Tag: Discipline

1 Kings 1

The book of 1 Kings opens with great intrigue. David is old, about seventy-two, and his sons are vying for power. David is not well. A young woman is innocently introduced to the audience. She will provide Solomon with a powerful kingdom. Adonijah attempts to usurp the throne. Nathan and Bathsheba become concerned about Solomon, the next king as God told David and as David had promised Bathsheba.

Verses 1-4 express the feebleness of the king. Some have conjectured that David was impotent and would not be able to rule. So they placed a young girl in his bed to arouse him sexually. When this did not occur, David’s rule was over in the mind of the Israelites (Rice, 1990, p 8; Henry, 1996; Elwell, 1995). Although fanciful, I do not agree with this proposition. David was stricken with old age and, according to Josephus, had hypothermia or arteriosclerosis. He was cold at night. In order to keep him comfortable, a young, warm body was placed next to him. He did not know her sexually not because he was unable to but because that was not the purpose. Radmacher (1999) explains that a healthy person’s body warmth was used to care for a sick person as a medical procedure is noted by the second-century Greek physician Galen and the Jewish historian Josephus. This process is diathermy, the process of passing heat from one object to another. The key to this passage is that she lay in the same bed as the king, which makes her a valuable commodity in this and the next chapter.

Verses 5-10 present us with Adonijah’s first attempt to become king. Because David was old and not physically capable of ruling the kingdom, David’s fourth son, Adonijah attempts a coupe. He draws men like Joab and Abiathar to follow him, while he purposely does not call for Nathan or Benaiah. He made a rather loud and public proclamation that he was the next king. He even engaged a coronation ceremony at En-rogel.

A note on child-rearing is given here. David did nothing to get his children angered at him. This is evident from the lack of discipline he showed to Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah when the Amon raped Absalom’s sister and Absalom killed Amnon, and none were disciplined. When this freedom is given, children have no boundaries.

Verses 11-27 develops the plot by Nathan and Bathsheba to remind David what God had told him about Solomon. Nathan calls Bathsheba to let her know what Adonijah is doing. They immediately go tell David what is happening. David’s infirmities are evident as Abishag is with him (this helps the plot develop for chapter 2). After Bathsheba speaks to David, Nathan enters to state the same.

Verses 28-30 are David’s oath that Solomon will be king. This would make Solomon a co-regent with David. This is why the dating of 1 Kings is difficult.

Verses 31-40 is Solomon’s coronation as king. David gives the instructions, they are carried out, and Adonijah receives word of the newly crowned king.

Verses 41-53 give us the failure of Adonijah’s first attempt to be king. Adonijah realized that he could be put to death by Solomon. He runs to the Temple to lay hold of the refuge given at the altar. Solomon gave his word not to kill Adonijah, if Adonijah does not attempt to usurp the throne. Interestingly, Adonijah dies in the next chapter (read ahead to see if you can figure out why).

All through this chapter is intrigue. God’s will or Satan’s will. Which will will prevail? God designated Solomon to succeed David. Satan desired Adonijah. God wins (but you knew that).