1 Kings 1

David is old and frail, and his son Adonijah tries to seize the throne while David is unaware. Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba move quickly to remind David of his promise that Solomon would reign. David has Solomon anointed at Gihon, Adonijah’s party scatters, and Solomon spares his rival for the time being on condition of good conduct.

1 Kings 1:1

The great warrior-king is now so frail that blankets cannot warm him. The chapter opens with a sober picture of human decline. Even David’s strength fades, and the question of who will rule next becomes urgent.

BSA: old (“advanced in years, aged”): It stresses how far David’s life had run, which sets the stage for the succession crisis.

1 Kings 1:2-4

David’s servants find a young woman, Abishag of Shunem, to care for him and keep him warm. The text states plainly that David had no marital relations with her. She is his nurse and attendant, not a wife in the full sense.

BSA: attend (“serve, care for”): Her role is service and care for the aged king.

1 Kings 1:5

Adonijah, probably now David’s eldest surviving son, decides to make himself king without asking his father or God. Chariots, horsemen and fifty runners are a show of royal pomp, meant to look like a king already.

BSA: exalt (“lift up, promote”): He lifts himself up rather than waiting to be raised by God and the king.

Hebrew: מִתְנַשֵּׂא (mitnasse, H5375) — “lifting himself up.” The Hebrew form says he was continually raising himself up, a steady self-promotion rather than a sudden outburst.

See also: Proverbs 16:18.

1 Kings 1:6

The writer explains how Adonijah got so bold: David never corrected him. He was handsome and next in line after Absalom, who had died. Loving a son without disciplining him leaves him to follow his own ambition.

See also: Proverbs 29:15.

1 Kings 1:7-8

Adonijah wins over Joab the army commander and Abiathar the priest. These are two senior men who had served David for years. But Zadok, Benaiah, Nathan and David’s mighty men stay loyal. The kingdom’s leaders are divided.

BSA: supported (“helped, aided, gave assistance to”): Their backing gave his plan real weight.

1 Kings 1:9-10

Adonijah holds a sacrificial feast at En-rogel, just outside Jerusalem, and invites his brothers and the royal officials of Judah. He leaves out everyone he knows will oppose him, especially Solomon. It is a religious meal used for a political purpose.

BSA: sacrificed (“slew”): The verb simply means slaughtering the animals for a feast, a public show of generosity to win supporters.

1 Kings 1:11-14

Nathan warns Bathsheba that her life and her son’s are in danger. If Adonijah becomes king, rivals were often killed. He tells her to remind David of his oath, and promises to come in and confirm what she says.

BSA: Save (“rescue, deliver”): Nathan treats the matter as a life-or-death rescue.

1 Kings 1:15-16

Bathsheba goes into the king’s private room, where Abishag is attending him, and bows low. David, aged but alert, asks what she wants. She comes humbly as a petitioner.

BSA: homage (“doing obeisance, worshiping”): The bow shows deep respect owed to the king.

1 Kings 1:17-21

Bathsheba reminds David of his sworn promise that Solomon would reign. She tells him Adonijah has already acted, that all Israel is waiting for his word, and that she and Solomon will be treated as criminals if nothing is done.

BSA: swore (“made a solemn promise, took an oath”): An oath in the LORD’s name could not be lightly set aside. criminals (“offenders, sinners, wrongdoers”): Bathsheba and Solomon would be treated as guilty for standing in a rival’s way.

1 Kings 1:22-27

Nathan arrives just as promised. He asks David, with careful respect, whether he has really chosen Adonijah. He describes the feast, where guests were crying ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ The king’s silence is now broken.

BSA: Long live (“may he have a long and prosperous life”): It was the public cry that hailed a new king.

1 Kings 1:28-30

David calls Bathsheba back and swears again, this time by the LORD, who has rescued him from every trouble. He promises to keep his word that very day. Having been delivered by God so often, he trusts God to carry the promise through.

BSA: redeemed (“ransomed, set free”): David looks back on his many rescues and credits them all to the LORD.

See also: 2 Samuel 7:12-13; 1 Chronicles 22:9-10.

1 Kings 1:31

Bathsheba bows low and wishes the king long life. After her fear, this is relief and gratitude. The words are an ordinary court blessing, not a claim that David would never die.

BSA: forever (“to the age, without end”): It is a respectful wish for a very long life.

1 Kings 1:32-35

David orders Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah to put Solomon on the royal mule and anoint him at Gihon, a spring near Jerusalem. The king’s own mule is a public sign that Solomon rules with David’s authority. David declares him ruler over all Israel and Judah.

BSA: anoint (“to rub oil on, set apart”): Oil marks a person as set apart by God for the office. appointed (“commanded, ordained”): David uses a word of command, so the choice is settled by his authority.

See also: 1 Samuel 16:13.

1 Kings 1:36-37

Benaiah answers ‘Amen’ and prays that the LORD would confirm the decision and be with Solomon as he was with David. He asks for Solomon’s reign to be even greater. Leaders here bring the matter before God.

BSA: Amen (“so be it, truly”): It is both agreement and a prayer that God will make it so.

1 Kings 1:38-40

The plan is carried out. Zadok takes the horn of oil from the tabernacle, anoints Solomon, and the trumpet sounds. The crowd follows, playing flutes and shouting for joy so loudly that the ground seemed to split. The people receive Solomon gladly.

BSA: tabernacle (“the sacred tent, dwelling place of God”): The oil comes from God’s own sanctuary, so the anointing is tied to His worship. split (“rent, shook violently”): It paints the noise as so great that the earth seemed to tear.

1 Kings 1:41-48

Adonijah’s feast is ending when the trumpet is heard. Jonathan, Abiathar’s son, arrives with the news. Solomon is king, he sits on the throne, and David has bowed in worship and thanked the LORD for letting him see his successor.

BSA: provided (“given, appointed”): David credits God with giving the successor.

1 Kings 1:49-50

The guests flee in terror. Adonijah, afraid for his life, runs to the sanctuary and grabs the horns of the altar. The corner projections of the altar were a place where people sought mercy.

BSA: horns (“corners, projections”): These were the raised corners of the altar, a recognized place to cling for mercy.

See also: Exodus 27:2.

1 Kings 1:51-53

Adonijah asks Solomon for an oath that he will not be killed. Solomon offers mercy on condition of good conduct: if he proves worthy, not a hair will fall; if evil is found in him, he will die. Adonijah bows and is sent home.

BSA: character (“of integrity, worthy”): Solomon’s mercy depends on Adonijah proving himself a man of worth.