1 & 2 Kings—Introduction
The books of 1 & 2 Kings originally formed one undivided work in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was the translators of the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) who divided the book into two. The collection of 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Samuel was considered the books of the “kings” or “Kingdoms”.
Jewish tradition (the Talmud) identifies Jeremiah as the author of both 1 & 2 Kings. The book of 1 Kings covers the reign of Solomon, the division of the kingdom, and the reigns of the kings of Judah and Israel up through Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah, respectively. The first ten chapters mark the glorious time under Solomon who had great wisdom and wealth, and appeared to be a king who feared and honored God, but the subsequent chapters show us how Solomon, who had it all, departed from his devotion to God and the consequences of his actions, including a divided kingdom.
1:1-4—David was Old
(1) Judging from 2 Samuel 5:4 and 1 Kings 2:11, how old was David at the time?
(2) Judging from the description of vv. 1-4 and the fact that he had to receive officials in his bed (1:47), how was David’s health condition?
(3) Judging from Solomon’s reaction to Adonijah’s subsequent request to take Abishag as his wife (2:19ff), do you think Abishag was the Shulammite in the Song of Songs? (see Cant. 6:13)
1:5-10—Adonijah’s Attempted Coup d’État
(4) Given what the prophet Nathan said in 1:13, shouldn’t Adonijah know about David’s choice of succession? (see Note below)
(5) He obviously openly declared himself as the future king and did exactly what his brother Absalom had done (see 2 Sam. 15:1).
a. What should David have done?
b. Why hadn’t he? (v. 6)
c. What kind of a message did he send to Adonijah and the people?
(6) Who was Joab? (see 2 Sam. 2:13ff; 8:16; and ch. 18)
(7) Who was Abiathar? (See 1 Sam. 14:3; 22:20-22; 2 Sam. 8:17)
(8) Why would these loyalists of David knowingly support a king not appointed by David?
a. How does it reflect the mistakes or weaknesses of David?
b. How does it speak to David’s relationship with them?
(9) In your opinion, how did David contribute to this situation? Was his poor health the major factor?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
Adonijah probably considered himself a legitimate successor of David because he was likely the oldest of his surviving sons. Ammon, Chileab and Absalom had died and he was David’s fourth son (born in Hebron) — as Chileab was never mentioned again, most commentators opine that he died as a child.
1:11-14—Nathan Decided to Interfere
(1) Why did Nathan decide to take the matter in his own hand? Should he?
(2) Why did he have to use Bathsheba? Could he not confront David directly?
(3) Didn’t he rebuke David’s affair with Bathsheba? What had changed? (see 2 Sam. 12:24-25)
1:15-21—Bathsheba Confronting David
(4) On what basis did Bathsheba appeal to David to act?
(5) David had already known about Adonijah’s declaring himself as king (1:5), but he had chosen not to do anything about it. With what other factors did Bathsheba confront him in order to force him to take action?
1:22-27—Nathan’s words of confirmation
(6) Apart from confirming the words of Bathsheba, what other factors did he introduce to influence David’s decision?
(7) How important was Nathan’s confirmation?
1:28-40—David made Solomon the King
(8) What do you think had caused David to take action at this time? (vv. 28-31)
(9) Why did David refer to the Lord as the one “who has delivered me out of every trouble”?
(10) The choice of Gihon over Jerusalem as the anointing site might have to do with the fact that it was “located in the Kidron Valley in opposition to Adonijah at En-rogel” (NEBC, 1 and 2 Kings, 99):
a. What risk might David be taking to anoint Solomon in opposition to Adonijah and his supporters?
b. What could have been the result, had this been done after the death of David?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) With David being in poor health and close to dying, what do you think Joab (the loyal commander of David) and Abiathar (the priest who must have presided over the sacrifice at this occasion) must be thinking at this “illegal” coronation of Adonijah?
(2) Why did Adonijah think that the sound of the trumpet “must be…good news”?
(3) How did the words of Jonathan validate the “legitimacy” of the anointing of Solomon as king as compared to the “illegitimate” crowning of Adonijah? (see vv. 43-46, and note that the Kerethites and Pelehites “refer to David’s personal bodyguard” — NEBC, 1 and 2 Kings, 102)
(4) Where and how did David receive the royal officials? What does his worship on his bed remind you of? (Gen. 47:31)
(5) Why did these important and powerful supporters rise in alarm and disperse?
(6) What was Adonijah’s purpose in holding on to the horns of the altar? Why didn’t he flee for his life? (See Exod. 21:14)
(7) On what condition did Solomon spare the life of Adonijah? Why should he?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?