Abiathar Banished

Solomon had finally dealt with his traitorous brother.

It was apparent that others were involved in this latest attempt to seize the throne. Abiathar, the high priest, was evidently an accomplice, urging Adonijah to circumvent Solomon as God’s choice to succeed David. Because he supported the traitor, Abiathar deserved death for treason. Calling Abiathar before him, Solomon said, “Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the LORD God before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted” (1 Kings 2:26).

“Abiathar received mercy because of his long friendship with David in his adversity. Instead of forfeiting his life, he would merely be deprived of his office and sent home.” Abiathar must have been relieved because exile was better than death.

“The prophecy fulfilled was that of 1 Sam. 2:30–35; 3:11–14. Abiathar was a descendant of the house of Eli and was the sole survivor of the slaughter of the sons of Ahimelech by Doeg (1 Sam. 22:9–23; 23:6). With the deposition of Abiathar, the high priesthood passed from the house of Ithamar to the house of Eleazar, the elder son of Aaron, to which Zadok belonged (Num. 25:11–13; 1 Chron. 24:1–6). Both Abiathar and Zadok had hitherto acted as priests, with some measure of coordination between the two while the tabernacle was at Gibeon under Zadok’s charge, and the ark in Mt. Zion under Abiathar. After the disgrace of Abiathar the dignity of the office of the high priesthood passed to Zadok. “It must not be thought that the purpose of Solomon in humbling Abiathar was merely for the purpose of bringing about the fulfillment of prophecy. His act was prompted solely by the merits of the case. God decrees because He foresees.” “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).