1 Kings 1:33
"Take my servants with you," said the king. "Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon.
“Take my servants with you,” said the king.

David entrusted Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah with members of the royal household and guard, including the Cherethites and Pelethites. Their presence provided protection and public confirmation that Solomon’s installation proceeded by David’s authority, not by private ambition. In contrast to Adonijah’s self-exaltation, Solomon’s claim rested on the king’s command and the Lord’s prior purpose.

2Sa 11:1 In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war,…
2Sa 10:2 And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash,…
2Sa 15:14 And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem,…

“Set my son Solomon on my own mule

David’s personal mule marked Solomon as the acknowledged royal heir. No subject could presume to ride the king’s animal without clear authorization. The procession visibly declared that David had transferred his favor and authority to Solomon. Solomon’s peaceful accession points forward to the greater Son of David, Jesus Christ, whose kingship is established not by human grasping but by the Father’s decree.

2Sa 13:29 So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon as Absalom ordered.…
2Sa 18:9 Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants…
Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph…

and take him down to Gihon.

Gihon was the spring east of Jerusalem, near the city and accessible to the people. Solomon’s anointing there could not remain hidden, especially while Adonijah held his rival feast near En-rogel. The life-giving waters of Gihon formed a fitting setting for the public beginning of a reign through which God would establish David’s house and prepare the way for the temple.

2Ch 32:30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Spring…
2Ch 33:14 After this, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall…
Gen 2:13 The name of the second river is the Gihon;…

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The aging king of Israel who is orchestrating the succession of his son Solomon to the throne.

2. Solomon
The son of David, chosen to be the next king of Israel, representing wisdom and God's chosen leader.

3. Servants of David
Loyal followers of King David, tasked with ensuring Solomon's anointing and succession.

4. Mule
A symbol of royal authority and humility, as it was the king's own mule that Solomon was to ride.

5. Gihon
A significant location near Jerusalem, chosen for Solomon's anointing, symbolizing a place of life and blessing.
Teaching Points
Divine Appointment
God's plans are sovereign, and He appoints leaders according to His will. Solomon's anointing was not just a political move but a divine appointment.

Symbolism of Humility
Riding on a mule, rather than a horse, symbolizes humility and peace. As Christians, we are called to lead with humility, following the example of Christ.

Obedience to Authority
The servants' obedience to David's command reflects the importance of respecting and following God-ordained authority in our lives.

Significance of Location
Gihon, a place of life-giving water, symbolizes the life and blessing that come from following God's chosen path. We should seek to position ourselves in places where God's blessings flow.

Fulfillment of Prophecy
Solomon's anointing is a reminder of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. We can trust that God will fulfill His promises in our lives as well.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the anointing of Solomon reflect God's sovereignty in leadership transitions, and how can we apply this understanding in our own lives?

2. In what ways does the symbolism of Solomon riding on David's mule challenge our understanding of leadership and humility?

3. How can we ensure that we are obedient to God-ordained authority in our lives, as the servants were to David?

4. What significance does the location of Gihon hold in the context of Solomon's anointing, and how can we seek out "Gihon" moments in our spiritual journey?

5. How does the fulfillment of God's promises in Solomon's anointing encourage us to trust in His promises today, and what specific promises are you holding onto?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 49:10
The prophecy of the scepter not departing from Judah connects to Solomon's anointing as a fulfillment of God's promise to David's lineage.

2 Samuel 7:12-16
God's covenant with David about his offspring establishing a kingdom is directly related to Solomon's anointing.

Zechariah 9:9
The prophecy of a king riding on a donkey, which parallels Solomon's ride on David's mule, foreshadows the humility of Christ's entry into Jerusalem.
AdonijahA. Williamson.1 Kings 1:5-53
Ambition, DestructivePlutarch.1 Kings 1:5-53
UsurpationJ. Parker, D. D.1 Kings 1:5-53
When the Play is OutT. Adams.1 Kings 1:5-53
People
Abiathar, Abishag, Absalom, Adonijah, Bathsheba, Benaiah, Cherethites, David, Haggith, Jehoiada, Joab, Jonathan, Kerethites, Nathan, Pelethites, Rei, Shimei, Solomon, Zadok, Zeruiah
Places
En-rogel, Gihon, Jerusalem, Serpent's Stone
Topics
Beast, Bring, Cause, Caused, Gihon, Mule, Ride, Servants, Solomon, Yes
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Kings 1:33

     5127   back

1 Kings 1:5-53

     5087   David, reign of

1 Kings 1:17-35

     5581   throne

1 Kings 1:28-40

     5366   king

1 Kings 1:32-35

     5119   Solomon, life of

1 Kings 1:32-36

     8634   amen

1 Kings 1:32-37

     1461   truth, nature of

Library
David Appointing Solomon
'Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath-sheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king. 29. And the king sware, and said, As the Lord liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, 30. Even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day. 31. Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Gihon, the Same with the Fountain of Siloam.
I. In 1 Kings 1:33,38, that which is, in the Hebrew, "Bring ye Solomon to Gihon: and they brought him to Gihon"; is rendered by the Chaldee, "Bring ye him to Siloam: and they brought him to Siloam." Where Kimchi thus; "Gihon is Siloam, and it is called by a double name. And David commanded, that they should anoint Solomon at Gihon for a good omen, to wit, that, as the waters of the fountain are everlasting, so might his kingdom be." So also the Jerusalem writers; "They do not anoint the king, but
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Adonijah
BY REV. ALFRED ROWLAND, D.D., LL.B. It is notorious that the sons of devout men sometimes prove a curse to their parents, and bring dishonour on the cause of God. When Eve rejoiced over her first-born, she little suspected that passions were sleeping within him which would impel him to slay his own brother; and the experience of the first mother has been repeated, though in different forms, in all lands and in all ages. Isaac's heart was rent by the deceit of Jacob, and by the self-will of Esau.
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Whether Prayer Should be Vocal?
Objection 1: It would seem that prayer ought not to be vocal. As stated above [3025](A[4]), prayer is addressed chiefly to God. Now God knows the language of the heart. Therefore it is useless to employ vocal prayer. Objection 2: Further, prayer should lift man's mind to God, as stated above (A[1], ad 2). But words, like other sensible objects, prevent man from ascending to God by contemplation. Therefore we should not use words in our prayers. Objection 3: Further, prayer should be offered to God
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Reign of David.
2 Sam.; 1 Chron. Chs. 11-29; 1 K 1:1-2:11. His Reign over Judah. The reign of David is divided into two parts. The first part was over Judah, with the capitol at Hebron, and lasted seven and one-half years. During this period Ishbosheth, son of Saul, reigned over Israel in the North. It is probable that both of these kings were regarded as vassals of the Philistines and paid tribute. On account of rival leaders, there was constant warfare between these two rival kings. The kingdom of Judah, however,
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Typified in the Lives of Joseph and Solomon.
In the Old Testament there are numerous references to the Second Coming of Christ, references both direct and typical, but in every instance it was His return to the earth which was in view. The secret coming of Christ into the air, to catch up the saints to Himself, was an event quite unknown to the Old Testament prophets, an event kept secret until revealed by God to the apostle Paul who, when writing to the Corinthians upon this particular aspect of our subject, said, "Behold, I show you a mystery
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

Of Justification by Faith. Both the Name and the Reality Defined.
Sections. 1. Connection between the doctrine of Justification and that of Regeneration. The knowledge of this doctrine very necessary for two reasons. 2. For the purpose of facilitating the exposition of it, the terms are explained. 1. What it is to be justified in the sight of God. 2. To be justified by works. 3. To be justified by faith. Definition. 3. Various meanings of the term Justification. 1. To give praise to God and truth. 2. To make a vain display of righteousness. 3. To impute righteousness
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Prov. 22:06 the Duties of Parents
"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."--Prov. 22:6. I SUPPOSE that most professing Christians are acquainted with the text at the head of this page. The sound of it is probably familiar to your ears, like an old tune. It is likely you have heard it, or read it, talked of it, or quoted it, many a time. Is it not so? But, after all, how little is the substance of this text regarded! The doctrine it contains appears scarcely known, the duty it puts
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

Tit. 2:06 Thoughts for Young Men
WHEN St. Paul wrote his Epistle to Titus about his duty as a minister, he mentioned young men as a class requiring peculiar attention. After speaking of aged men and aged women, and young women, he adds this pithy advice, "Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded" (Tit. 2:6). I am going to follow the Apostle's advice. I propose to offer a few words of friendly exhortation to young men. I am growing old myself, but there are few things I remember so well as the days of my youth. I have a most
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

Christ a Complete Saviour:
OR, THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST, AND WHO ARE PRIVILEGED IN IT. BY JOHN BUNYAN Advertisement by the Editor. However strange it may appear, it is a solemn fact, that the heart of man, unless prepared by a sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, rejects Christ as a complete Saviour. The pride of human nature will not suffer it to fall, as helpless and utterly undone, into the arms of Divine mercy. Man prefers a partial Saviour; one who had done so much, that, with the sinner's aid, the work might be
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.),
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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