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1 Kings 1: A Throne Almost Stolen

As aged David lingers near death, his son Adonijah seizes the crown, until Nathan and Bathsheba move to see Solomon anointed king.

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1 Kings 1 (WEB)

1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn’t keep warm.

2 Therefore his servants said to him, “Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin. Let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.”

3 So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king didn’t know her intimately.

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, “Why have you done so?” and he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.

7 He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah killed sheep and cattle and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants:

10 but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he didn’t call.

11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn’t know it?

12 Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon.

13 Go in to king David, and tell him, ‘Didn’t you, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? Why then does Adonijah reign?’

14 Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words.”

15 Bathsheba went in to the king into the room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.

16 Bathsheba bowed, and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”

17 She said to him, “My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your handmaid, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’

18 Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don’t know it.

19 He has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army; but he hasn’t called Solomon your servant.

20 You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.”

22 Behold, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

23 They told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet!” When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

24 Nathan said, “My lord, king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?’

25 For he is gone down this day, and has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and say, ‘Long live king Adonijah!’

26 But he hasn’t called me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven’t shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

28 Then king David answered, “Call to me Bathsheba.” She came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.

29 The king swore, and said, “As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

30 most certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place;’ most certainly so will I do this day.”

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and showed respect to the king, and said, “Let my lord king David live forever!”

32 King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king.

33 The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.

34 Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet, and say, ‘Long live king Solomon!’

35 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.”

36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, “Amen. May Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so.

37 As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.”

38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride on king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.

39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, “Long live king Solomon!”

40 All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound.

41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?”

42 While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said, “Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.”

43 Jonathan answered Adonijah, “Most certainly our lord king David has made Solomon king.

44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule.

45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.

46 Also, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.

47 Moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne;’ and the king bowed himself on the bed.

48 Also thus said the king, ‘Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it.’”

49 All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and each man went his way.

50 Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

51 It was told Solomon, saying, “Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, behold, he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”

52 Solomon said, “If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.”

53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

Summary

King David has grown old and feeble, unable even to keep warm, and his fourth son Adonijah seizes the moment to exalt himself, declaring, “I will be king.” He gathers chariots, horsemen, and runners, and wins over Joab the commander and Abiathar the priest, then holds a coronation feast at En Rogel, pointedly leaving out Nathan, Benaiah, and Solomon. The prophet Nathan acts quickly, sending Bathsheba to remind the king of his sworn promise that Solomon would reign, and then arriving to confirm her words. David rouses himself and acts decisively, ordering Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah to set Solomon on the royal mule, bring him to Gihon, and anoint him king to the sound of the trumpet. The people rejoice so loudly that the earth seems to shake, and the news reaches Adonijah's feast, scattering his guests in fear. Adonijah flees to grasp the horns of the altar, pleading for his life, and Solomon spares him on the condition that he prove himself worthy. The chapter shows a kingdom hanging in the balance and a true king established not by self-assertion but by the word and promise of God.

Main Characters

  • Adonijah — David's handsome, undisciplined son who exalts himself and tries to seize the throne, then flees to the altar in fear when Solomon is crowned.
  • Solomon — Bathsheba's son and David's chosen heir, anointed king at Gihon according to David's oath, who shows early restraint by sparing his rival.
  • Nathan the prophet — God's prophet who discerns Adonijah's plot and acts with Bathsheba to ensure David fulfills his promise that Solomon would reign.
  • Bathsheba — Solomon's mother, who comes before David to remind him of his sworn word and to secure her son's place on the throne.

Key Verse

1 Kings 1:30 (WEB)

most certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place;’ most certainly so will I do this day.”

Lessons Learned

  • Self-exaltation grasps at thrones, but God establishes the king of his own choosing.
  • An undisciplined heart, never once asked “Why have you done so?”, easily turns to ambition.
  • Faithful intercession at the right moment can turn the course of events under God's hand.
  • Even a guilty rebel may find mercy when he lays hold of the altar and submits to the king.
  • Ambition seizes; God appoints. Adonijah “exalted himself, saying, ‘I will be king’” (1 Kings 1:5, WEB), but the throne belongs to the one God has chosen, not the one who grasps for it.
  • Promises remembered guide right action. Bathsheba and David return to the oath, “Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me” (1 Kings 1:17, WEB). God's word, not the loudest claimant, settles the matter.
  • The true king is anointed, not self-made. “Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent, and anointed Solomon” (1 Kings 1:39, WEB). Real kingship comes by God's appointment and anointing.
  • Mercy meets the one who submits. Adonijah flees to the altar, and Solomon promises, “If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of him shall fall to the earth” (1 Kings 1:52, WEB). Clinging to mercy and bowing to the king is the way to live.
  1. What does Adonijah's self-coronation reveal about his heart, and how does verse 6 help explain it?
  2. How do Nathan and Bathsheba work together, and what does their action show about responding to a crisis?
  3. Why is the anointing of Solomon at Gihon described with such public joy?
  4. Adonijah grasps the horns of the altar for safety. What does Solomon's response teach us about mercy and submission?
  5. Where are you tempted to grasp for something rather than wait on what God appoints? What would trusting his promise look like instead?
  1. Adonijah simply declares himself king and assembles the trappings of power (1:5). Verse 6 notes his father never disciplined him or asked “Why have you done so?”, hinting that unchecked indulgence bred entitlement and ambition. The contrast with Solomon, whom God chose, is sharp.
  2. Nathan prompts Bathsheba to approach David and then enters to confirm her words (1:11-27). Their coordinated, truthful appeal recalls David to his oath and moves him to act. It models wise, courageous intervention rather than passive panic when wrong is unfolding.
  3. Solomon is set on the king's mule, anointed by priest and prophet, and proclaimed with the trumpet, so that the people rejoice and “the earth shook with their sound” (1:40). The public joy marks a God-given, legitimate king, in contrast to Adonijah's secretive feast.
  4. Adonijah, terrified, seizes the altar's horns and begs for his life (1:50-51). Solomon offers conditional mercy: live worthily and be spared (1:52). The scene pictures how grace is extended to those who stop rebelling and submit to the rightful king.
  5. This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name an area where they are tempted to seize control or status, and to consider resting in God's promises and timing instead. As leader, keep the tone gentle and hopeful, pointing to the King who gives grace to the humble.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.