Adonijah

This physical impotence mirrors his political impotence; the next verse reports the premature claim of his son Adonijah (son of his fourth wife, Haggith) to his throne.

Abishag: Bible. 2009

That was clearly Solomon, and had Adonijah been permitted to marry Abishag, he then could also demand her loyalty and her silence on any accord, thus creating reasonable doubt for Adonijah, as to Solomon's claim to the throne.

Abishag: Bible. 2009

She might have been happy to see Adonijah killed so that he could not remain a rival to her son.

Bathsheba: Bible. 2009

When that had been aborted and came to a halt, Adonijah responded with treachery, by asking "innocently" that Bathsheba, the favorite of David, and Solomon's Mother, to speak in his behalf with Solomon, the Heir of King David, to marry the one person, Abishag, who had heard the discussion between David and Bathsheba concerning who was the chosen and rightful heir to David's throne.

Abishag: Bible. 2009

In this time and age, the King had the authority of a Judge and Jury, thus when he asked one of the inner circle of 30 Men, very loyal men to King David, and now Solomon, to carrry out the sentence of death on Adonijah, Benaiah, he was just assigning the duty to Benaiah to execute Adonijah.

Abishag: Bible. 2009

When David dies, the unsuccessful Adonijah, who has been assured by Solomon that no harm will come to him if he proves worthy, asks Bathsheba to convey a request to Solomon, for she is considered influential.

Bathsheba: Bible. 2009

Adonijah, his older brother, had already attempted the abscond with the heritage he had desired in heart (with an agenda) for such a long time.

Abishag: Bible. 2009

The unspeaking Abishag is more a tool to move the plot along than a developed character: she marks first the inability of David to continue his rule and, later, the inability of Adonijah to assume that power.

Abishag: Bible. 2009

To prevent this symbolically and politically significant marriage form taking place, Solonon had Adonijah murdered 1 Kings 2:17-25.

Archive 2008-03-01 Jan 2008

Hence, when David failed to "know" Abishag, a more virile prince (Adonijah) immediately prepared to assume the throne, and "exalted himself, saying, I will be king" (1 Kings 1:5).

Archive 2008-03-01 Jan 2008