Lesson four: Adonijah’s attempt to take the throne.
1. Read I Kings 1:1-4. How old is King David? Read I Kings 1:5 – 6. Had the king ever disciplined Adonijah? Who was Adonijah’s older brother? How do you think Adonijah felt when Absalom was killed? Did he consider the score “even” at that point? What did Adonijah ride around in (I Kings 1:5)? Do you think Adonijah has forgotten about Absalom (compare II Samuel 15:1)? Does Adonijah have a legitimate claim to the throne due to order of birth (compare I Kings 1:5 and II Samuel 3:2-4)? Where was David living when Adonijah was born? Why was he living in Hebron? Was David king of all Israel at that time? Where was David living when Solomon was born (II Samuel 11:1)? How old do you think Absalom and Adonijah were when Solomon was born (compare II Samuel 12:18 – 13:29)?
2. Read I Kings 1:7 – 8. Who joined Adonijah? Why would Adonijah ask Joab to help him? (Is the army more loyal to Adonijah or David? Does Adonijah have any military credentials? Would the army follow Adonijah?) Does Joab respect David (II Samuel 18:5 – 15 and 19:1 – 8)? Has Joab ever been involved in a plot before (read I Kings 2:5 – 6)? What did Joab do to anyone who got in his way? Why would Joab turn against David and join Adonijah? (Considering David’s reputation in II Samuel 17:7 – 10, does David really need Joab?) Does Adonijah need Joab? Can Joab control Adonijah? Who would really be in power if Adonijah gets the throne?
3. Who sided with Solomon? Who is Nathan (Read II Samuel 11:1 – 12:14)? What was likely to happen to someone who publicly accused the king of wrongdoing? Do you think Nathan was afraid when the Lord told him to go and rebuke David? Was Nathan afraid to risk his life to restore righteousness to the kingdom? What is the difference between the people on Solomon’s side compared the people on Adonijah’s side?
4. Read I Kings 1:9 – 27. Why would Adonijah want to kill Bathsheba and Solomon? Why would Nathan think that it would be important for him to confirm what Bathsheba said? Has Bathsheba ever been known to manipulate people to advance her own cause (II Samuel 11:2)? What was the potential of her first husband, Uriah, for social and economic advancement (Deut.17:15, 23:20)? What was Uriah’s nationality (II Samuel 11:3)? Could a non-Israelite participate in the main celebrations (Ex.12:43) or enter the temple (Ezek. 44:9)? How did Bathsheba attempt to get David’s attention? Did she have much to gain from a relationship with David? What does she have to gain by incriminating Adonijah? Was she able to extract a promise from David that her son would be king even if other older sons were still alive? Did Bathsheba know how to “work the system”? Would she be successful in politics today? Does it surprise you that her son was politically astute? Read I Kings 1:28 – 53. Did King David agree with what Adonijah had done? Read I Kings 2:1 – 10. What was the first thing David advised Solomon to do? What was the second thing David advised Solomon to do?
- Read I Kings 2:11 – 25. Why would Adonijah want Abishag for his wife? Does this tell you anything about Adonijah’s motives and character?
- Did Adonijah have any clue about what the people around him were thinking? From his conversation with Bathsheba does it appear that he has forgotten about being king, or does he resent the fact that Solomon was chosen over him? As Solomon’s mother, how do you think Bathsheba would be likely to react to Adonijah’s comments? Did he have idea of the risks associated with his actions? Does he appear to have any experience in politics? Was he prepared to be king? How does this compare with David’s comment about Solomon in vs. 9?
- Read I Kings 2:26 – 46. Did Solomon follow through on the advice his father gave him? How did Solomon’s military reputation compare with Joab’s? Did Solomon make the same mistake that Absalom made in II Samuel 16:23 – 17: 14? Does Solomon appear to understand politics? Do the wrong things that Joab did seem to bother Solomon (2:31 – 33)? Is Solomon concerned about righteousness?