1 Kings Preview
1 & 2 Kings (much like its historical predecessor 1 & 2 Samuel) were originally one long book, later divided into two separate parts. While the author of this book is unknown, some scholars have guessed Ezra, Ezekiel, or Jeremiah as the potential author. Because it was compiled over a period of several hundred years from 973 B.C. to 561 B.C., it is likely that source material came from several people and it was eventually compiled into one long book by one (or potentially multiple) author(s).
It’s important for us to note that 1 Kings is a history book, telling us the story of what happened to Israel following the reign (and death) of King David. As rulers and kingdoms came and went, we will read of dramatic twists and turns throughout each chapter of these two books. While this is a historical book, it is important to remember that it is (more importantly) a theological work as well. Think of this book (as well as its sequel) as a collection of case studies for us to learn from. What we believe about God is shaped by the stories we’ll read about over the next couple of months. We’ll read about magnificent triumphs and dramatic failures. We’ll read stories of kings of great faith and stories of faithless wandering. As with all stories in the Old Testament, we’ll also be reminded that the world needed a different kind of King and Kingdom altogether.
Each day as you open your Bible, take good notes. Read closely and carefully, paying special attention to the sequence of events that are unfolding before you. Try to visualize what’s going on in each chapter. That’s the fun of reading these Old Testament stories! Get to know these characters, both major and minor. What does each chapter in this book teach you about God’s character? What does it teach you about humanity? What are the implications for you today? These are the questions we’ll be seeking to answer over these next couple of months through 1 and 2 Kings.
Interested in The Bible Project’s overview of 1 (and 2) Kings? Click here to watch it!
Read 1 Kings 1
Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King
1 When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. 2 So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.”
3 Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.
5 Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6 (His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)
7 Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah.
9 Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.
11 Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? 12 Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.”
15 So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. 16 Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king.
“What is it you want?” the king asked.
17 She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18 But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. 19 He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20 My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.”
22 While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 And the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.
24 Nathan said, “Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? 25 Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite. 27 Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
David Makes Solomon King
28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 30 I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”
31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
32 King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. 34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 37 As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!”
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. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?”
42 Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.”
43 “Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule, 45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. 46 Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. 47 Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed 48 and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’”
49 At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”
52 Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”
Go Deeper
1 Kings opens with an old and feeble King David and his son, Adonijah, who is using his father’s aging state as an opportunity to set himself up as the successor and king. For a quick recap of the lineage of David’s sons, we can look back to 2 Samuel 3:2-5. We learn that Adonijah was David’s fourth son. Several of David’s older sons had died, so it is likely that Adonijah was the oldest living son at the time of this chapter.
Adonijah believed that as the oldest living son of the king, he deserved to be next in line. However, the Israelite tradition of naming the king was not dependent on birth order or family of origin. God chose the king. Hebrew kings were identified through priests and prophets that had the approval of the Lord. Adonijah works to appear like he is the rightful king. He gathers chariots and horsemen. He has men run before him to announce his arrival. He sacrifices sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle. Verse 5 tells us that though he had prepared all of these things for himself, Adonijah was merely exalting himself as king. As a self-appointed king, he was directing all the action.
Nathan and Bathsheba knew that it was the will of God that Solomon should succeed in the Kingdom. They humbly approached King David, made him aware of the situation, and allowed him to make the final decision. In 1 Kings 1:29, King David proclaims “As the Lord lives who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day.”
David begins his proclamation by giving all credit and power to the Lord. In contrast to Adonijah’s self-proclamation, this statement is directed by God. Psalm 75:6-7 says “No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.”
There is always a danger in exalting yourself without the approval of the Lord. Even if we think we are deserving of a promotion, an accolade, or a position of honor, there is wisdom in waiting for the priests and prophets of our lives (like Nathan and Zadok) to confirm and defend us.
Questions
- Adonijah felt he rightly deserved the right to be the next king. Have you ever felt like you deserved something that you did not receive?
- Would you say that your life is more self-directed or God-directed?
- James 4:10 says “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Spend time in prayer asking God for this type of humility.
Did You Know?
The beginning of this chapter gives great detail about the frailty of King David. Commentaries suggest that at this point in his life he was probably around 70 years old. David Guzik suggests “He seems even older than his years; but for David, it wasn’t just the years – it was the mileage. He seemed to live the lives of four or five men in his lifetime.” Interesting to note the toll that David’s life has taken on his physical body.
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3 thoughts on “1 Kings 1”
I couldn’t help reflect on Jesus’ words in Luke concerning the wedding banquet..Luke 14:7-11 v11For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” I heard a good sermon once titled “Table Talk” TD Jakes—he preached around the whole idea of gathering around the table..the invite, non invite, the conversations, sitting at the head, etc. I will ponder on the same idea with Adonijah and “table talk” at his feast. What conversations and lack of humility there was at that table! My take away word today from this chapter is, of course— humility.
Very interesting read this summer and excited about digging into Kings again with you all!!
It’s interesting that we start 1 Kings on Memorial Day, a day marked by the humility of those who sacrificed their lives for freedoms we often take for granted. Contrast that with Adonijah, who elevated himself as king without his father’s knowledge and was humiliated in the process. I’m reminded of how vital it is to fear God and consult him in all decisions, that my heart, like Adonijah, is prone to be wicked, self-seeking, & manipulative. I pray for a heart that sees beyond the present and far into eternity, that all we do would honor our God and increase his kingdom here on earth.
I love how the author points out that Solomon rode on a mule. The details point to Christ coming in on a donkey.
I find it so interesting that they both came in unexpected ways. Often, our service to the Kingdom can look unexpected too. Our roles and our impact may not be what we had in mind or how the world views service, but that is the Lord! He shows up in very unexpected ways!! Amen!!!
Let us serve where we are with what we have and humble ourselves to be willing to show up on a mule or donkey!!😆💥