Another Plot Against David

As a person gets older their body gradually stops functioning as it did when they were young.  As David approached seventy, his metabolism slowed downand his body produced less heat.  Since they didn’t have central heating or electric blankets, he got cold at night.  His wives were old also, and were probably barely able to keep themselves warm, so a young lady was found to care for him and keep him warm, in I Kings 1:1-4.  “Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.  Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.  So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.  And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.”  David was only interested in getting warm, and although the lady cared about him there was no sexual relationship between them.   

Two of David’s older sons had been killed, and seeing his father’s failing health, his fourth son, Adonijh decided he should be the next king and conspired to take usurp the throne, in I Kings 1:5-8.  “Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.  And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.  And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.  But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.”

 Two of his co conspirators were Joab, David’s general, and Abaithar the priest, both of whom had been faithful supporters of David in the past, but most of David’s supporters were not involved.  Adonijah held a big gathering at Enrogel where he he was to be declared king and they could plan their takeover if israel.  He deliberately did not invite those he though might oppose him in hopes of being able to take over before David realized what was happening, according to I Kings 1:9-10.  “And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants: But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.”

David was so focused on his physical problems he had neglected his office, and thus was unaware what was going on.  When Nathan learned about the plot, he enlisted Bathsheba and others to help him make David see the threat Adonijah posed, in I Kings 1:11-28.  “Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?  Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.  Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.  And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king.

And the king said, What wouldest thou?

And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.  And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not: And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.  And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.  Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.  And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?  For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.  But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.  Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

Nathan knew that David had told Bathsheba that Solomon was to be the next king.  He made a point of reminding David that if Adonijah became king, he would probably have Solomon and Bathsheba killed to remove any questions.  Though David’s health was failing, he was still sharp enough to understand what was happening and make plans to prevent the effort to unseat him, as I kings 1:28-3 informs us.  “Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.  And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, 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.

Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.”