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Solomon’s Consolidation of Power
First Kings 2: 1-46

This extended chapter marks the transition of power from father David to son Solomon, reporting David’s death and Solomon’s ruthless consolidation of power. The chapter divides into David’s advice to his son (to see link click Ao – David’s Last Words) and Solomon’s actions that only partly correspond to his father’s counsel (see Ap – Putting the Kingdom First). In First Kings 2:12 we read that Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established because the books of Kings give us the human perspective focusing on the Davidic dynasty. And in First Chronicles 29:23 it is called the throne of ADONAI because the books of the Chronicles gives us the Godly perspective. The end of the verse says: He prospered and all Isra’el obeyed him. This helps us to understand David’s last words to Solomon. He was concerned with the sins of Joab and Shim’i that might bring bloodguilt upon the kingdom and thus endanger it from the Divine side; and concerned for Solomon’s security because Joab had long been a problem as was Adonijah, and Shim’i was a member of the house of Sha’ul the Benjamite and thus they might endanger the kingdom from the human side.48