Adonijah Executed
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It is appropriate to consider the reign of Solomon as an addendum to that of David, for Solomon had many loose ends to wrap up. Solomon was still a young man, and there existed in Israel undercurrents of discontent threatening his rule.
Adonijah, older brother to Solomon and rival for the throne, approached Bath-sheba with a request. His appearance in the palace following his failed coup against Solomon was highly suspicious. He wanted Bath-sheba to ask Solomon to grant him marriage to Abishag the Shunammite. He believed Solomon could refuse his mother nothing.
To Adonijah’s seemingly innocent request, Bath-sheba agreed.
She straightway presented herself to Solomon in the throne room. Solomon rose, bowed to his mother, and seated her to his right on the dais; then she presented Adonijah’s appeal. “The request of Adonijah was tantamount to treason and as such was punishable by death.”1 Solomon immediately detected the underlying purpose hidden in the request.
“Abishag was doubtless looked upon as the last wife, or at least the last concubine, of David. For Adonijah now to ask for Abishag could be construed as asking for the throne itself. . . . “. . . To have granted Adonijah’s request would have provided strong encouragement to his pretensions. Those sympathetic with him would have a firm footing on which to rest the elder brother’s claims.” Solomon was disappointed that his mother had unwittingly made herself an accomplice to Adonijah’s subtle attempt to claim the throne.
“The scheming of Adonijah was directed not only against man but also against God. It was the Lord who had established Solomon upon the throne as the successor of his father David, but now Adonijah was apparently making plans to found a dynasty through union with Abishag. That must not be permitted.” This new attempt against God’s directions could not stand, and Solomon ordered Benaiah to execute his traitorous brother.
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).
