Putting the Kingdom First
First Kings 2: 13-46
Putting the Kingdom first DIG: Why does Adonijah want Abishag as his wife? What did sleeping with the king’s concubines symbolize? Why did he make the request through Bathsheba? What did Solomon see behind his brother’s request? Why did Solomon banish Abiathar and execute Joab immediately after Adonijah’s request? Why did Abiathar deserve to die? Why did Joab flee to the Tabernacle? What justification did Solomon offer for Joab’s execution? Did Solomon act righteously or was he simply eliminating a political threat? Why did Solomon merely sentence Shim’i to house arrest? How did Solomon ultimately justify Shim’i’s execution? How and when will Yeshua Messiah eliminate His enemies?
REFLECT: Solomon seemed to be acting with traditional wisdom of state, “Do unto others before they do unto you.” What do you think of this popular motto? Is it unreasonable to protect yourself? In your requests to ADONAI, can you ever ask too much of Him? What guidelines keep your requests in check? Many modern governments still use the tactics of assassination and sentencing without trial. This is not an ideal state of affairs, nor does it support the notion that modern society has improved. Are we making any progress in human rights today? In what ways are we no further advanced than the ancient Israelites? Are you too soft on those who wrong you? In what ways are you putting the Kingdom of God first?
What is the one thing that is keeping me from giving everything to the Kingdom of God?
During Adonijah’s attempt to preempt the throne, Solomon himself did not indulge in plotting to make certain that he would be the next king. In fact, he exercised remarkable restraint. But once he was formally declared king, he acted firmly with decisiveness and speed.58 Many commentators are critical of the king moving down this hit list. Maybe there is some truth in that criticism, and First and Second Kings is mainly about power politics. However, we need to remember that Solomon was ADONAI’s anointed king. He had been properly crowned, according to the promise of God. Therefore, it was necessary for Solomon’s kingdom to be established. This was necessary, in fact, for the salvation of the whole world, because YHVH had promised that our Messiah would come through the line of David and Solomon. Furthermore, everyone in Isra’el owed their full allegiance to Solomon the rightful king. This was not merely a matter of politics, but a question of obedient submission to the Kingdom of God. If the Kingdom was to be secure, the threats against it had to be neutralized. And since those men were Solomon’s rivals, they were also the enemies of the crown that Ha’Shem had placed on Solomon’s head.
Thus, Adonijah and his henchmen were guilty of the sin of high treason, which has always been rightly regarded as a capital offense. We are not talking about men who merely disagreed with Solomon’s policies, but about men who wanted to take his very crown. The correct and proper way for a king to punish such mortal enemies is not by giving them liberty, but by giving them death, or at least exile. The security of the kingdom requires the elimination of its enemies (see the commentary on Revelation, to see link click Ex – The Eight Stage Campaign of Armageddon). The kingdom must come first, by preserving it from those trying to undermine and destroy it. To disagree with this form of justice is to misunderstand what it means for a king to be a king. As different situations arose, Solomon needed to heed the counsel of his father David and establish his kingdom by eliminating his enemies.
Solomon had four enemies to eliminate: Adonijah, Abiathar, Joab, and Shim’i. It is important to recognize that each of these men put their own desire for money, sex, or power ahead of loving obedience to the Kingdom of God. Thus, the accounts of these men give us test cases for temptation in our own lives. The first man Solomon had to deal with was Adonijah, who wanted sex and power more than he wanted God’s Kingdom.59
Adonijah’s foolish request and execution (First Kings 2:13-25): In contrast to Solomon’s wisdom, Adonijah made a foolish request. After David’s death, Adonijah came to Bathsheba and made an enormous miscalculation. He wanted to be given Abishag, the Shunamite who had last ministered to the king (First Kings 1:1-2). Later Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. “Is your coming in shalom, in good faith, not to make trouble?” she asked. “It is in shalom,” he said deceitfully. Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” “Speak!” she said (First Kings 2:13-14).
With at least a trace of bitterness, he reminded the queen mother, using a bit of exaggeration: You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Isra’el looked to me to be the king. However, in a massive understatement he observed, “But things have changed and the kingship has gone to my brother – for it was his from ADONAI. So now one petition I ask of you; do not deny me. “Speak!” she said to him. Then he said: Please, speak to King Solomon – for he won’t turn you down – to give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife. This seemed like such a small request. “Very well,” said Bathsheba, “I will speak to the king for you” (First Kings 2:15-18). There is no indication that Bathsheba would speak on his behalf and be willing to support the request. She would speak about him, but not for him.
How easy it is for us to take the same attitude when the disappointments of life get in the way of our plans for our own kingdoms! We suffer a financial setback, a medical hardship, or a failed relationship. Then, rather than believing that the mercy of Yeshua is enough for us, and trusting our King to know what He is doing, we demand something to make up for what we have lost. “I deserve this,” we say, and then we take something for ourselves that God does not want us to have – some sinful pleasure, perhaps, or some shiny new toy. Rather than letting go of what we want so that we can have what ADONAI wants to give us, we find a way to take what we want for ourselves.60
Dear Heavenly Father, What a great and wonderful father You are! It is a comfort to know that in Your love and power You always give me exactly what I need. The Lord is my helper; I will not fear (Hebrews 13:5c-6a). ADONAI gives grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalms 84:11b-c). Sometimes the need is for strength, sometimes financial, sometimes wisdom, but whatever I need, You are always right there to help guide and to provide. For God Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” so that with confidence we say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What will man do to me” (Hebrews 13:5b-6)?
Praise You that I can trust You completely to guide me in situations and to give me what I really need. I find great peace that when I rest in the knowledge that though situations in my life do not look as I want them to look, as I surrender my all to You, You will work to guide all details of my life to Your glory! Praise You that in Your perfect knowledge You know when to say “Yes”, “No” and “Wait.” You carefully consider my every request. Praise Your Almighty power and Your compassionate love. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen
What Adonijah wanted to take was Abishag. The problem with his request was that she had the status of a concubine, which was part of the king’s harem, and as Absalom found out – anyone claiming a woman in the king’s harem, claimed to be the king (Second Samuel 16:20-23)! He made his pitiful request to the queen mother by reminding her that he was “supposed” to be the king, and receiving Abishag would be a nice little consolation prize. In making his request, however, Adonijah foolishly signed his own death warrant.
Unfortunately for Adonijah, the queen mother did what she promised. Bathsheba dutifully relayed the request to Solomon, perhaps with rolling eyes. She seemed to be an indifferent messenger. But surely, she understood, as Adonijah apparently did not, the inevitable outcome of the request. The king rose up to greet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat down on his throne and had a throne set up for the king’s mother, and she sat at his right hand. Using almost the same words as Adonijah, she said: I ask one small petition of you; do not deny. “Ask, my mother,” the king said to her, “for I will not turn you down.” So she said: Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife (First Kings 2:19-21).
Solomon’s response was swift and clear. Ask for Abishag? Why not ask for the entire kingdom as well?! Adonijah had not only threatened Solomon, but he had failed to accept the will of God. Then King Solomon swore by ADONAI saying: May God do so to me and even more, if Adonijah does not pay with his own life for this request! Now therefore, as ADONAI lives who has established me and set me on the throne of my father David, and who has made me a house as He promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day. Then Benaiah, the hatchet man of the new regime, was dispatched by king Solomon and the rebellious Adonijah was executed (First Kings 2:22-25). The force of Solomon’s response likely indicates his awareness that he was still more than a little vulnerable. After all, not only Adonijah, but Joab and Abiathar were still alive. It seemed that the party of Adonijah was still alive as well.61 So Adonijah came to a bad end. His sinful request proved that he was not a worthy man. He knew that Solomon was supposed to be the king, but he refused to submit to his kingship. He would not put the Kingdom of God first, so he perished in his sins.
Bathsheba never appears in the book again, so it is appropriate to assess her actions concerning Adonijah here. It is unmistakably clear that the queen mother was a most formidable presence in the ancient world of royal intrigue, and Bathsheba was no novice. She lived in the palace and was a major player in her son’s rise to power (Al – A Royal Conspiracy). In addition, she fully understood the intricacies of harem politics more than anyone because she was in charge of the royal harem! She would have hardly aided her son’s chief rival. Therefore, we must conclude that Bathsheba understood the nature of Adonijah’s request and prudently warned her son of his rival’s inept power play.62
Solomon banishes Abiathar (First Kings 2:26-27): Abiathar had to be dealt with for his support of Adonijah (see Ak – King Me!). In Solomon’s mind, Abiathar remained a pro-Adonijah threat to his newly established kingship. So the king said to Abiathar, “Go to Anathoth,” which was about three-and-a-half miles north of Jerusalem. It was a Levitical city for the tribe of Benjamin where priests lived when not in active service (Joshua 21:1-3 and 18; Jeremiah 1:1). Abiathar deserved to die because he opposed not only David’s will but also the will of ADONAI in the matter of succession. But Solomon mercifully added: I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of ADONAI Elohim before my father David, and because you were afflicted in everything with which my father was afflicted (see the commentary on the Life of David Dp – David Flees from Absalom). Notice the words: I will not put you to death now. The reprieve from execution was seemingly dependent on Abiathar’s continued good behavior. So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from being the high priest to ADONAI – so fulfilling the word of ADONAI that He spoke at Shiloh about the house of Eli (First Samuel 2:30-36).63
Solomon had Joab executed (First Kings 2:28-34): Having heard of Solomon’s actions with regard to Adonijah and Abiathar, Joab knew that his judgment would not be long in coming. When the news came to Joab, he fled to the Tabernacle and grasped the horns of the bronze altar – for Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. It was reported to King Solomon that Joab had fled to the Tabernacle, and was by the bronze altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, saying: Go, strike him down (First Kings 2:28-29)!
So Benaiah came to the Tabernacle and said to him, “Thus says the king: Come out!” But he replied: No, for I will die here. Joab’s refusal created a serious dilemma for Benaiah, who did not want to carry out the execution in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. So he reported back to the king saying: Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me (First Kings 2:30). In response, the king repeated his orders and made it very clear why Joab deserved to die.
Then the king commanded him, saying: Do as he has said – strike him down. Then bury him. So you will remove the blood that Joab shed without cause from me and from my father’s house. Thus, ADONAI will return his blood on his own head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he – Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Isra’el (see the Life of David Ck – Joab Murders Abner), and Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah (see the Life of David Ee – Sheba Rebels Against David: The Murder of Amasa) – and killed them with the sword, without my father David’s knowledge. May the guilt of their blood return upon the head of Joab and upon the head of his offspring forever, but to David and his descendants and his house, and his throne, may there be shalom forever from ADONAI.” Then Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck him down and killed him, and he was buried in his own house in Bethlehem (2 Sam 2:32). This was an act of honor for old general for his previous loyalty (1 Kings 2:31-33).
ADONAI abhors wrongful violence, and Joab was a violent man. He was guilty of shedding innocent blood, and his bloodguilt for that sin had not yet been paid. The Torah declares that whoever sheds the blood of a man, by man shall his blood be shed (Genesis 9:6). If Solomon did not deal justly with Joab by giving him the punishment that his sins deserved, then the king would become guilty himself, for it was his responsibility to see that justice was done. Only then could Solomon’s kingdom be established in shalom.
Then Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck him down and killed him, and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness (First Kings 2:34). The Bible seems to imply that Benaiah killed Joab right in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. However, he may have done what the Torah required in that situation, which was to drag the criminal away from the bronze altar and put him to death outside the Tabernacle (Exodus 21:14). The bronze altar of God was never meant to protect someone who was guilty of premeditated murder.
In the end, Joab got what he deserved. His unhappy demise reminds us never to excuse our own love for violence. To batter one’s spouse, to strike someone in anger, to use hateful and threatening words, even to think murderous thoughts – these are sins against the peace of humanity and the holiness of God. If we do not repent of our violent hearts, but insist on abusing power to get what we want from other people, we will suffer the consequences in this life (see the commentary on Hebrews Cz – God Disciplines His Children). Going to church will not save us, any more than going to the Tabernacle saved Joab. The only thing that can save us is a blood offering to atone for our guilty souls. Praise God, this is exactly the offering that Yeshua made when He was crucified; a blood atonement for all our sins. It is simply not enough to be desperate for mercy, as Joab was; we must also come to ADONAI in true repentance for our sins and genuine faith in Yeshua Messiah.64
The promotion of Benaiah and Zadok (First Kings 2:35): Solomon wasted little time to fortify his regime. Then the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and Zadok the king appointed in Abiathar’s place as high priest (First Kings 2:35). A quick review of those who supported Adonijah’s attempted coup makes it clear that the old guard had been eliminated and new appointees were made. However, Benaiah was ruthless for Solomon as Joab had been for David. And he was duly rewarded for his brutality with a promotion.65 The descendents of Zadok retained the priesthood until 171 BC, when Antiochus conferred it to Menelaus. The Essenes at Qumran were at odds with the priests of the day and awaited the restoration of the Zadokites, whom they looked upon as the only legitimate priestly family. We don’t see the sons of Zadok again until they are ministering in the Messianic Temple (see the commentary on Jeremiah Gs – God Shows a Vision of the Millennial Temple).66 The elimination of Adonijah, Abiathar, and Joab made the new regime secure. But there was one more score to be settled from David’s list (see Ao – David’s Last Words: Unfinished Business).
Shim’i’s disobedience and execution (First Kings 2:36-36): The last man to suffer Solomon’s wrath was Shim’i, who was condemned for putting money ahead of the Kingdom of God. We have heard part of his story before, Shim’i was the man who threw stones at King David, cursing him and wrongly accusing him of murder (see the Life of David Ds – Shim’i Curses David). David vowed not to kill Shim’i, but Solomon was not bound by his father’s oath. So in his last words David advised Solomon to bring his gray head down to the grave in blood (First Kings 2:8-9).67
Mercifully, what Solomon decided to do instead was to place Shim’i under a general house arrest, ordering him not to leave Jerusalem. Then the king sent and summoned Shim’i, and commanded him: “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, and depart not from there anywhere else. For on the day, you go out and cross over the Kidron valley, know for certain that you shall surely die – your blood shall be on your own head.” By forbidding Shim’i to leave Jerusalem, Solomon kept him isolated from his kinsmen of Benjamin who had taken the lead in the revolt against David under Sheba (see the Life of David Ee – Sheba Rebels Against David). Shim’i was forbidden to go anywhere outside Jerusalem, but the Kidron valley received special mention for it is on the direct route toward Bahurim, Shim’i’s hometown.68 Shim’i agreed to Solomon’s gracious terms, posturing himself as a faithful servant of the king, saying: What you say is good. As my lord the king has said, so will your servant do. So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days (First Kings 2:36-38). Having given his word, all he had to do was stay put in Jerusalem.
However, Shim’i would not sit still, and he eventually violated the terms of his parole: But it came about at the end of three years that two of Shim’i’s servants ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath, located twenty-five miles from Jerusalem. So they told Shim’i, saying: Behold, your servants are in Gath. So Shim’i arose, saddled his donkey and went to Gath to Achish, to look for his servants; then Shim’i went and brought his servants back from Gath (First Kings 2:39-40). Had he taken the conditions of his confinement seriously and been an honest man, he would have gone to Solomon and requested either that the king would fetch his slaves for him or else allow him to make the trip himself. Now Shim’i didn’t actually cross the Kidron valley to chase his servants, maybe he thought that he didn’t violate the spirit of Solomon’s ban. If so, he made a colossal mistake. The king obviously interpreted the travel ban to be on going “anywhere else” rather than on a literal crossing of the Kidron valley. By breaking his oath to God and to Solomon, the one who had cursed David had ironically cursed himself!
The root of Shim’i’s crime was his refusal to put the Kingdom first. His own financial gain was more important to him than obedience to the Kingdom of God. He was like the rich young ruler that Yeshua commanded to sell everything he had and then give the money to the poor (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Il – The Rich Young Ruler). He sadly refused because he loved his money more than he loved the Kingdom of God. Shim’i made the same ungodly decision. He wanted to keep all of his property for himself. He couldn’t bear to let any of it go, even when that meant disobeying the king and breaking his promise to God.
But it was reported to Solomon that Shim’i had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and back. So the king sent someone and summoned Shim’i. The king said to him, “Didn’t I make you swear by ADONAI and forewarned you, saying: Know for certain that on the day you depart and go anywhere else, you shall surely die? You even said to me: “The saying is good; I have heard it.” Why then haven’t you kept the oath of ADONAI and the commandment that I charged you with” (First Kings 2:41-43)? But Shim’i had nothing to say in his defense. He had foolishly disregarded the direct command of his sovereign king, who he had promised to obey with a solemn oath taken in the presence of YHVH.
Then the king proceeded to pronounce Shim’i’s doom: You know all the evil, which your heart should acknowledge, that you did to my father David. Therefore, ADONAI will return your evil on your own head. But I shall be blessed and the throne of David established before ADONAI forever.” Solomon rehearsed Shim’i’s crimes, both past and present. Then the sentence was quickly executed: So the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck him down, so that he died. Then all the rebellious supporters of Adonijah had been crushed. David’s instructions had been carried out, and Solomon had proved himself to be a wise king. Thus, the kingdom was secured in his hands (First Kings 2:44-46). With the death of Shim’i there would be no more challenges from the house of Sha’ul.
Each of these men that Solomon executed had one thing that they refused to give up for the Kingdom of God. Adonijah had to have Abishag, Joab would not give up his desire for revenge for the death of his brother, and Shim’i would not let go of his servants.
We face similar temptations. Some of us are like Shim’i: our temptation is what money can buy. So we are unwilling to walk away from a lucrative business deal that is not entirely honest. Or we build our careers at the expense of our families. Or we shortchange God by skimping on our tithes and offerings. Other people are like Adonijah: we pursue sexual gratification ahead of our commitment to the Kingdom. Or, like Joab, we are guilty of angry violence.
The question for each of us is this: What is the one thing that is keeping me from giving everything to the Kingdom of God? It’s like all or nothing with ADONAI, as it is for every self-respecting king. It is the character of a king to demand total allegiance. If we follow God only when He gives us what we want, then we are not treating Him like a King, but only as a servant. To put God first, He has to be first in every aspect of our lives, including the one thing we really don’t want to give up for His Kingdom, whatever that one thing may be.69
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