Solomon Establishes His Rule

Adonijah came to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and said he had something to ask. He claimed the kingdom had turned to Solomon and said it was from Yahweh. Then he asked Bathsheba to speak to the king so he might receive Abishag the Shunammite as wife. Bathsheba agreed to take the request.

Bathsheba went to Solomon, and the king honoured her by rising, bowing, and seating her at his right hand. When she asked for Abishag for Adonijah, Solomon answered sharply, linking Adonijah with Abiathar and Joab. He said Adonijah had spoken against his own life, and Benaiah put Adonijah to death that day.

Solomon then spoke to Abiathar the priest. He said Abiathar was worthy of death, yet he would not kill him then, because Abiathar had carried the Lord Yahweh’s ark before David and had shared David’s hardships. Even so, Solomon sent him away to Anathoth and removed him from being priest to Yahweh.

When Joab heard the news, he fled to Yahweh’s Tent and held onto the horns of the altar. Benaiah told him to come out, but Joab refused. Solomon ordered Benaiah to kill and bury him there, saying Joab had shed blood without cause when he killed Abner and Amasa, and that this guilt should be taken away from David’s house.

Solomon also gave Shimei a clear command: live in Jerusalem and do not go elsewhere, especially across the Kidron, or he would die. Shimei agreed. After three years, he went to Gath to recover runaway slaves. Solomon reminded him of the oath and command, and Benaiah killed him. Then the kingdom was established in Solomon’s hand.