Friday 11 April 2014

1 Kings 1 Succession dramas

1 Kings 1 

David has turned from a king of action, battle and strife into an old man, constantly cold.
His attendants decided to find him a young, pretty virgin to share his bed and keep him warm. Me I'd be extremely lucky to get a hot water bottle! 
Quite why his attendants got David a virgin to keep him warm, I'm pretty sure that at least some of David's wives were still around and could have done the job - or at very least buy the old guy a hot water bottle!!

David shared a bed with this young woman named Abishag, but they never had sex. 

David's 2 eldest sons were dead, Amnon was killed by Absalom, and Absolom died in battle when his hair got caught in a tree, his third son Adonijah made a move to become regent and get made king when David eventually died.
Joab the commander of the army and Abiathar the priest give their support to Adonijah and he proclaimed himself the next king.

However Zadok the priest and the leader of David's bodyguard and Nathan the prophet remain with David and Nathan gets Bathsheba to intervene to make Solomon the king as he was the chosen and also he had a temperament that would make a good king.

Bathsheba reminded David that he promised her son Solomon would be king. and while she was talking Nathan came in and told them that Adonijah was currently making himself king just outside Jerusalem.

David quickly arranged Solomon to be made king by Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet make Solomon king. They sound trumpets and start rejoicing - the sound carried to Adonijah and his party and when the find out the cause Adonijah capitulated and took sanctuary holding on to the horns of the alter.

Solomon forgives Adonijah and he is sent off home.

It seems that David's end days are every bit as exciting as his earlier life.

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