This Third Book of Kings opens with the death of King David. Solomon, his son, succeeded him. King Solomon ruled wisely, beautified Jerusalem, and built the Temple. But later he encouraged idolatry. After his death his kingdom split into two hostile sections, Israel in the North and Juda in the South.
Actually it opens with a sign of those times and not of these times:
Now King David was old, and advanced in years: and when he was covered with clothes, he was not warm. His servants therefore said to him: Let us seek for our lord the king a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherish him, and sleep in his bosom, and warm our lord the king… they found Abisag a Sunamitess and brought her to the king. And the damsel was exceedingly beautiful, and she slept with the king: and served him, but the king did not know her.
So King David was old and it was time to pick a successor, actually remember to pick a successor and not one who exalted themselves!
And Adonias the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying: I will be king.
So Bethsabee went in to the king into the chamber: now the king was very old, and Abisag the Sunamitess ministered to him.
King David to Bethsabee: What is your will?
Bethsabee: My lord, thou didst swear to thy handmaid by the Lord thy God, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne. And behold now Adonias reigneth, and thou, my lord the king, knowest nothing of it… Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king sleepeth with his father, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.
Nathan the prophet came…
King David answered: As the Lord liveth, who hath delivered my soul out of all distress, even as I swore to thee by the Lord the God of Israel, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead, so will I do this day.
Bethsabee: May my lord David live forever.
And let Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there (in Gihon) king over Israel: and you shall sound the trumpet, and shall say: God save King Solomon.
And all the multitude went up after him, and the people played with pipes, and rejoiced with a great joy, and the earth rang with the noise of their cry.
Jonathan to Adonias: for our lord King David hath appointed Solomon king. Moreover Solomon sitteth upon the throne of the kingdom. And the king’s servants going in have blessed our lord King David saying: May God make the name of Solomon greater than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne.
King David: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who hath given this day one to sit on my throne, my eyes seeing it.
And Adonias fearing Solomon, arose, and went, and took hold of the horn of the altar, saying: Let king Solomon swear to me this day, that he will not kill his servant with the sword.
And Solomon said: If he be a good man, there shall not so much as one hair of his head fall to the ground, but if evil be found in him, he shall die.
Solomon to Adonias: Go to thy house.
So King David picked Solomon as the next king after being reminded by Solomon’s mother that he had promised to do so. Solomon was not David’s oldest son for he had many wives and this left an awkward position especially after Adonias, the oldest assumed the kingship would be his and it was not!
David had some advice for Solomon and a list of three things he wanted Solomon to take care of for him…
And the days of David drew nigh that he should die, and he charged his son Solomon, saying:
I am going the way of all flesh: take thou courage, and show thyself a man And keep charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and observe his ceremonies, and his precepts, and judgments, and testimonials, as it is written in the law of Moses: that thou mayst understand all thou dost, and whithersoever thou shalt turn thyself, that the Lord may confirm his words, which he hath spoken of me, saying: If thy children shall take heed to their ways, and shall walk before me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, there shall not be taken away from thee a man on the throne of Israel.
David to Solomon (Commandment 1): Thou knowest also what Joab… hath done to me, what he did to the two captains of the army of Israel… whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace… do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoary head go down to hell in peace.
David to Solomon (Commandment 2): But show kindness to the sons of Berzellai the Galaadite, and let them eat at thy table: for they met me when I fled from the face of Absalom thy brother.
David to Solomon (Commandment 3): Thou hast also with thee Semei… who cursed me with a grievous curse, when I went to camp… I swore to him by the Lord saying: I will not kill thee with a sword; do not thou hold him guiltless. For thou are a wise man, and knowest what to do with him, and thou shalt bring down his grey hairs with blood to hell.
Adonias to Bethsabee, Solomon’s mother: I pray to thee speak to King Solomon (for he cannot deny thee any thing) to give me Abisag the Sunamitess to wife.
Bethsabee: Well, I will speak for thee to the king.
And a throne was set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right hand…
Bethsabee to King Solomon: I desire one small petition of thee, do not put me to confusion… Let Abisag the Sunamitess be given to Adonias thy brother to wife.
King Solomon to Bethsabee his mother: Why dost thou ask Abisag the Sunamitess for Adonias? Ask for him also the kingdom: for he is my elder brother…
Then King Solomon swore by the Lord saying: So and so may God do to me, and add more, if Adonias hath not spoken this word against his own life… Adonias shall be put to death this day… And King Solomon sent by the hand of Banaias… who slew him, and he died.
And the king said also to Abiathar the priest: Go to Anathoth to thy lands, for indeed thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou didst carry the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and hast endured trouble in all the trouble my father endured. So Solomon cast out Abiathar, from being the priest of the Lord, that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he spoke concerning the house of Heli in Silo.
Solomon following up on David’s Commandment 1: And the news came to Joab, because Joab had turned after Adonias… and Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord and laid hold on the horn of the altar.
Solomon sent Banaias: Go, kill him… because he murdered two men, just and better than himself: and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing it… so Banaias… went up, and setting upon him slew him, and he was buried in his house in the desert.
Solomon following up on David’s Commandment 3: The king also sent and called for Semei, and said to him: Build thee a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there: and go not out from thance any wither. For on what day soever thou shall go out… know that thou shall be put to death.
Semei to King Solomon: The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do.
And it came to pass after three years, that the servants of Semei ran away to Achis to Geth… And Semei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Achis to Geth…
King Solomon to Semei: Thou knowest all the evil, of which thy heart is conscious, which thou didst to my father: the Lord hath returned thy wickedness upon thy own head, and King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord for ever.
So the king commanded Banaias… and he went out and struck him, and he died.
Evidently promises only last a lifetime and dreams do turn into reality!
King Solomon made affinity with Pharao the king of Egypt: for he took his daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
But yet the people sacrificed in the high places: for there was no temple built to the name of the Lord until that day.
And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream that night, saying:
Ask what thou wilt that I should give thee.
And Solomon said:
Thou hast shown great mercy to thy servant David my father, even as he walked before thee in truth, and justice, and with an upright heart with thee: and thou hast kept thy great mercy for him, and hast given him a son to sit on the throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a child, and know not how to go out and come in. And thy servant is in the midst of the people, which thou hast chosen, an immense people, which cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, and discern between good and evil. For who shall be able to judge this people, thy people which is so numerous?
And the word was pleasing to the Lord that Solomon had asked such a thing. And the Lord said to Solomon:
Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life or riches, nor the lives of thy enemies, but hast asked for thyself wisdom to discern judgment, behold I have done for thee according to thy words, and have given thee a wise and understanding heart, insomuch that there hath been no one like thee before thee, nor shall arise after thee. Yea and the things also which thou didst not ask, I have given thee: wit, riches and glory, so that no one hath been like thee among the kings in all days heretofore. And if thou walk in my ways, and keep my precepts, and my commandments, as thy father walked, I will lengthen thy days.
And Solomon awaked, and perceived that it was a dream and when he was come to Jerusalem, he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered holocausts, and sacrificed victims of peace offerings, and made a great feast for all his servants.
There came two women that were harlots, to the king…
1 Kings 3:16. Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him.
First Woman: Lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house, and I was delivered of a child with her in the chamber. And the third day, after that I was delivered, she also was delivered, and we were together, and no other person with us in the house, only we two. And this women’s child died in the night: for in her sleep she overlaid him. And rising in the dead time of night, she took my child from my side, while I thy handmaid was asleep, and laid it in her bosom: and had her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold it was dead: but considering him more diligently when it was clear day, I found that it was not mine which I bore.
Second Woman: It is not so as thou sayest, but thy child is dead, and mine is alive… Thou liest for my child liveth, and thy child is dead.
King Solomon: Bring me a sword… Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
But the woman whose child was alive, said to the king (for her bowels were moved upon her child), I beseech thee, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not kill it.
But the other women said: let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
King Solomon: Give the living child to this woman, and let it not be killed, for she is the mother thereof. And all of Israel heard the judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.
Interesting story and it would be nice to know which woman was which!
King David appoints his son Solomon to be king and then dies while Solomon carries out his vengeful wishes and demonstrates his God-given wisdom!
Day 113: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; King David Appoints Son Solomon to Be King & Then Dies.
Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Third Book of Kings Chapters 1-3.
Bible Notes:
This Book opens with the death of King David. Solomon, his son, succeeded him. King Solomon ruled wisely, beautified Jerusalem, and built the Temple. But later he encouraged idolatry. After his death his kingdom split into two hostile sections, Israel in the North and Juda in the South.
3 Kings Chapter 1: Abisog brought to David; Adonias plans to get the throne; Nathan advises the mother of Solomon; Bethsabee seeks to make Solomon king; Nathan intervenes; David pledges the throne to Solomon; Solomon anointed king; Adonias deserted by his followers; Adonias asks mercy of Solomon.
Now King David was old, and advanced in years: and when he was covered with clothes, he was not warm. His servants therefore said to him: Let us seek for our lord the king a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherish him, and sleep in his bosom, and warm our lord the king… they found Abisag a Sunamitess and brought her to the king. And the damsel was exceedingly beautiful, and she slept with the king: and served him, but the king did not know her.
And Adonias the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying: I will be king.
So Bethsabee went in to the king into the chamber: now the king was very old, and Abisag the Sunamitess ministered to him.
King David to Bethsabee: What is your will?
Bethsabee: My lord, thou didst swear to thy handmaid by the Lord thy God, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne. And behold now Adonias reigneth, and thou, my lord the king, knowest nothing of it… Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king sleepeth with his father, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.
Nathan the prophet came…
King David answered: As the Lord liveth, who hath delivered my soul out of all distress, even as I swore to thee by the Lord the God of Israel, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead, so will I do this day.
Bethsabee: May my lord David live forever.
And let Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there (in Gihon) king over Israel: and you shall sound the trumpet, and shall say: God save King Solomon.
And all the multitude went up after him, and the people played with pipes, and rejoiced with a great joy, and the earth rang with the noise of their cry.
Jonathan to Adonias: for our lord King David hath appointed Solomon king. Moreover Solomon sitteth upon the throne of the kingdom. And the king’s servants going in have blessed our lord King David saying: May God make the name of Solomon greater than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne.
King David: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who hath given this day one to sit on my throne, my eyes seeing it.
And Adonias fearing Solomon, arose, and went, and took hold of the horn of the altar, saying: Let king Solomon swear to me this day, that he will not kill his servant with the sword.
And Solomon said: If he be a good man, there shall not so much as one hair of his head fall to the ground, but if evil be found in him, he shall die.
Solomon to Adonias: Go to thy house.
3 Kings Chapter 2: David instructs Solomon; Solomon receives three commandments; Death and burial of David; Adonias seeks Abisog for his wife; Adonias executed; Abiathar removed from priesthood; Joab executed; Banaias and Sadoc promoted; Semei executed.
And the days of David drew nigh that he should die, and he charged his son Solomon, saying:
I am going the way of all flesh: take thou courage, and show thyself a man And keep charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and observe his ceremonies, and his precepts, and judgments, and testimonials, as it is written in the law of Moses: that thou mayst understand all thou dost, and whithersoever thou shalt turn thyself, that the Lord may confirm his words, which he hath spoken of me, saying: If thy children shall take heed to their ways, and shall walk before me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, there shall not be taken away from thee a man on the throne of Israel.
David to Solomon (Commandment 1): Thou knowest also what Joab… hath done to me, what he did to the two captains of the army of Israel… whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace… do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoary head go down to hell in peace.
David to Solomon (Commandment 2): But show kindness to the sons of Berzellai the Galaadite, and let them eat at thy table: for they met me when I fled from the face of Absalom thy brother.
David to Solomon (Commandment 3): Thou hast also with thee Semei… who cursed me with a grievous curse, when I went to camp… I swore to him by the Lord saying: I will not kill thee with a sword; do not thou hold him guiltless. For thou are a wise man, and knowest what to do with him, and thou shalt bring down his grey hairs with blood to hell.
Adonias to Bethsabee, Solomon’s mother: I pray to thee speak to King Solomon (for he cannot deny thee any thing) to give me Abisag the Sunamitess to wife.
Bethsabee: Well, I will speak for thee to the king.
And a throne was set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right hand…
Bethsabee to King Solomon: I desire one small petition of thee, do not put me to confusion… Let Abisag the Sunamitess be given to Adonias thy brother to wife.
King Solomon to Bethsabee his mother: Why dost thou ask Abisag the Sunamitess for Adonias? Ask for him also the kingdom: for he is my elder brother…
Then King Solomon swore by the Lord saying: So and so may God do to me, and add more, if Adonias hath not spoken this word against his own life… Adonias shall be put to death this day… And King Solomon sent by the hand of Banaias… who slew him, and he died.
And the king said also to Abiathar the priest: Go to Anathoth to thy lands, for indeed thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou didst carry the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and hast endured trouble in all the trouble my father endured. So Solomon cast out Abiathar, from being the priest of the Lord, that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he spoke concerning the house of Heli in Silo.
Solomon following up on David’s Commandment 1: And the news came to Joab, because Joab had turned after Adonias… and Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord and laid hold on the horn of the altar.
Solomon sent Banaias: Go, kill him… because he murdered two men, just and better than himself: and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing it… so Banaias… went up, and setting upon him slew him, and he was buried in his house in the desert.
Solomon following up on David’s Commandment 3: The king also sent and called for Semei, and said to him: Build thee a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there: and go not out from thance any wither. For on what day soever thou shall go out… know that thou shall be put to death.
Semei to King Solomon: The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do.
And it came to pass after three years, that the servants of Semei ran away to Achis to Geth… And Semei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Achis to Geth…
King Solomon to Semei: Thou knowest all the evil, of which thy heart is conscious, which thou didst to my father: the Lord hath returned thy wickedness upon thy own head, and King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord for ever.
So the king commanded Banaias… and he went out and struck him, and he died.
3 Kings Chapter 3: Solomon marries Pharao’s daughter; Solomon sacrifices to Gabaon; Solomon asks God for wisdom; The Lord promises wisdom, riches, and glory to Solomon; Controversy between two mothers; Solomon’s wise judgment.
King Solomon made affinity with Pharao the king of Egypt: for he took his daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
But yet the people sacrificed in the high places: for there was no temple built to the name of the Lord until that day.
Gabaon… for that was the great high place…
And the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream that night, saying:
Ask what thou wilt that I should give thee.
And Solomon said:
Thou hast shown great mercy to thy servant David my father, even as he walked before thee in truth, and justice, and with an upright heart with thee: and thou hast kept thy great mercy for him, and hast given him a son to sit on the throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a child, and know not how to go out and come in. And thy servant is in the midst of the people, which thou hast chosen, an immense people, which cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, and discern between good and evil. For who shall be able to judge this people, thy people which is so numerous?
And the word was pleasing to the Lord that Solomon had asked such a thing. And the Lord said to Solomon:
Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life or riches, nor the lives of thy enemies, but hast asked for thyself wisdom to discern judgment, behold I have done for thee according to thy words, and have given thee a wise and understanding heart, insomuch that there hath been no one like thee before thee, nor shall arise after thee. Yea and the things also which thou didst not ask, I have given thee: wit, riches and glory, so that no one hath been like thee among the kings in all days heretofore. And if thou walk in my ways, and keep my precepts, and my commandments, as thy father walked, I will lengthen thy days.
And Solomon awaked, and perceived that it was a dream and when he was come to Jerusalem, he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered holocausts, and sacrificed victims of peace offerings, and made a great feast for all his servants.
There came two women that were harlots, to the king…
First Woman: Lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house, and I was delivered of a child with her in the chamber. And the third day, after that I was delivered, she also was delivered, and we were together, and no other person with us in the house, only we two. And this women’s child died in the night: for in her sleep she overlaid him. And rising in the dead time of night, she took my child from my side, while I thy handmaid was asleep, and laid it in her bosom: and had her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold it was dead: but considering him more diligently when it was clear day, I found that it was not mine which I bore.
Second Woman: It is not so as thou sayest, but thy child is dead, and mine is alive… Thou liest for my child liveth, and thy child is dead.
King Solomon: Bring me a sword… Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
But the woman whose child was alive, said to the king (for her bowels were moved upon her child), I beseech thee, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not kill it.
But the other women said: let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
King Solomon: Give the living child to this woman, and let it not be killed, for she is the mother thereof. And all of Israel heard the judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.
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