What is the meaning of 1 Kings 2:23? Then King Solomon swore by the LORD • Solomon does not speak lightly; he calls on the covenant name of the LORD, Yahweh, anchoring his words in God’s own authority (Deuteronomy 6:13; Hebrews 6:16). • Oaths in Israel were binding; to swear “by the LORD” was to place oneself under divine judgment if found false (1 Samuel 19:6). • Solomon’s immediate response shows he sees Adonijah’s request as a direct threat, not a casual petition (1 Kings 1:52). May God punish me, and ever so severely • A familiar oath formula in Scripture—literally, “So may God do to me, and more also” (Ruth 1:17; 2 Samuel 3:9). • The king invokes the severest divine sanctions to underscore that he will act decisively. • This mirrors earlier leaders who recognized that rebellion against God-appointed authority demanded firm action (1 Samuel 3:17). if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life. • Asking for Abishag, David’s former concubine, was tantamount to claiming David’s throne (2 Samuel 16:20-22). • Adonijah had already tried to seize the kingship (1 Kings 1:5-10). Solomon had spared him once with the warning, “If he proves himself worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground” (1 Kings 1:52). • By seeking Abishag, Adonijah breaks that trust; Solomon rightly sees it as treason deserving death under the law for rebellion against God’s chosen king (Deuteronomy 17:12; 1 Kings 2:24-25). summary Solomon’s solemn oath reveals his commitment to uphold God’s righteous order in Israel. By invoking the LORD’s name and the harshest self-imprecation, he signals that Adonijah’s request is no innocent favor but a renewed bid for the throne. Scripture presents Solomon’s judgment—not as personal vengeance—but as the necessary, God-sanctioned protection of the kingdom entrusted to him. |
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