Adonijah, the fourth son of King David, is a significant figure in the narrative of the transition of power from David to Solomon. His account is primarily found in the opening chapters of 1 Kings. As the eldest surviving son of David after the deaths of Amnon and Absalom, Adonijah naturally assumed he would inherit the throne. However, his assumption was ultimately superseded by the divine and royal choice of Solomon, David's son by Bathsheba.

Adonijah's Ambition and Attempted Ascension

Adonijah's ambition to become king is evident in 1 Kings 1:5, where it is recorded, "Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying, 'I will be king.' So he prepared chariots, cavalry, and fifty men to run ahead of him." This self-exaltation and preparation for kingship reflect a common practice among ancient Near Eastern royalty, where the eldest son often assumed the throne. However, Adonijah's actions were premature and not sanctioned by his father, King David, or by divine decree.

Support and Opposition

Adonijah garnered support from key figures, including Joab, the commander of the army, and Abiathar the priest (1 Kings 1:7). This alliance with influential leaders suggests that Adonijah's claim had substantial backing, which could have led to a successful coup. However, his bid for the throne faced significant opposition from other loyalists of David, including Nathan the prophet, Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, as well as Solomon's mother, Bathsheba (1 Kings 1:8-10).

Divine and Royal Intervention

The intervention of Nathan and Bathsheba was crucial in alerting King David to Adonijah's actions. In 1 Kings 1:11-27, Nathan and Bathsheba approached David to remind him of his promise that Solomon would succeed him as king. David's response was decisive. He ordered that Solomon be anointed king immediately, as recorded in 1 Kings 1:32-35: "Then King David said, 'Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada for me.' So they came into the king’s presence. 'Take my servants with you,' said the king. 'Have my son Solomon mount my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel.'"

Adonijah's Submission and Subsequent Fate

Upon hearing of Solomon's anointing, Adonijah's supporters dispersed, and he sought refuge at the altar, fearing for his life (1 Kings 1:50-51). Solomon initially spared Adonijah, provided he proved himself worthy (1 Kings 1:52-53). However, Adonijah's later request to marry Abishag the Shunammite, a former attendant of King David, was perceived as another attempt to claim the throne. This led to his execution by Solomon's order, as recorded in 1 Kings 2:23-25.

Theological Implications

Adonijah's account underscores the biblical theme of divine election and the sovereignty of God in the establishment of leadership. Despite Adonijah's natural position as the eldest surviving son, it was Solomon whom God had chosen to succeed David. This narrative highlights the importance of divine will over human ambition and the necessity of aligning with God's purposes.

Adonijah's supersession by Solomon serves as a reminder of the biblical principle that God's plans prevail, often in ways that defy human expectations and conventions.1 Kings 2:15,22
And he said, You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: however, the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... the banks of the Nile: the Amu, born of Sokhit ... These names were recognised from the
first in the ... Adonibezek, or Jewish names such as Adonijah, Adonikam, Adoniram ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

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