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.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Nathan’s Warning to Bathsheba

Introduction:

In our previous lesson, Adonijah began boasting, “I will make myself king.”

The prophet Nathan knows that this action must be addressed.

1 Kings 1:11-27 NLT
Nathan’s Warning to Bathsheba
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? ¹² If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my advice. ¹³ Go at once to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, didn’t you make a vow and say to me, “Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ ¹⁴ And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said.”

Bathsheba Appeals to David
¹⁵ So Bathsheba went into the king’s bedroom. (He was very old now, and Abishag was taking care of him.) ¹⁶ Bathsheba bowed down before the king.
“What can I do for you?” he asked her.
¹⁷ She replied, “My lord, you made a vow before the Lord your God when you said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne.’ ¹⁸ But instead, Adonijah has made himself king, and my lord the king does not even know about it. ¹⁹ He has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon. ²⁰ And now, my lord the king, all Israel is waiting for you to announce who will become king after you. ²¹ If you do not act, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals as soon as my lord the king has died.”

Nathan Confirms the Crisis
²² While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. ²³ The king’s officials told him, “Nathan the prophet is here to see you.”
Nathan went in and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. ²⁴ Nathan asked, “My lord the king, have you decided that Adonijah will be the next king and that he will sit on your throne? ²⁵ Today he has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. They are feasting and drinking with him and shouting, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ ²⁶ But he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or your servant Solomon. ²⁷ Has my lord the king really done this without letting any of his officials know who should be the next king?”

Examine the Scriptures

1 Kings 1:11-27 NLT

Nathan’s Warning to Bathsheba

¹¹ Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother,

Nathan is the one to initiate action.

• Nathan approaches Bathsheba.

Nathan was a prophet of the LORD and served as a close adviser to King David.

Bathsheba was one of David’s wives and was the mother of Solomon.

Remember how this relationship got off to a bad start. (2 Samuel 11-12)

• The queen mother held an important and influential position in the royal court.

An example of Bathsheba’s influence: 

1 Kings 2:19 NLT
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. 

and (Nathan speaking to Bathsheba) 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? 

Refer to verse 5. (Previous lesson)

⁵ About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” 

Refer to verse 25. (Today’s lesson)

²⁵ Today he (Adonijah) has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. They are feasting and drinking with him and shouting, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 

• Nathan tells Bathsheba that Adonijah has made himself king.

• Nathan would have known that it was the Lord’s will for Solomon to be the king of Israel.

A previous conversation Nathan had with David years before:

2 Samuel 7:11-17 NLT
¹¹…. “‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you (David) —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.’”
¹⁷ So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the Lord had said in this vision.

The Lord speaking to David:

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.’

Nathan knew that God loved Solomon.

2 Samuel 12:24-25 NLT
²⁴ Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child ²⁵ and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of the Lord”), as the Lord had commanded. 

¹² If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my advice. 

Nathan warns Bathsheba that both she and Solomon ae in danger.

• If Solomon does not become the next king, his life as well as the life of Bathsheba would be at risk. (see verse 21)

• In the ancient near East, rival heirs were commonly executed once a new king took power. 

¹³ Go (Bathsheba) at once to King David and say to him,

Tell David what is happening.

• Nathan advises Bathsheba to tell King David what is happening. 

‘My lord the king, didn’t you make a vow and say to me, “Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne”?

Refer to verse 17

¹⁷ She replied, “My lord, you made a vow before the Lord your God when you said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne.’ 

Refer also to verse 29-30

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.” 

• This vow to Bathsheba is not mentioned anywhere else in scripture.

This vow to Bathsheba is not mentioned anywhere else in scripture, but we do know that this was God’s will. 

Why then has Adonijah become king?’ ¹⁴ And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said.”

In this appeal to King David:

Bathsheba will speak first.  To remind David of his oath.

Nathan will confirm her words.

A Biblical principle to consider:

Deuteronomy 19:15 NLT
¹⁵ “You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

2 Corinthians 13:1 NLT
… “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses).

• In an appeal to King David, Bathsheba will speak first and then Nathan will confirm her words.

• Bathsheba Appeals to David

¹⁵ So Bathsheba went into the king’s bedroom. (He was very old now, and Abishag was taking care of him.)  

Bathsheba follows Nathan’s advice and goes to the king.

David’s silence can enable rebellion. 

¹⁶ Bathsheba bowed down before the king.

David is old and weak.

Bathsheba treated King David with the respect he deserved,

“What can I do for you?” he asked her.

David was receptive to Bathsheba’s visit. 

¹⁷ She replied, “My lord, you made a vow before the Lord your God when you said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne.’ 

Bathsheba reminds David of his solemn oath that Solomon would reign.

An oath taken in the Lord’s name was inviolable. 

¹⁸ But instead, Adonijah has made himself king, and my lord the king does not even know about it. ¹⁹ He has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon. 

• Bathsheba stated the facts about Adonijah’s uprising without exaggeration or embellishment.

²⁰ And now, my lord the king, all Israel is waiting for you to announce who will become king after you. 

• Bathsheba appealed to David to announce publically who his successor would be. 

²¹ If you do not act, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals as soon as my lord the king has died.”

If Solomon does not become the next king, his life as well as the life of Bathsheba would be at risk.

Solomon will be declared a traitor.

Bathsheba will likely be executed.

God’s covenant promise through Solomon would appear to fail.

Nathan Confirms the Crisis

²² While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 

• Nathan joins with Bathsheba as planned, to confirm her report.

¹⁴ And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said.”

²³ The king’s officials told him, “Nathan the prophet is here to see you.” 

Nathan went in and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. ²⁴ Nathan asked, “My lord the king, have you decided that Adonijah will be the next king and that he will sit on your throne? 

Had David, in fact, encouraged Adonijah to claim the throne, or had he been betrayed by Adonijah?

Nathan speaks with urgency and respect, not accusation.

Nathan forces David to recognize that silence has allowed rebellion. 

²⁵ Today he has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. They are feasting and drinking with him and shouting, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 

Nathan confirms Bathsheba’s report with a few more details, adding “They are feasting and drinking with him and shouting, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’”

Nathan’s comments, along with Bathsheba’s comments would have encouraged David to act immediately.

This is the royal acclamation normally spoken for God’s chosen king.

Adonijah:

has offered sacrifices,

gathered military and priestly support,

proclaimed himself king — 

²⁶ But he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or your servant Solomon.  

²⁷ Has my lord the king really done this without letting any of his officials know who should be the next king?”

Nathan diplomatically asked David if he had planned the present circumstances.

Nathan did not accuse David of anything.

Nathan did not put David on the defensive.

This was a nice way to treat an old dying man.

David must now:

either confirm Adonijah, or

act decisively for Solomon.

Neutrality is no longer possible.

• David must now take action.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Takes a Census

This lesson starts out at 2 Samuel 24:1 saying:

^24:1 Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census.

Note: Taking a census for the right reasons is not sinful.

Numbers 1:1-3 NLT
^1:1 A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses in the Tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai. On the first day of the second month of that year he said, ² “From the whole community of Israel, record the names of all the warriors by their clans and families. List all the men ³ twenty years old or older who are able to go to war. You and Aaron must register the troops,

Numbers 26:1-4 NLT
The Second Registration of Israel’s Troops
^26:1 After the plague had ended, the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, ² “From the whole community of Israel, record the names of all the warriors by their families. List all the men twenty years old or older who are able to go to war.”
³ So there on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued these instructions to the leaders of Israel: ⁴ “List all the men of Israel twenty years old and older, just as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Clearly, there is more to this story than just taking a census.

2 Samuel 24 NLT
David Takes a Census
^24:1 Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. “Go and count the people of Israel and Judah,” the Lord told him.
² So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the tribes of Israel—from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south—so I may know how many people there are.”
³ But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God let you live to see a hundred times as many people as there are now! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this?”
⁴ But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab and the commanders of the army went out to count the people of Israel. ⁵ First they crossed the Jordan and camped at Aroer, south of the town in the valley, in the direction of Gad. Then they went on to Jazer, ⁶ then to Gilead in the land of Tahtim-hodshi and to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon. ⁷ Then they came to the fortress of Tyre, and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went south to Judah as far as Beersheba.
⁸ Having gone through the entire land for nine months and twenty days, they returned to Jerusalem. ⁹ Joab reported the number of people to the king. There were 800,000 capable warriors in Israel who could handle a sword, and 500,000 in Judah.

Judgment for David’s Sin

¹⁰ But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing.”
¹¹ The next morning the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: ¹² “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’”
¹³ So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.”
¹⁴ “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”
¹⁵ So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. ¹⁶ But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
¹⁷ When David saw the angel, he said to the Lord, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.”

David Builds an Altar

¹⁸ That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
¹⁹ So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him. ²⁰ When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. ²¹ “Why have you come, my lord the king?” Araunah asked.
David replied, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague.”
²² “Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. ²³ I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the Lord your God accept your sacrifice.”
²⁴ But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.
²⁵ David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 24 NLT
David Takes a Census

The parallel version to this story is found in 1 Chronicles 21:1-16. 

^24:1 Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel,

• Once again God’s anger burned against Israel.

Note: This says the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, not against David.

This likely took place late in David’s reign.

The previous occasion may have been the famine of 21:1

2 Samuel 21:1 NLT
^21:1 There was a famine during David’s reign that lasted for three years, so David asked the Lord about it. And the Lord said, “The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites.”

Other causes for the Lord’s anger.

Deuteronomy 4:25 NLT
²⁵ “In the future, when you have children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time, do not corrupt yourselves by making idols of any kind. This is evil in the sight of the Lord your God and will arouse his anger.

Deuteronomy 6:14-15 NLT
¹⁴ “You must not worship any of the gods of neighboring nations, ¹⁵ for the Lord your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 31:16-18 NLT
¹⁶ The Lord said to Moses, “You are about to die and join your ancestors. After you are gone, these people will begin to worship foreign gods, the gods of the land where they are going. They will abandon me and break my covenant that I have made with them. ¹⁷ Then my anger will blaze forth against them. I will abandon them, hiding my face from them, and they will be devoured. Terrible trouble will come down on them, and on that day they will say, ‘These disasters have come down on us because God is no longer among us!’ ¹⁸ At that time I will hide my face from them on account of all the evil they commit by worshiping other gods.

Deuteronomy 29:22-28 NLT
²² “Then the generations to come, both your own descendants and the foreigners who come from distant lands, will see the devastation of the land and the diseases the Lord inflicts on it. ²³ They will exclaim, ‘The whole land is devastated by sulfur and salt. It is a wasteland with nothing planted and nothing growing, not even a blade of grass. It is like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord destroyed in his intense anger.’
²⁴ “And all the surrounding nations will ask, ‘Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why was he so angry?’
²⁵ “And the answer will be, ‘This happened because the people of the land abandoned the covenant that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. ²⁶ Instead, they turned away to serve and worship gods they had not known before, gods that were not from the Lord. ²⁷ That is why the Lord’s anger has burned against this land, bringing down on it every curse recorded in this book. ²⁸ In great anger and fury the Lord uprooted his people from their land and banished them to another land, where they still live today!’

• Scripture does not say why God was angry with Israel at this point in time. 

and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. “Go and count the people of Israel and Judah,” the Lord told him.

1 Chronicles 21:1-2 NLT
David Takes a Census
^21:1 Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. ² So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel—from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north—and bring me a report so I may know how many there are.”

God allowed David to be tested.

• This may have been a situation where the Lord had allowed Satan to prompt David to an improper course of action in order that Israel might be punished.

The Lord Himself did not incite David to do evil.

James 1:13 NLT
¹³ And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 

² So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the tribes of Israel—from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south—so I may know how many people there are.”

• In the ancient world, a census was often a precursor to taxation or military conscription.

The problem may have been David’s pride.

The problem may have been that David was trusting in the number of men available to serve in his army (see verse 9), rather than trusting in the Lord.

This census did not have the Lord’s sanction.

David appeared to have forgotten his priorities.

Psalm 20:7 NLT
⁷ Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. 

³ But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God let you live to see a hundred times as many people as there are now! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this?” 

• Joab knew David’s actions were wrong. 

1 Chronicles 21:3 NLT
David Takes a Census
³ But Joab replied, “May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundred times over! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this? Are they not all your servants? Why must you cause Israel to sin?” 

⁴ But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab and the commanders of the army went out to count the people of Israel. ⁵ First they crossed the Jordan and camped at Aroer, south of the town in the valley, in the direction of Gad. Then they went on to Jazer, ⁶ then to Gilead in the land of Tahtim-hodshi and to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon. ⁷ Then they came to the fortress of Tyre, and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went south to Judah as far as Beersheba.

• David insisted that a census be taken. 

⁸ Having gone through the entire land for nine months and twenty days, they returned to Jerusalem. ⁹ Joab reported the number of people to the king. There were 800,000 capable warriors in Israel who could handle a sword, and 500,000 in Judah.

• The report from the census seems to indicate that the census was taken for military purposes.

Judgment for David’s Sin 

¹⁰ But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing.”

• David knew that he had sinned greatly and had done a foolish thing.

David’s conscience was sensitive to sin.

David confessed his sin.

¹¹ The next morning the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: ¹² “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’”
¹³ So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land?

• David was given a choice of three possible punishments for his sin.

Through the prophet Gad, David is offered three choices:

Three years of famine in Israel.

Three months fleeing from Israel’s enemies.

Three days of plague throughout the land.

Famine, sword, or plague.

• Israel, not David, was the object of God’s wrath. 

Think this over and decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.”
¹⁴ “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”

• David chose the plague because he knew that while God is just, He is also far more merciful than any human army.

Human enemies may lack compassion, but God does not. 

¹⁵ So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. ¹⁶ But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!”

• 70,000 Israelites die in a plague. The consequences for David’s sin were severe,

God halts the angel of destruction

At that moment the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
¹⁷ When David saw the angel, he said to the Lord, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.”

• David offers himself for the people.

David Builds an Altar

¹⁸ That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
¹⁹ So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him. ²⁰ When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. ²¹ “Why have you come, my lord the king?” Araunah asked.
David replied, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague.”
²² “Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. ²³ I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the Lord your God accept your sacrifice.”

Araunah offers his threshing floor and animals to David for free. 

²⁴ But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.

• David realized that sacrifice without cost is empty.

David knew that true worship involves personal sacrifice, cost and surrender.

²⁵ David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

• David built an altar to the LORD and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings.

• The LORD answered David’s prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

This is where Abraham offered Isaac.

Genesis 22:2 NLT
² “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

This site became the location of Solomon’s Temple.

2 Chronicles 3:1 NLT
Solomon Builds the Temple
^3:1 So Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected.

David’s Mightiest Warriors

Introduction:

It takes a community

Scripture consistently teaches that God designed people to live, grow, worship, and persevere in community, not in isolation.

Isolation makes us vulnerable.

Galatians 6:2 NLT
² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 

Romans 12:4-5 NLT
⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 

Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT
¹² A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

David’s life was shaped by a wide range of relationships:

Prophets (Samuel, Nathan)

Family (Jesse, Jonathan, Michal, Solomon)

Adversaries (Saul, Absalom)

Warriors and allies (Joab)

Wise and godly influencers (Abigail)

In this lesson we will be considering ways that David’s mightiest warriors impacted David’s life.

2 Samuel 23:8-39 NLT
David’s Mightiest Warriors
⁸ These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.
⁹ Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. ¹⁰ He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the Lord gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder!
¹¹ Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, ¹² but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
¹³ Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. ¹⁴ David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.
¹⁵ David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” ¹⁶ So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. ¹⁷ “The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.
David’s Thirty Mighty Men
¹⁸ Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. ¹⁹ Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.
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. ²¹ Once, armed only with a club, he killed an imposing Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it. ²² Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors. ²³ He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.
²⁴ Other members of the Thirty included: Asahel, Joab’s brother;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
²⁵ Shammah from Harod;
Elika from Harod;
²⁶ Helez from Pelon;
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth;
Sibbecai from Hushah;
²⁸ Zalmon from Ahoah;
Maharai from Netophah;
²⁹ Heled son of Baanah from Netophah;
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin);
³⁰ Benaiah from Pirathon;
Hurai from Nahale-gaash;
³¹ Abi-albon from Arabah;
Azmaveth from Bahurim;
³² Eliahba from Shaalbon;
the sons of Jashen;
Jonathan ³³ son of Shagee from Harar;
Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;
³⁴ Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah;
Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh;
³⁵ Hezro from Carmel;
Paarai from Arba;
³⁶ Igal son of Nathan from Zobah;
Bani from Gad;
³⁷ Zelek from Ammon;
Naharai from Beeroth, the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;
³⁸ Ira from Jattir;
Gareb from Jattir;
³⁹ Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.

Examine the Scriptures

2 Samuel 23:8-39 NLT

David’s Mightiest Warriors

1 Chronicles 11:10-47 has much of the same content with slight variations.

Start out with:

The Three

⁸ These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. 

The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.

• Jashobeam was an example of a man with extraordinary courage and skill empowered by God to defeat the enemy. 

⁹ Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. ¹⁰ He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the Lord gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder!

This is another example of a mighty warrior empowered by God.

Eleazar was a courageous warrior who fought to the point of total exhaustion.  God spared the lives of both Elazar and David.

Eleazar took initiative when others fell back.

Eleazar continued fighting past the point of exhaustion.

Eleazar displayed both courage and endurance rarely found even in elite warriors.

Eleazar’s actions symbolized unyielding commitment and battle-hardened perseverance.

• Scripture says: “the Lordgave him (Eleazar) a great victory that day.” 

¹¹ Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, ¹² but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

Here again: “the Lord brought about a great victory.”

• Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah were three courageous and loyal warriors being used by God to bring about victories for the Israelites.

Human bravery + divine power = triumph.  

David’s Thirty Mighty Men 

Another story of men devoted to David. 

¹³ Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. 

Not the three mentioned in 8-12, but three mentioned in the thirty.

¹⁴ David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.
¹⁵ David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” ¹⁶ So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. ¹⁷ “The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.

David, hiding in the cave of Adullam longs for water from Bethlehem’s well.

Three of his mighty men, devoted to David break through the enemy lines to get it.

David refuses to drink and pours it out “as an offering to the Lord,” saying “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.”

• 2 Samuel 23:14-17 is a story of fierce loyalty and risk taken by three men for David.

David’s Thirty Mighty Men

Review this passage:

Abishai

¹⁸ Abishai son of Zeruiah, 

the brother of Joab, (Note) 

was the leader of the Thirty (many translations say “the three”).  

He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. 

¹⁹ Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three. 

• Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander.

Review this passage: 

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.  

²¹ Once, armed only with a club, he killed an imposing Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.  

²² Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors.  

²³ He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. 

And David made him captain of his bodyguard.

• Benaiah was made the captain of David’s bodyguard. 

²⁴ Other members of the Thirty included: (30 names listed here + unnamed sons in v. 32)

The number of names varies slightly in different accounts (typical for ancient military rosters).

“The Thirty” in 2 Samuel 23:24 refers to David’s elite corps of warriors, a prestigious and stable group title for a set of exceptional soldiers who stood just below “the Three” in rank and honor. The membership shifted over time, but the name remained fixed as a term of honor.

• The “Thirty” refers to a formal elite military corps within David’s army. It was not literally always thirty men—rather, it was a title for a group of high-ranking warriors.

Some interesting highlights:

***Asahel, Joab’s brother;
David’s nephew who was famous for his speed.  He was killed by Abner in the pursuit of Abner during the war between David and Ishbosheth.

Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
²⁵ Shammah from Harod; most likely not the Shammah mentioned in v. 11.
Elika from Harod;
²⁶ Helez from Pelon;
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth;
Sibbecai from Hushah;   Mebunnai the Hushathite (ESV),
²⁸ Zalmon from Ahoah;
Maharai from Netophah;
²⁹ Heled son of Baanah from Netophah;
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin);
³⁰ Benaiah from Pirathon;   see verse 20.  This might not be the same person.
Hurai from Nahale-gaash;   Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash (ESV)
³¹ Abi-albon from Arabah;
Azmaveth from Bahurim;
³² Eliahba from Shaalbon;
the sons of Jashen; (This implies more than one)
Jonathan ³³ son of Shagee from Harar;                Shammah the Hararite (ESV)
Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;
³⁴ Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah;

***Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh; the father of Bathsheba

³⁵ Hezro from Carmel;
Paarai from Arba;
³⁶ Igal son of Nathan from Zobah;
Bani from Gad;
³⁷ Zelek from Ammon;

***Naharai from Beeroth, the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah (David’s sister);

³⁸ Ira from Jattir;
Gareb from Jattir;

***³⁹ Uriah the Hittite.

The husband of Bathsheba.

Uriah was one of David’s most loyal warriors—yet David betrayed him and had him killed (2 Sam 11).

There were thirty-seven in all.

Joab, David’s commander, is notably absent from the full list.

Note: Joab’s name is mentioned (v. 18 & 37), but is not included as one of David’s mightiest warriors.

Conclusion

David’s elite warriors.

These warriors were some of the “iron tools” that God used to “chop down” the godless (23:7)

Though their feats are extraordinary, the repeated acknowledgment of God’s involvement shows that victory is ultimately the Lord’s.

This passage reminds us that God values courage, loyalty, and humility—and that He works through ordinary people who trust Him in extraordinary ways.

This list of men demonstrates the value of absolute loyalty and brotherhood in achieving great things. These men were instrumental in fulfilling God’s plan for David’s kingdom.

This passage of scripture ensures that the courage and commitment of these men are remembered for generations, highlighting that success is often achieved through the efforts of a dedicated team.

The incredible feats listed are seen not just as human strength, but as evidence of God’s power at work through those He chooses to exalt.