, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who today has chosen a successor to sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it.’”
David sees the fulfillment of a previous promise.
2 Samuel 7:12-16 NLT
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. …. 16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”
- David worships God from his bed, acknowledging God’s faithfulness.
David explicitly credits God, not human strategy, for Solomon’s rise.
49 Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered.
- Adonijah and his followers panicked and fled, aborting the attempted coup.
No one wanted to be identified with Adonijah’s abortive coup now that it appeared certain to fail.
Knowing that siding with Adonijah could mean being considered rebels.
More shifts in loyalty.
50 Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar.
Adonijah runs to the horns of the altar, seeking asylum.
- Adonijah believes that the altar, as a holy place, would protect him from Solomon’s revenge.
By grasping the horns, Adonijah sought to place himself under the protection of God.
Many ancient Near Eastern cultures allowed people to seek asylum at shrines.
Apparently this was a common practice in Israel.
However, Adonijah misinterprets:
Exodus 21:13-14 NLT
12 “Anyone who assaults and kills another person must be put to death. 13 But if it was simply an accident permitted by God, I will appoint a place of refuge where the slayer can run for safety. 14 However, if someone deliberately kills another person, then the slayer must be dragged even from my altar and be put to death.
The Bible does not present the temple as a general place of refuge for criminals. However, it does record instances where people sought protection by going to the altar in the sanctuary. The protection was limited and conditional.
- Protection at the altar was only for unintentional homicide, so Adonijah’s treason could only be forgiven by the king.
How does the following passage apply?
Psalm 91:2 NLT
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
51 Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, “Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!”
Solomon could have had Adonijah removed from the tabernacle and executed.
Adonijah could have been charged with:
Treason.
Conspiracy against the established king.
52 Solomon replied, “If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die.”
Solomon simply asked for a promise from his half-brother that he would not rebel again, but would show himself to be a loyal subject.
- Solomon spares Adonijah conditionally: “If he proves himself to be loyal …”
Solomon begins his reign with wisdom and restraint, not bloodshed.
Solomon shows:
Mercy
Authority, but not cruelty
53 So King Solomon summoned Adonijah, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed respectfully before King Solomon, who dismissed him, saying, “Go on home.”
Solomon treated Adonijah graciously on the condition that he remain loyal.
- Adonijah’s life was spared at this point in time. Circumstances will change in the near future.
This passage of scripture shows that God’s chosen king does not need to grasp power—God places it in his hands.
- Human ambition crumbles quickly when confronted with divine purpose.
