The Coup Terminated

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. —1 Kings 1:49, 50

Facts were facts, unwelcome though they might be to the conspirators.

The significant fact was that Solomon, not Adonijah, sat on the royal throne.

He had been formally chosen by David as his successor; he had been caused to ride to the place of his coronation on the royal mule; he had been solemnly anointed; the royal guard was with him; Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah were all at his side; the hearts of the people were his; everything had been done properly and in order, in accord with the will of David and with the evident approval of God; the utmost publicity had been given to the whole transaction; and the only thing for the rebels now to do was to acknowledge that Solomon indeed was king.” David “bowed himself upon the bed” (1 Kings 1:47).

“The fact that David knew that his end had come and that the royal scepter must now fall into the hands of another is not without a note of sadness. But David quietly accepted his fate, prostrating himself upon his bed in humble acknowledgment of the fact that his successor sat upon the throne.” Adonijah, terrified Solomon would have him killed for attempting a coup d’état and realizing the hopelessness of the situation, sought sanctuary at the altar.

News came to Solomon that his brother wanted assurances he would not be executed. “David had shown his wisdom in dealing with the matter by setting up Solomon as king and allowing events to take their natural course rather than by sending troops to put down the usurper. Solomon took the course of wisdom and mercy by extending pardon, yet at the same time making it clear that clemency had been extended only upon condition of consequent good behavior.” “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).