Read 1 Kings 2 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
2:1-10 {p} David’s final charge to Solomon his son/ David’s death and burial
2:11-12 {s} David reigned over Israel 40 years/ Solomon his son reigned in his place
2:13-22 {p} Adonijah asked for Abishag the Shunammite as wife of Bathsheba; she asked of Solomon
2:23-25 {s} Solomon commanded Adonijah’s execution, since he manipulated his mother
2:26-27 {p} Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest (for he had supported Adonijah as king)
2:28-38 {s} Solomon commanded Joab’s execution/ Benaiah army captain, Zadok high priest/ mercy shown to Shimei
2:39-40 {s} Shimei broke the conditions of Solomon’s clemency
2:41-3:2 {p} …
The Strong themes:
2:11-22 {s+p} David’s reign -> Solomon’s reign/ Adonijah manipulated Bathsheba
2:23-27 {s+p} Solomon commanded Adonijah’s execution/ Abiathar removed from high priest
2:28-3:2 {s+s+p} Authority transferred from those who flaunted the king’s mercy, to those who submitted themselves to his will, thus Solomon’s kingdom established
1 Kin 2:12-46 Chiastic Structure:
The Teaching Tool of Pattern and Repetition reveals that Solomon was a wise man (vs. 6 and 9), leading us to assume that the events of his reign, which we area bout to read, will exemplify a wise king governing his kingdom.
The Chiastic Structure highlights additional truths that a Plain Reading of the Text might overlook. Solomon initially extended mercy to Adonijah, Abiathar, and Shimei, but Adonijah and Shimei were not content with the mercy shown to them. Adonijah did not go to Solomon directly with his request, but instead manipulated Solomon’s mother. Solomon saw right through it, preceived that Bathsheba had been put up to her request and that it was not something from her own heart, and recognized the danger to his reign from manipulation and palace intrigues. He recognized Adonijah’s ambition, and executed him. Similarly, Shimei was also not content to remain within the conditions of his clemency. In both cases, Solomon extended mercy first, but when his mercy was flaunted, it called forth justice.
But Joab, who routinely circumvented David’s lawful orders (2 Sam 3:22-30; 2 Sam 18:5, 14-15), was another story. Do you think if he was not afraid to countermand his king, he would be afraid to countermand the king’s son? No indeed. So we see that the foundation of Solomon’s throne was justice, but wrapped in mercy.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face. Psa 89:14
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