1 KINGS LESSON 3

     We will begin this lesson in I Kings 2:1 "Now the days of David
drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,"

     This did not immediately follow the anointing of Solomon as king
in chapter 1. We read in 1 Chronicles chapter 23 and 24, David
recovered enough from the illness, that he gathered the princes of the
tribes of Israel together to charge them with what they were to do.
We will give just two Scriptures from that to show this. I Chronicles
23:1 "So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son
king over Israel." I Chronicles 23:2  "And he gathered together all
the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites." It would be
good to read it all, to see the impact of that.

     I Kings 2:2 "I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong
therefore, and shew thyself a man;"

     It appears, from this, that Solomon had been dependent upon David
for many of the decisions he made in his early reign as king. David
is, now, explaining to Solomon, that he must be brave, and stand as a
man would stand. He must, now, accept the decision making that goes
with being king as part of his duty as king. The weight of the
government will, now, be on Solomon's shoulders. Going the way of the
earth is speaking of dying.

     I Kings 2:3 "And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in
his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his
judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses,
that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever
thou turnest thyself:" I Kings 2:4 "That the LORD may continue his
word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed
to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with
all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the
throne of Israel."

     David looks back over his time as king, and realizes the
importance of being totally obedient on the will of God. He explains
to Solomon the blessings that go with him being obedient to that will
of God. Prosperity in his reign is his own choice. He must keep the
law of Moses, not only in formality, but from his heart being stayed
upon pleasing the LORD. David tells Solomon that even more blessings
than had been bestowed upon him will be Solomon's, if he will remain
faithful to the LORD. The word "continue" means establish in this
particular instance. The blessings of the LORD are conditional,
however. Solomon and his children must walk in the truth of the LORD
for a blessing to be upon them.

     I Kings 2:5 "Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of
Zeruiah did to me, [and] what he did to the two captains of the hosts
of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of
Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the
blood of war upon his girdle that [was] about his loins, and in his
shoes that [were] on his feet."
     Joab had done David an injustice, when he killed Absalom, after
David had said not to. This, however, was during a war, and David did
not kill him for this. The death of the other two captains of David's
however, happened in a time of peace. They were treacherously done. In
the case of Abner, he had pretended friendship to get him there, and
then murdered him. It was not a fair fight, because Abner was not
aware there was a problem. He had no opportunity to defend himself.
This type of murder requires the death of the person, who is the
murderer.  This, by itself, would have been enough, but he actually
killed a relative unmercifully, when he murdered Amasa. The reference
to the blood on the his girdle and sandals, was when he killed Amasa,
the blood got on his girdle and even ran into the shoes of Joab. He
had not killed them in war. They were at peace. Both of these things
were worthy of death by Hebrew law.

     I Kings 2:6 "Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not
his hoar head go down to the grave in peace."

     Joab was the leader of the army. It might cause trouble with the
army, if he killed Joab. Solomon must carefully carry out David's
wishes here. David does want Joab to pay with his life. He must not
get old {hoar head}, and die from natural causes. He must be killed
for these sins.

     I Kings 2:7 "But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the
Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they
came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother."

     Barzillai had befriended David when he was running from Absalom.
David wants Solomon to befriend his sons, now, by furnishing them the
things for their livelihood. They were not living in the house of
Solomon, but got provisions from the treasury of Solomon.

     I Kings 2:8 "And, behold, [thou hast] with thee Shimei the son of
Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in
the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at
Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to
death with the sword." I Kings 2:9 "Now therefore hold him not
guiltless: for thou [art] a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest
to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with
blood."

     This is speaking of the Shimei, who cried out curses on David, as
he fled from Absalom. Some of David's men wanted to kill him then.
David would not, for fear that this might have been a message from the
LORD.  When he was on his way back to Jerusalem, this same man begged
David not to put him to death with his sword. David made him this
promise. Now, David is explaining to Solomon, that he must not let him
live to be an old man, and die of natural causes. He must be punished
for that long ago transgression.

     I Kings 2:10 "So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in
the city of David." I Kings 2:11  "And the days that David reigned
over Israel [were] forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and
thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem."

     Verse 10 is speaking of David's death and his burial with honor
with those who had gone on before him. He reigned as king, 40 years.
This is explained, that 7 years of that time, he reigned over just
Judah. The other 33 years, he was king of all Israel.

     I Kings 2:12  "Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his
father; and his kingdom was established greatly."

     It seems, that the actual reign of Solomon began at the death of
David. He had been announced king, before, but had let his father make
the more weighty decisions, until his death. It seems, now, that
Solomon has taken over the responsibilities of king, and has become
strong. It helped for the kingdom to be established by David. Solomon
built up the foundation that was already there.

     I Kings 2:13 "And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bath-sheba
the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he
said, Peaceably."

     Adonijah, probably, came to Bath-sheba, knowing that she had
great influence on Solomon. He was, possibly, afraid to go directly to
Solomon. She remembered that he had tried to become king, and now,
asks him, if he has come in peace. He answers her, peaceably.

     I Kings 2:14 "He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee.
And she said, Say on." I Kings 2:15 "And he said, Thou knowest that
the kingdom was mine, and [that] all Israel set their faces on me,
that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is
become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD."

     Another possibility of why he came to Bath-sheba, could have been
that he knew she and Nathan went to David to tell him of Adonijah's
take-over attempt. He still has not given up to the fact that Solomon
is king. He says, it should have been his, and that all the people
supported him as king. It is as if he is angry with the LORD for
choosing Solomon over him.

     I Kings 2:16 "And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not.
And she said unto him, Say on."  I Kings 2:17 "And he said, Speak, I
pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that
he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife."

     Adonijah is fully aware that to have the king's wife to wife
would be a way of saying he was king. He comes to Bath-sheba with this
request, because she might plead his case with Solomon. He, perhaps,
feels she might not see that he is indirectly asking to be proclaimed
the rightful king.

     I Kings 2:18 "And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee
unto the king." I Kings 2:19  "Bath-sheba therefore went unto king
Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet
her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and
caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his
right hand."

     Solomon showed great respect for his mother, when she came to
speak on behalf of Adonijah. To sit at the right hand of the king was
a place of honor.

     I Kings 2:20 "Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee;
[I pray thee], say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my
mother: for I will not say thee nay."

     Solomon wanted to grant the wishes of his mother. He loved her,
and even owed his being king to her, as well. If the petition is
within his will to grant, he would certainly do it.

     I Kings 2:21 "And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given
to Adonijah thy brother to wife."

     Bath-sheba is not aware of the implications of this. She reminds
Solomon that Adonijah is his brother. She, probably, thinks that
Adonijah is just in love with Abishag. She certainly is not aware,
that this is a trick to take the kingdom from Solomon.

     I Kings 2:22 "And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother,
And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him
the kingdom also; for he [is] mine elder brother; even for him, and
for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah."

     Solomon tells his mother, here, that she is actually asking for
him to turn the kingdom over to Adonijah, and his friends, Joab and
Abiathar. She has asked something that was against the will of
Solomon, against the will of David, if he were living, and most of
all, against the will of the LORD.

     I Kings 2:23 "Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do
so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against
his own life."

     Solomon had sworn to let Adonijah live, as long as he did no
evil.  This is an evil act of deception by Adonijah. This is outside
the oath that Solomon had made. Adonijah has broken the oath, himself,
with such a request.

     I Kings 2:24 "Now therefore, [as] the LORD liveth, which hath
established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who
hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death
this day." I Kings 2:25 "And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah
the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died."

     Adonijah had brought this upon himself. He knew what he was
doing. Solomon was not tricked by Adonijah. Solomon sent his
bodyguard, Benaiah, and he killed Adonijah for this terrible sin.
Solomon knew his mother was innocent of wrong doing. Adonijah had
tricked her.
                        1 Kings 3 Questions


1.  When David realized that the time for him to die was near, what
    did he do?
2.  Where do we find Scriptures, that let us know David lived a little
    while after Solomon was anointed king?
3.  What is meant by "going the way of all the earth"?
4.  David told Solomon to be strong, and shew himself a _________.
5.  When David dies, the weight of the government will be on
    ___________ shoulders.
6.  In verses 3 and 4, what does David tell him to do?
7.  Why is David so sure this is the thing to do?
8.  How must he keep the law of Moses?
9.  "Continue", in verse 4, means what?
10. What terrible things had Joab done?
11. Why was this murder?
12. What does David want done to Joab?
13. Why will Solomon have to be careful how he goes about it?
14. What is meant by "hoar head"?
15. Who did David ask Solomon to show kindness to?
16. Why?
17. Who had sorely cursed David?
18. What does David want Solomon to do to him?
19. Where was David buried?
20. How long had David reigned?
21. Who did Adonijah come to, for help in speaking for him to Solomon?
22. Why was she chosen for this?
23. What did Adonijah say belonged to him?
24. Who did he blame for it not coming to him?
25. What was his request?
26. How did Solomon act on seeing his mother?
27. What is Adonijah really asking for?
28. What did she ask for Adonijah?
29. What does she remind Solomon of, as she asks?
30. What does Solomon tell Bath-sheba, she is really asking for?
31. What was the condition of the oath Solomon had made to Adonijah?
32. What did Solomon do to Adonijah for this sin?
33. Who actually caries out the punishment?