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Solomon Established as King

Scripture Passage: 
1 Kings 2:1-46

INTRODUCTION: The kingdom transitions from David to Solomon as Solomon heeds the final words of advice from his father David. Justice is the theme of his beginning as Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei are put to death; Abiathar is exiled; and Benaiah and Zadok are promoted. The Lord blesses the obedience of Solomon and establishes his kingdom.

  1. THE DEATH OF KING DAVID (1 Kings 2:1-12)
    1. David’s Final Charge to Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-9)
      1. He informed Solomon of his departure – “I go the way of all the earth” (1 Kings 2:1-2a; Joshua 23:14; Genesis 3:19; Hebrews 9:27).
      2. He gave him some final instructions (1 Kings 2:2b-9).
        1. Be strong and show thyself a man (1 Kings 2:2b; Joshua 1:6-9; 1 Corinthians 16:13).
        2. Keep the charge of the Lord thy God (1 Kings 2:3-4).
          1. The command
            1. Walk in His ways.
            2. Keep His statutes, commandments, judgments, and testimonies.
          2. The blessing
            1. That you may prosper in all that you do (1 Kings 2:3; Joshua 1:8)
            2. That God may continue His word to continue the Davidic line (1 Kings 2:4; 2 Samuel 7:12-16)
        3. Take care of Joab (1 Kings 2:5-6).
          1. According to the innocent blood he shed (1 Kings 2:5)
          2. According to the wisdom you have (1 Kings 2:6)
        4. Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai (1 Kings 2:7).
        5. Take care of Shimei (1 Kings 2:8-9).
          1. According to the evil he did (1 Kings 2:8)
          2. Since I made an oath not to kill him (1 Kings 2:8)
          3. According as you will know what to do (1 Kings 2:9)
    2. David’s Death and Burial (1 Kings 2:10-11)
      1. He slept with his fathers (1 Kings 2:10).
      2. He was buried in the city of David (1 Kings 2:10).
      3. He reigned over Israel for forty years (1 Kings 2:11).
        1. Seven years in Hebron
        2. Thirty-three years in Jerusalem
    3. Solomon’s Reign in Jerusalem (1 Kings 2:12)
      1. He sat on the throne of David.
      2. His kingdom was established greatly.
  2. THE EXECUTION OF ADONIJAH (1 Kings 2:13-25)
    1. Adonijah’s Request to Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:13-18)
      1. He came to Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:13-14).
      2. He acknowledged his loss of the kingdom (1 Kings 2:15).
      3. He petitioned for Abishag as his wife (1 Kings 2:16-17).
      4. Bathsheba agreed to talk to Solomon (1 Kings 2:18).
    2. Bathsheba’s Approach to Solomon (1 Kings 2:19-23)
      1. She went to see Solomon (1 Kings 2:19).
      2. She got Solomon’s blind agreement (1 Kings 2:20).
      3. She asked Abishag for Adonijah (1 Kings 2:21).
      4. Solomon rebuked his mother for such a request (1 Kings 2:22).
      5. Solomon made judgment against Adonijah (1 Kings 2:23).
    3. Adonijah’s Death by Benaiah (1 Kings 2:24-25)
      1. Solomon declared the life of Adonijah forfeited (1 Kings 2:24).
      2. Solomon sent Benaiah to slay Adonijah (1 Kings 2:25).
  3. THE DISMISSAL OF ABIATHAR (1 Kings 2:26-27)
    1. Abiathar Sent Home (1 Kings 2:26)
      1. Sent to the fields of Anathoth
      2. Declared worthy of death
      3. Shown mercy because of his service to David
        1. He bore the ark of the Lord before David.
        2. He suffered affliction by David’s side.
    2. Eli’s Prophecy Fulfilled (1 Kings 2:27; 1 Samuel 2:31-35)
  4. THE EXECUTION OF JOAB (1 Kings 2:28-35)
    1. Joab’s Flight to the Altar (1 Kings 2:28-30)
      1. Joab heard news of his fellow conspirators (1 Kings 2:28a).
      2. Joab fled to the tabernacle and took hold of the horns of the altar (1 Kings 2:28b).
        1. A place of forgiveness (Leviticus 4:18-20)
        2. A place of submission (Psalm 118:27)
      3. Solomon learned of Joab’s whereabouts (1 Kings 2:29a).
      4. Solomon sent Benaiah to slay Joab (1 Kings 2:29b).
      5. Benaiah hesitated to kill Joab at the altar (1 Kings 2:30).
    2. Joab’s Death at the Altar (1 Kings 2:31-34)
      1. Solomon sent word to kill him where he was (1 Kings 2:31).
      2. He killed two men more righteous than he (1 Kings 2:32-33).
      3. Benaiah fell on Joab and killed him (1 Kings 2:34a).
      4. Joab was buried in his house in the wilderness (1 Kings 2:34b).
    3. Solomon’s Replacement of Joab and Abiathar (1 Kings 2:35)
      1. Benaiah was made captain of the host of Israel.
      2. Zadok was made priest in the room of Abiathar.
  5. THE EXECUTION OF SHIMEI (1 Kings 2:36-46)
    1. Solomon’s Instructions to Shimei (1 Kings 2:36-38)
      1. He restricted Shimei to Jerusalem (1 Kings 2:36).
      2. He assured Shimei of death if he left the city (1 Kings 2:37).
      3. Shimei agreed to the justness of the decision (1 Kings 2:38a).
      4. Shimei stayed in Jerusalem many days (1 Kings 2:38b).
    2. Shimei’s Disobedience to Solomon (1 Kings 2:39-40)
      1. Two of Shimei’s servants ran away to Gath (1 Kings 2:39).
      2. Shimei went and recovered his servants from Gath (1 Kings 2:40).
    3. Shimei’s Death at the Hand of Benaiah (1 Kings 2:41-46)
      1. Solomon declared judgment on Shimei (1 Kings 2:41-44).
      2. The throne of David was to be established forever (1 Kings 2:45).
      3. Benaiah was commanded to put Shimei to death (1 Kings 2:46a).
      4. The kingdom of Solomon was established (1 Kings 2:46b).

CONCLUSION: David has passed on, but the kingdom remains established in the hand of Solomon. All goes well as Solomon obeys the counsel of his father David and the commandments of the Lord.

David Reagan and Andrew Ray

Daily Proverb

Proverbs 30:10

Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.