Solomon Anointed
|
David took immediate steps to thwart Adonijah.
He summoned Zadok, the high priest; Nathan, the prophet; and Benaiah, the captain of his bodyguard. He gave the following instructions: “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” (1 Kings 1:33–35).
The people would recognize David’s mule and know their king was publicly abdicating in favor of Solomon. As reigning king, David had the absolute right to name his successor, and he did so at this time. His instructions were explicit.
David had been anointed by Samuel, who was both prophet and priest (1 Samuel 16:13). Now Solomon would be anointed by both a prophet and a priest to his duties as king of Israel and Judah. This would be no covert ceremony.
Gihon, the location selected for Solomon’s anointing, was just east of Jerusalem, about half a mile north of En-rogel, where Adonijah’s sham coronation was taking place.
Upon reaching Gihon, Zadok anointed Solomon with oil from the tabernacle, the trumpet was blown, and those present rejoiced greatly.
Joab, being a military man, first took notice of the sound of the trumpet.
“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?” (1 Kings 1:41). Jonathan, son of Abiathar, once loyal (2 Samuel 15:27, 36; 17:17–21) but now a coconspirator, arrived at Adonijah’s ceremony with news.
He had probably been left behind in Jerusalem to spy on the palace.
He informed the gathering that Solomon had been anointed king with David’s blessing and that he sat upon the throne (1 Kings 1:42–48).
“The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth” (Proverbs 10:30).
