1 Kings 2:13-25

1 Kings 2:13-25

[13] And Adonijah  the son  of Haggith  came  to Bathsheba  the mother  of Solomon.  And she said,  Comest  thou peaceably?  And he said,  Peaceably.  [14] He said  moreover, I have somewhat to say  unto thee. And she said,  Say on.  [15] And he said,  Thou knowest  that the kingdom  was mine, and that all Israel  set  their faces  on me, that I should reign:  howbeit the kingdom  is turned about,  and is become my brother's:  for it was his from the LORD.  [16] And now I ask  one  petition  of thee, deny  me  not. And she said  unto him, Say on.  [17] And he said,  I pray thee, unto Solomon  the king,  thee  nay,)  that he give  me Abishag  the Shunammite  to wife.  [18] And Bathsheba  said,  Well;  I will speak  for thee unto the king.  [19] Bathsheba  therefore went  unto king  Solomon,  to speak  unto him for Adonijah.  And the king  rose up  to meet  her, and bowed  himself unto her, and sat down  on his throne,  to be set  for the king's  mother;  and she sat  on his right hand.  [20] Then she said,  I desire  one  small  petition  me  not nay.  And the king  said  unto her, Ask on,  my mother:  thee  nay.  [21] And she said,  Let Abishag  the Shunammite  be given  to Adonijah  thy brother  to wife.  [22] And king  Solomon  answered  and said  unto his mother,  And why dost thou ask  Abishag  the Shunammite  for Adonijah?  ask  for him the kingdom  also; for he is mine elder  brother;  even for him, and for Abiathar  the priest,  and for Joab  the son  of Zeruiah.  [23] Then king  Solomon  sware  by the LORD,  saying,  God  do  so to me, and more also,  if Adonijah  have not spoken  this word  against his own life.  [24] Now therefore, as the LORD  liveth,  which hath established  me, and set  me on the throne  of David  my father,  and who hath made  me an house,  as he promised,  Adonijah  shall be put to death  this day.  [25] And king  Solomon  sent  by the hand  of Benaiah  the son  of Jehoiada;  and he fell  upon him that he died. 

What does 1 Kings 2:13-25 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Adonijah"s professed acceptance of Solomon"s succession overcame Bathsheba"s initial fear of him. He convinced her that he only wanted permission to marry King David"s former nurse. But Solomon saw deeper into Adonijah"s intent. Even though David had not had sexual relations with Abishag, she was part of his harem, one of the women who ministered to his most intimate needs.
"Although Abishag had been only David"s nurse, in the eyes of the people she passed as his concubine; and among the Israelites, just as with the ancient Persians (Herod. iii68), taking possession of the harem of a deceased king was equivalent to an establishment of the claim to the throne ..." [1]
Adonijah would also have found popular support among the people because he was David"s oldest living son (cf. 1 Kings 2:22). Solomon correctly regarded Adonijah"s request as an act of treason worthy of death.
1 Kings 2:24 makes it very clear that Song of Solomon , like David, had a proper view of his role under God as Israel"s king. Adonijah"s rebellion was not just against Solomon personally but against the Lord and His anointed whom He had placed on the throne.