Succession is often messy. The transfer of power from one leader to the next is fraught with emotions of uncertainty and fear, particularly when the outgoing leader has been in charge for a longtime and is beloved. Succession is also difficult when there is only a vague plan for succession.
I am writing this post from the USA on January 22, 2025, a week in which we have just witnessed a transfer of power in our country. A succession occurred in which one President from one party handed over power to the incoming President who is from the opposing party. Our country has a very detailed plan of succession.
Does your company or church or organization have a detailed plan of succession? As we learned in the previous post, in ancient Israel, there was a crisis in Israel’s monarchy because the succession plan was uncertain.
In 1 Kings 1, verses 28–30, the current but aged King David clears up the crisis by choosing his successor. One option is his eldest son, Adonijah, who has gathered a group of supporters comprised of members of the royal family, priests, and military officials. While Adonijah is having a feast intended to solidify his bid for the throne, David’s wife Bathsheba and his trusted advisor, the prophet Nathan, visit David urging him to select a different option, David and Bathsheba’s son, Solomon. Here’s what David decides,
“Then King David said, ‘Call in Bathsheba.’ So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. The king then took an oath: ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place’.”
In verses 31–37, David sets the details for the transfer of power in motion, wasting no time in keeping his word to Bathsheba. Then in verses 38–40, Solomon is anointed and takes the throne. The crowd present erupts in cheering.
Suddenly Solomon has become king.
But what about Adonijah, and his party? In Jerusalem that day, literally just around the block from each other, there are simultaneous competing parties to celebrate the crowning of a new king. In verse 41 we learn that the noise of Adonijah’s party is drowned out by the much louder sound of Solomon’s party.
In verses 42–45, messengers inform Adonijah the news. Look at what the messengers report to Adonijah in verses 46–48,
“Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’ ”
Suddenly, Adonijah’s situation has turned 180 degrees to the worst. Have you ever had a moment when you get found out? When you get caught? You think you’ve cheated the system, that you’ve gotten away with a lie, a crime, a theft, and you’re feeling the elation of freedom. Then out of nowhere, somehow your indiscretion is revealed. In an instant your emotions shift from the thrill of freedom to the total despair of guilt, shame, and punishment.
And it’s not just Adonijah. He had invited a whole bunch of people to his party, and they had thrown their support to him. Those people did not get verification first, verification that Adonijah actually had authority to become king. Now they realize that they, along with Adonijah, could be construed as traitors, as wicked people who are trying to undermine the authority of both the old and the new king.
In verse 49, we learn that the guests are very afraid and get out there as fast as they can. It’s very similar to a party filled with underage teens who are drinking. Suddenly the police arrive, and the partygoers jump out of windows and run through hedges, fleeing arrest.
But what about Adonijah? In verse 50, we read that Adonijah believes Solomon, who is now in charge of the military, will have Adonijah killed. So Adonijah runs to the tent housing the altar of God, and Adonijah bear hugs the altar, in desperate hopes that Solomon will not kill a person on an altar that is meant for religious purposes.
In verses 51–52, Solomon agrees, giving Adonijah a stern warning: if he behaves properly, he will live, but if Adonijah behaves wickedly, he will die. With that Solomon sends Adonijah home, and the succession crisis is averted…for now.
That brings us to chapter 2, and now David, still on his deathbed, has final words for Solomon. What last words does David share with his son? We find out in the next post.
Engaging Scripture 
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