1 Kings 2:12-25

12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

Solomon’s Throne Established

13 Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. Bathsheba asked him, “Do you come peacefully?” He answered, “Yes, peacefully.”
14 Then he added, “I have something to say to you.” “You may say it,” she replied.
15 “As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the LORD.
16 Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me.” “You may make it,” she said.
17 So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
18 “Very well,” Bathsheba replied, “I will speak to the king for you.”
19 When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand.
20 “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.” The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”
21 So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”
22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother—yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!”
23 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request!
24 And now, as surely as the LORD lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!”
25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.

1 Kings 2:12-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KING 2

This chapter gives an account of the charge David gave to his son Solomon, a little before his death, to walk in the ways of the Lord, 1Ki 2:1-4; and of some instructions delivered to him concerning some particular persons he should either show favour to, or execute justice on, 1Ki 2:5-9; and the next account in it is concerning his death and burial, and the years of his reign, 1Ki 2:10,11; after which it relates an address of Bathsheba to Solomon in favour of Adonijah, which was refused, and the issue of it was his death, 1Ki 2:12-25; and the deposition of Abiathar from the priesthood, 1Ki 2:26,27; and the putting of Joab to death for his treason and murders, 1Ki 2:28-34; in whose post Benaiah was put, as Zadok was in the place of Abiathar, 1Ki 2:35; and lastly the confinement of Shimei in Jerusalem, who had cursed David, 1Ki 2:36-38; who upon transgressing the orders given him was put to death, 1Ki 2:39-46.

Cross References 15

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 17:14; 1 Chronicles 29:23; 2 Chronicles 9:8
  • 2. ver 46; 2 Chronicles 1:1; 2 Chronicles 12:13; 2 Chronicles 17:1; 2 Chronicles 21:4
  • 3. S 2 Samuel 3:4
  • 4. S 1 Samuel 16:4
  • 5. S 1 Kings 1:3
  • 6. 1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 10:13; 2 Kings 24:15; 2 Chronicles 15:16; Jeremiah 13:18; Jeremiah 22:26; Jeremiah 29:2
  • 7. Psalms 45:9
  • 8. 1 Kings 1:3
  • 9. S Genesis 22:24; 2 Samuel 12:8; S 1 Kings 1:3
  • 10. 1 Chronicles 3:2
  • 11. S 1 Samuel 22:20
  • 12. S Ruth 1:17
  • 13. 2 Samuel 7:11; 1 Chronicles 22:10
  • 14. S 2 Samuel 8:18
  • 15. S 2 Samuel 12:10
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