What does Adonijah's request reveal about his understanding of Solomon's authority? The Scene: Bathsheba Brings the Request 1 Kings 2:21: “So she said, ‘Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.’” What Adonijah’s Petition Tells Us • He approaches through Bathsheba, not directly—acknowledging Solomon’s right to grant or deny requests. • He uses the language of favor (“please speak to King Solomon for me,” v. 17), signaling that approval rests solely with the king. • He does not challenge the throne openly; his earlier rebellion (1 Kings 1:5-10) has taught him that the crown is firmly on Solomon’s head by divine decree (1 Kings 2:15). • Yet he seeks Abishag, David’s last companion (1 Kings 1:3-4). In ancient Near Eastern culture, possession of a former king’s consort implied a claim to royal rights (cf. 2 Samuel 16:21-22). Adonijah assumes Solomon’s authority can be manipulated or taken lightly. • His request therefore reveals a mixed understanding: outward submission, inward presumption. Signals of Submission—Yet Superficial • Calls Solomon “the king” (v. 17) • Admits, “the kingdom has turned to my brother—for it was his from the LORD” (v. 15) • Still schemes to elevate his own status—showing he respects the throne’s power but not the king’s discernment. Hints of Hidden Ambition Solomon interprets the plea as another bid for the crown: 1 Kings 2:22-24: “And why shouldn’t he have the kingdom as well? … As surely as the LORD lives … Adonijah shall be put to death this very day!” • Solomon discerns that Adonijah sees the throne as negotiable. • Adonijah’s request exposes a heart unwilling to relinquish aspirations, despite verbal acknowledgment of Solomon’s rule. The Larger Biblical Thread on God-Given Authority • Romans 13:1—“There is no authority except from God.” Solomon embodies that principle; Adonijah intellectually agrees but practically resists. • Proverbs 24:21—“Fear the LORD and the king.” Adonijah fears neither fully. • Daniel 2:21—God “removes kings and establishes them.” Solomon’s enthronement was God’s doing (1 Chronicles 29:23). Takeaway for Today’s Reader • True recognition of God-ordained authority involves wholehearted submission, not strategic compliance. • Words of respect are empty when motives conflict with God’s established order. • Like Solomon, believers must pair mercy with wisdom, discerning motives behind polite requests (Philippians 1:9-10). |
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