Read 1 Kings 1 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
1:1-19a {p} Adonijah exalted himself to be king while David still lived
1:19b-27 {s} Bathsheba and Nathan inform King David: is it your wish that Adonijah reign after you?
1:28-31 {p} David: As I have sworn so I will do this day: Solomon shall sit on my throne
1:32-53 {p} David establishes Solomon on his throne publicly; King Solomon grants mercy to Adonijah
The Strong theme:
1:19b-31 {s+p} It was David’s will that Solomon reign after him, so he purposed to establish him on his throne
1 Kin 1:1-53 Chiastic Structure:
In our modern day and age, we do not have a concept of how dangerous it was in the ancient world to be a member of a royal family considered a rival to the throne. Both Bathsheba and Solomon’s lives were at risk if Adonijah had solidified his claim. As we see at the end of chapter 1, once Solomon was established as king, Adonijah, in turn, also feared for his life. However, both Bathsheba and Nathan had assurance that King David would fulfill his oath to them, ensuring that Solomon would succeed him as king.
To swear is in Hebrew, Strong’s H7650, שבע shaba, a primitive verb, with the pictographs shin + bet + ayin.
shin ש = two front teeth, thus sharp, press, eat, two, again
bet ב = house, thus house, household, family, in, within
ayin ע = eye, thus watch, know, shade
The parable being told by the Hebrew Root Word is of that which passes through the teeth (shin, i.e., spoken words) which the family (bet, not just those who share the same tent, but also the entire extended clan) will watch over (ayin) to ensure compliance. Interestingly, this verb is also the root for the number seven, sheba, which shares the same pictographs. The connection lies in the ancient practice where “to swear an oath” meant literally “to seven oneself.” Seven was a sacred number across the ancient world, and oaths were often reinforced by repeating the oath seven times, offering seven sacrifices, or securing seven witnesses and pledges, serving as a testament to the oath-taker’s sincerity.
For example, in Gen 21:27-31, Abraham and Abimelech make a covenant with seven ewe lambs, linking the oath to the place name Beersheba, meaning “well of the oath” or “well of the seven.”
And this is why, when God swore an oath to Abraham, Abraham had assurance that God would do as He had sworn (Gen 22:16-18). And this is why we have the same unshakeable assurance that God will also keep the promises He has made to us (Heb 6:13-18).
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