Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 102: Solomon Cleans House

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read 1 Kings 1-2. 

So, David is old, and dying. And his son Adonijah jumps the gun, and declares himself king. His father isn't dead yet, mind you.

Well, Nathan the prophet learns of this and goes to tell Bathsheba, whom David had promised that Solomon would be king. Nathan instructs her to go tell David what Adonijah has done, and hold him to his promise.

So, Bathsheba goes and tells David, and then Nathan comes in to confirm her story.

David instructs Nathan and Zadok the priest to go and anoint Solomon king in front of all Israel. And all Israel rejoices, saying "Long live King Solomon!"

They do so, and when Adonijah and his followers hear of it, they are afraid, and scatter. Adonijah himself runs to the altar of the Lord and takes hold of the horns of the altar.

Solomon commands him to come out, and Adonijah replies "Only if you won't kill me." (I'm paraphrasing a bit.)

But Solomon, already wise, does not make a foolish promise. Solomon said, "If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die" (1 Kings 1:52).

David charges Solomon to mete out the punishments for the men who betrayed him, the kingdom, and, by plotting against God's anointed, God himself so long ago.

So, that's where I got the title. Essentially, Solomon cleans house. He removes those who betrayed his father, and his kingdom is established.

First of all, Adonijah makes a request of Solomon, possibly just to test him. But it doesn't go well for Adonijah. He loses his life.

Next, Solomon sends Abiathar the priest away to his own household, saying that though he deserves death, he won't kill him yet because of his father David. 

Now, before you ask why on this one, it was to fulfill God's word concerning the house of Eli the priest. Remember? God declared that his household would not continue as priests because of the wickedness of his sons, and the fact that Eli did nothing about it.

Next, Solomon metes out punishment to Joab, who had followed Adonijah when he declared himself king, and killed people he shouldn't have. So Joab loses his life.

Finally, Solomon puts Shimei under house arrest, because he called out a curse upon David when he had to flee his son Absalom, who had usurped his throne. However, after three years, Shimei forgets, or thinks King Solomon didn't mean it. When two of his servants run away, he seeks them far beyond where Solomon had told him he could go, thus breaking the vow he had made to Solomon, promising to stay where Solomon had said. Thus, Shimei is executed.

So, all of these men who betrayed the house of David in one way or another, were put to death.

Thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon. - 1 Kings 2:46b

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read 1 Kings 3-5, as I continue to learn about Solomon.