Solomon Crowned

I Kings 1:32-53

“And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. 

And they came before the king.  The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. 

Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.” (I Kings 1:32-35)

Fulfilling his promise to Bathsheba, David had Zadoc, Beniah, and Nathan take Solomon to Gihon and anoint him as the new king in David’s place.  They were to place him on David’s own mule as a sign that his coronation had David’s approval, and have it proclaimed that this was David’s appointment.

“And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.  As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.” (I Kings 1:36-37) 

Benaiah was relieved to have David’s input on the matter, and stated that he believed it was what God wanted.  His prayer and hope was that God would bless the kingdom even more under Solomon’s reign.

“So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. 

And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. 

And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.  And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.” (I Kings 1:38-40)

Zadok, Benaiah, and Nathan gathered David’s palace guard and special forces to escort  Solomon to his coronation, placing him on David’s mule as instructed to make it clear they had his approval.  Zadok performed the official anointing as the Lord had directed.

When the official anointing was complete, the priests blew with the trumpets and the people shouted “God save king Solomon,” making it clear they approved David’s choice.  They then had a parade down to the palace with the people playing music and shouting so the earth shook from the noise.

“And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?” (I Kings 1:41)

Adonijah and his guests were just finishing their celebration dinner when they hear d the trumpet.  Joab demanded to know who was stirring things up since they had not and didn’t think David would.

 “And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings. 

And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.  And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule: And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard. 

And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.  And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne.

 And the king bowed himself upon the bed.  And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.” (I Kings 1:42-48)

Abiathar had been one of Adonijah’s supporters.  His son Jonathan came to let them know David had himself made Solomon king while they were getting ready to make their own announcement.  He stressed that there could be no question as to  David’s backing, or that he had the support of David’s mighty men, as well as that of the common people.  David himself had acknowledged him as the new king, rejoicing that Solomon would be king.

“And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.  And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.” (I Kings 1:49-50)

Adonijah and his fellow conspirators had thought they could declare him king and make Solomon appear to be in the wrong.  Now they found their roles reversed, and fled, hoping avoid being connected to the conspiracy.  Adonijah himself recognized he could be charged with treason and went into the tabernacle, clinging to the altar for protection from Solomon.

“And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword. 

And Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.  So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.” (I Kings 1:51-53)

When told of Adonijah’s fear, Solomon promised he would not harm him as long as he did nothing to interfere with Solomon’s administration.  If he did anything against the kingdom, he would be executed immediately.  Adonijah agreed and came to Solomon, bowing down and promising to behave.  Solomon sent him home with no reason to fear.