1 Kings 2: Solomon Takes Control

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How did King David die?

In 1 Kings 2:1-4, David gives final instructions to his son Solomon urging him to be strong, obey God’s commands, and walk faithfully with all his heart and soul. Then King David dies of old age after reigning over Israel for 40 years, leaving Solomon to carry out his unfinished business and secure the kingdom.

David’s Final Words to Solomon

David direction for Solomon reiterates all he has learned as an Israelite over the years. First, “be strong” is the theme from Joshua, Season 6 of the Bible Book Club. Both Moses and God commissioned Joshua to be strong and courageous. David wants the same for his son Solomon.

“Keep God’s laws” is the theme from Deuteronomy in Season 5. Moses spent his entire life urging the people to love the Lord and keep His laws so they could have a relationship with God as outlined in the Mosaic Covenant.

Last of all, David asks Solomon to walk faithfully and to love the Lord with all his heart and soul. This is a command first given by Moses in Deuteronomy 6 and then reiterated by Joshua in Joshua 22.

David knew it was this command most of all that gave him favor with God. He loved the Lord, and because he loved the Lord he obeyed Him.

David is telling Solomon that the heart and the commands go hand in hand. This is what will make him successful. This is how he will find favor with God.

Isn’t this true for us too? If we love the Lord, we will obey His Word.

The Apostle John said it best in 1 John 5:3-4. David’s message to Solomon is the same as Jesus’ message to us in John 15:9-11. If we love God and keep his commands, we will find complete joy.

David’s Unfinished Business

After encouraging Solomon in his faith, David asks Solomon to take care of three items of unfinished business that must have been weighing on his mind. It is the first obligation of the king to pursue justice. David neglected to do so several times, and now he tasks Solomon with doing it for him in 1 Kings 2:5-9.

It’s wrong for David to pass this responsibility on to Solomon. These are no light orders, and the justification for the judgement did not happen during Solomon’s time.

Who was Joab to David?

Joab was with David even in the beginning when he was forced to wander in the wilderness for 14 years. David could not forget all they had been through together. All the good Joab had done. So justice was left to Solomon.

David tells Solomon that Joab must suffer the consequences of killing the Israelite commanders Abner and Amasa, because he killed them during a time of peace, not war. Joab murdered Abner out of revenge because Abner killed his brother in battle. He killed Amasa out of jealousy because Amasa took his job as commander.

In other words, David wants Solomon to kill Joab because he cannot be trusted.

Be Nice to Barzillai

Second, David tells Solomon to be kind to Barzillai’s family with what equated to a pension of sorts. Barzillai was a wealthy man who had supplied David and his entourage with food on his flight from Jerusalem and on his return. David is bequeathing Barzillai’s family with an allowance of sorts which may have included food, a house, and even land.

What did Shimei do to David?

Third, Shimei must suffer consequences for disloyalty, because he cursed David on his flight from Jerusalem. This is a capital offense.

Twice David tells Solomon to deal with these people, specifically Joab and Shimei, according to his wisdom. Is it any wonder Solomon asks God for wisdom in 1 Kings 3? The responsibility for justice is a heavy load, especially when capital punishment is involved.

Who is King David?

Our recent stories in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings 1 paint a sad picture of an older David who has neglected to lead as he had in his younger years. While this painting is not false, we cannot leave David like this.

David was a man after God’s own heart, and it was this characteristic alone that made his reputation and legacy in the Bible unparalleled. His heart for the Lord is what gave him:

Courage to kill Goliath.
Humility to live as an outlaw while Saul maligned his reputation and tried to murder him.
Perseverance to wait for God to remove Saul instead of avenging himself and killing Saul.
Steady conviction as a military commander that God would give them victory.
Deep conviction of his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.
Humble acceptance of the consequences.

Despite becoming a great and powerful king, David never lost the heart of the humble shepherd. He is the standard for all the kings of Israel going forward.

David’s name is mentioned over 920 times in the Bible. This is second only to God at 3,978 times and Jesus at 1,310. David is ahead of Moses, Abraham, and all the forefathers.

There is no doubt David was special to the Lord and an example for us. He is an example of:

Love for the Lord that prevails for a lifetime.
Faith that God’s way is always right.
Humility to acknowledge his sin.
Conviction that leads to repentance.

In 1 Kings 2:10-12, David finds well-deserved rest from a lifetime of chasing after the heart of the Lord. Rest from over 40 years of battles, too many sons with too much ambition, and rest from a fickle nation.

David has shown us that when we love the Lord above all else God can and will use us even when we stumble. Now, finally, he can be still and simply sit at the feet of the Lord in adoration of the One who has always been the desire of his heart.

Why did Solomon kill Adonijah?

As was customary at the time, Solomon begins his reign by removing all who threaten it. In the last chapter, Nathan asked Bathsheba to approach David with the news of Adonijah trying to take the throne from Solomon. In 1 Kings 2:13-18, Adonijah asks Bahsheba to approach Solomon in another underhanded attempt to take the throne from Solomon.

Solomon’s mother Bathsheba is a respected woman of influence. She must have had good relationships with both David and Solomon, because she did not fear approaching either king.

In 1 Kings 1, Solomon gave Adonijah reprieve after he tried to steal the crown, but Adonijah may be at it again in 1 Kings 2:19-25. We shouldn’t be surprised. Primogeniture, or the right of the firstborn to inherit, is the common practice of the time. Going forward, it’s how all the kings in Judah will be chosen after Solomon.

And because Adonijah is the oldest living son, he probably can’t get past the fact that he should be king. But he needs to convince Israel of that. To begin, he goes after a possession of David’s, Abishag.

A claim on a king’s wife or concubine is a claim on the crown. Absalom was the worst example of this in 2 Samuel 16 when he slept with ten of David’s concubines for all Israel to see. He was claiming them as a statement that he was now the king.

The last chapter didn’t confirmed Abishag was a concubine, but most assume she was, as a virgin who slept in the king’s bed. Adonijah may have also wanted Abishag for another reason. To silence her as a witness.

Abishag was present when David said Solomon was to be king and not Adonijah. If Adonijah has power over Abishag, he can force her to refute David’s words.

In the last chapter, Solomon gave Adonijah a chance to live if he didn’t do evil. Adonijah’s request for Abishag is either an evil move or a ridiculously stupid desire for a beautiful woman.

Solomon is not taking any chances. He wastes no time in executing Adonijah.

Abiathar’s Retirement

The priest Abiathar supported Adonijah. In 1 Kings 2:26-27, Solomon gives him clemency because, until now, he faithfully supported David. However, his sentence is removal from the priesthood and exile to Anathoth.

How did Joab die?

Joab is always in tune with Jerusalem’s happenings. In 1 Kings 2:28-35, he hears of Adonijah’s death and Abiathar’s exile. He runs for asylum in the sanctuary, but he is without a case.

The Law of Moses offers protection at the altar for those guilty of accidental crimes but not premeditated murder. Joab murdered with intent and deception against David’s wishes, and God commanded there must be retribution for bloodshed.

Benaiah, the trusted servant of David’s inner circle and commander of the bodyguards, is now Solomon’s. He doesn’t hesitate in carrying out Solomon’s orders. He’s probably thinking the punishment is way overdue.

It’s a sad ending for a man who otherwise had a brilliant military career. Joab was a mix of good and bad that left his record lukewarm. He was fiercely loyal to Israel and his military calling, but he was also violent and disobedient to David.

The House Arrest of Shimei

In 1 Kings 2:36-38, Solomon determines that Shimei’s sin is not cause for execution. However, as a Benjaminite loyal to the family of Saul, he is a potential threat.

So Solomon seeks to separate Shimei from his people by putting him on house arrest. He cannot go home. He must stay in Jerusalem. In 1 Kings 2:39-46, Shimei disobeys, which gives Solomon justification for execution.

In all four situations Adonijah, Abiathar, Joab, and Shimei, Solomon wisely and swiftly administers the law. He also obeys David’s final commands and completes his father’s unfinished business in three years’ time.

The security of the kingdom is now firmly established in Solomon’s hands. Peace has finally come to Israel.

For the first time, the king of Israel will have the time and resources to do more than fight battles. In the next chapter, Solomon will begin to use that time wisely.

Listen to this episodes of the Bible Book Club Podcast here.