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ADONIJAH’S DEATH WISH. I KINGS 2:13-25. 3/13/2022. #05.
1 Kings 2:13-25 [New King James Version]
13 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably.” 14 Moreover he said, “I have something to say to you.” And she said, “Say it.” 15 Then he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from the Lord. 16 Now I ask one petition of you; do not deny me.” And she said to him, “Say it.” 17 Then he said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.” 18 So Bathsheba said, “Very well, I will speak for you to the king.” 19 Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king’s mother; so she sat at his right hand. 20 Then she said, “I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” 21 So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.” 22 And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “Now why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also—for he is my older brother—for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life! 24 Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has confirmed me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a house for me, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!” 25 So King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he died.
1. Adonijah’s request
a. Adonijah had barely escaped execution earlier
a1. Adonijah declared himself to be king before David had died
a2. David installed Solomon as king
a3. Solomon promised to spare Adonijah if he proved himself a worthy man
b. Like David, who lusted after Bathsheba, Adonijah lusts after Abishag, David’s caregiver
a1. Since Absalom cared for the king and shared his bed, she was off limits of everyone else
a2. Absalom probably was secluded with David’s wives and concubines
c. Adonijah knows better than to approach Solomon directly for any favors (suspicion)
a1. Adonijah approaches Bathsheba to ask her to ask Sol. to give him Absalom to be his wife
a2. Adonijah figures that Solomon wouldn’t turn down any requests from his mother
d. Bathsheba did whatever was asked of her (this is her nature; not an insightful or thoughtful person)
a1. Many people are not equipped to reason
a2. Glamor was her main asset
2. Wisdom runs off the rail
a. Adonijah would have been wise to leave well enough alone
a1. Many men have been slain by lust
a2. He knew that Solomon wouldn’t grant his request, so he tried to manipulate him with his mom
b. Bath. sees nothing wrong with the request
a1. A simple desire of a man for an attractive maiden (David did worse by taking her)
a2. Especially after Adonijah acknowledged that the Lord had put Sol. on throne, Bath. Did not see him as a threat (though Adonijah claimed that all of Israel was following him)
3. Request with a death sentence
a. Solomon tells his mother that he’d grant her any wish
a1. Open ended commitments are dangerous
a2. Solomon sees the request as Adonijah’s request, not his mother’s (she was being kind and helpful)
b. Solomon explodes into anger and indignation
a1. Probably confusing to Bath.
a2. Solomon views Adonijah’s request as a threat to his rule (David’s caregiver = a connection)
a3. Solomon = sensitive to possible threats
c. Adonijah made mistakes on three levels:
a1. He needed to stay away from Solomon
a2. By going after Absalom, he raised suspicions
a3. By using Solomon’s mother, he insulted the king
d. There is a difference between fighting necessary battles and just stirring up trouble for yourself
a1. Some people speak the truth in an abrasive way, compromising their position (Ep. 4:15)
a2. Proverbs 27:12 a wise man avoids trouble
a3. Acts 5 only when trouble finds you as you promote truth and honor, is it proper
e. Adonijah picked a fight via his own desires (James 1:12-15)
a1. Absalom = not worth dying for
a2. By Adonijah manipulating Bath., he dies
f. Solomon orders the death of Adonijah
a1. Solomon figures that Adonijah will be a risk always a2. Adonijah’s lust led to his death (fatal attraction)