What is the meaning of 1 Kings 2:17? Adonijah replied Adonijah has already attempted to seize the throne (1 Kings 1:5-10) and has been spared by Solomon on the condition that he prove “a worthy man” (1 Kings 1:52). • His immediate approach to Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:13) shows he still schemes, even after promising loyalty. • Like Absalom before him, he masks ambition beneath polite words (2 Samuel 15:1-6). • The narrative reminds us that the human heart, apart from God’s transforming grace, clings to self-exaltation (Jeremiah 17:9). Please speak to King Solomon Bathsheba, as queen mother, enjoys unique access to the throne (1 Kings 2:19). • Adonijah leverages that influence, hoping her intercession will shield his true motive. • Similar royal protocols appear when Esther approaches King Xerxes (Esther 5:1-2), illustrating a common Near Eastern custom: a trusted woman gains audience where others might fail. since he will not turn you down Adonijah counts on Solomon’s filial honor toward Bathsheba (Exodus 20:12) and assumes maternal pleas are irresistible. • He misreads Solomon’s discernment (1 Kings 3:9-12) and underestimates the king’s awareness of political threats. • Pretending innocence, he couches his bid as a simple favor, echoing how Satan presents temptation as harmless (Genesis 3:4-5). Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife Abishag was David’s final attendant and, by custom, part of the royal household (1 Kings 1:3-4). • Possessing the late king’s concubine signified a claim to the throne (2 Samuel 16:21-22). • Adonijah’s request therefore hints at a renewed bid for legitimacy. • Solomon later exposes this motive: “Ask for him the kingdom as well” (1 Kings 2:22). • Scripture repeatedly warns that ungodly ambition uses subtle maneuvers (James 3:14-16). summary Verse 17 records more than a harmless marriage proposal; it reveals a calculated move by a previously rebellious son. By channeling his petition through Bathsheba and seeking a woman whose status symbolized royal authority, Adonijah masks a fresh grasp at power. Solomon will recognize the hidden agenda and act decisively, protecting the God-ordained succession. 1 Kings 2:17 thus serves as a sober lesson on the persistence of prideful ambition and the need for godly discernment in leadership. |
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