1 Kings 2 - Solomon's Wisdom and Wealth | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
The Bible by David Alley · David Alley
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Show Notes
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 2, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 2 David dies, but not before giving Solomon some advice. He reminds him of the Messiaanic promise, and the need to follow God. He also advises about certain people that need to be removed. It sounds like David is seeking revenge, but he is exercising great wisdom. If these people were lawless when David was alive, what now when he is dead?
These people are Joab, and Shimei. Adonijah is also someone Solomon has his eye on. Adonijah then asks Bathsheba, to ask Solomon for Abishag from Shunem as a wife. There was no technical reason why he couldn’t marry her, she wasn’t a concubine of the king, but only a nurse. If there was any suspicious reason, Bathsheba would have picked it up.
Solomon says no, and commands his death. Solomon’s reaction seems out of all proportion. But there is a way of seeing Adonijah’s request as a claim to the throne, because he wanted a king’s consort to be his wife, even if she wasn’t a real consort. Some commentators think that Abishag the Shunemite had been added to Solomon’s harem by this point, so he was asking for something treasonous.
Some also think that the Shulamite woman in the Song of Songs is Abishag the shunammite. In this chapter all of Solomon’s opponents are dead, and his reign is established.