1 Kings 1:28-53--Solomon Anointed King

1 Kings 1:28-53
English Standard Version

Solomon Anointed King
28 Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king's presence and stood before the king. 29 And the king swore, saying, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, 30 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.” 31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and paid homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

32 King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. 33 And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.” 36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say so. 37 As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”

38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David's mule and brought him to Gihon. 39 There Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise.

41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “What does this uproar in the city mean?” 42 While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news.” 43 Jonathan answered Adonijah, “No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king, 44 and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they had him ride on the king's mule. 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard. 46 Solomon sits on the royal throne. 47 Moreover, the king's servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king bowed himself on the bed. 48 And the king also said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne this day, my own eyes seeing it.’”

49 Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way. 50 And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then it was told Solomon, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 52 And Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” 53 So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

---

It seems that at some point during Nathan's and David's conversation, Bathsheba left the room.  Once Nathan and David are done, David calls for Bathsheba to come to come and stand before him.  David renews his covenant with Bathsheba concerning Solomon and says that he will take care of it that very day.

David calls for all those who have remained faithful to him, especially Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the head of his elite soldiers who provided protection for the king along with all of the mercenaries that had sword allegiance to David and were part of his special forces.  They now would be loyal to Solomon and protect him.  David says that Solomon should ride on David's own mule and Nathan and Zadok should anoint Solomon as king over all of Israel, blow the trumpets and announce to all the people "Long live King Solomon."  This puts the people in a predicament because two different priests have anointed two different kings.  The people will have to chose now which king is the rightful king and therefore which king they will follow.

Adonijah gets the bad news delivered to him just as he's finishing his feast.  It is reported that even David bowed before Solomon.  Adonijah and those with him know they are in big trouble and they fear that David or Solomon will have them executed.  The only place they know to run for safety is to the altar in the Temple where they can grab onto the horns of the altar and should be saved, for no human blood is to be shed inside the sanctuary--only blood of innocent sacrifices that are killed on the altar to make atonement.  King Solomon will not swear not to put him to death, but swears that he will have mercy on Adonijah if he is found to be a worthy man, but if he is found to be a wicked man, then he will die (according to the Law).

When Solomon called for Adonijah and all of the men with him, they all came and paid homage to King Solomon.  After they sword their allegiance to Solomon he sent them on their way back to their homes.  In general, Solomon's reign will be known as one of peace and not of bloodshed like that of his father David.

The rest of the book of 1 Kings will follow the reign and rule of King Solomon.