Holman Old Testament Commentary - 1 & 2 Kings

Max Anders, Gary Inrig

• Publisher: Holman Reference
• Year: 2003
• Print ISBN: 9780805494679
• eBook ISBN: 9781433674310
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

One in a series of twenty Old Testament verse-by-verse commentary books edited by Max Anders. Includes discussion starters, teaching plan, and more. Great for lay teachers and pastors alike.

1 Kings 1:1–2:46

Transfer of Power

I. INTRODUCTION

Power Struggle

II. COMMENTARY

A verse-by-verse explanation of these verses.

III. CONCLUSION

God's Will and My Responsibility

An overview of the principles and application from these verses.

IV. LIFE APPLICATION

Lessons on Leadership

Melding these chapters to life.

V. PRAYER

Tying these chapters to life with God.

VI. DEEPER DISCOVERIES

Historical, geographical, and grammatical enrichment of the commentary.

VII. TEACHING OUTLINE

Suggested step-by-step group study of these chapters.

VIII. ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION

Zeroing these chapters in on daily life.

“Leaders should lead as far as they can and then vanish.
Their ashes should not choke the fire they have lit.”

H. G. Wells

BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE: DAVID

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• The Book of 1 Kings continues the story of King David from 2 Samuel
• David ruled as king for forty years (1011–971 B.C.). For the first years he was king over Judah alone, reigning from Hebron. Then, from 1004, he ruled over the united nation from Jerusalem
• David is the most dominant figure in 1 and 2 Kings. Although he was alive only in 1 Kings 1–2, his shadow lies over both books, where he is mentioned by name ninety-five times
• God's covenant with David, recorded in 2 Samuel 7, which promised David a lasting dynasty, was the enduring basis of the nation's hope (1 Kgs. 2:33,45; 5:5; 8:15,19,24–26; 9:5; 11:12–13, 32–38; 15:4; 2 Kgs. 8:19; 19:34; 20:6; 21:7)
• David and his obedience to the Lord is the standard by which the succeeding kings of Judah are measured
• David was the father of more than nineteen sons (see 1 Chr. 3:1–10). By the time we reach 1 Kings 1:1, the three oldest sons (Amnon, Chileab, and Absalom) have died, and Adonijah is the oldest surviving son. David's family relations have long been chaotic

As David grew increasingly frail in his old age, a crisis developed over succession to the throne. When David's oldest surviving son made a play for the throne, only decisive action by those closest to David ensured that David's intended successor, Solomon, would come to the throne. These chapters record the manner in which Solomon came to be David's successor, and they also reveal the basic principles upon which the Davidic dynasty will either flourish or founder.

Transfer of Power

I. INTRODUCTION

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Power Struggle

The 2000 presidental election in the United States will go down as one of the closest, most confusing, and controversial in American history. Experts had predicted that the race between then Vice President Al Gore and Governor George Bush of Texas would be close. But no one imagined it would be so close! On election night it became evident that, although Gore had a higher tally in the national popular vote, the race would be settled in the state of Florida where Bush led by the narrowest of margins.

As the next weeks unfolded, the airwaves were full of charges of voting irregularities, judicial bias, shady tactics, and political corruption. Each day seemed to bring new accusations from one group or another, new legal maneuverings, and unexpected developments. It was a saga that took weeks to unfold, but finally, thirty-five days after the election, Gore conceded and George W. Bush became the forty-third president of the United States.

What is often overlooked is that the process, while complicated and convoluted, was peaceful. It reflected the deepest values of the American people. Demonstrators took to the streets to protest, emotions ran high, and heated words were exchanged. But there was no danger of armed rebellion and no serious threat of physical violence against the parties involved. The transfer of power may have been prolonged and painful, but it was democratic and peaceful. Confusion did not lead to chaos or catastrophe, and in the long annals of human history that is rare.

Israel may have been God's special people, but God's calling does not change the depravity factor that works in all of us. As the Book of 1 Kings begins, we are at a critical moment in the history of the united monarchy. David is the nation's second king, and there had never been a smooth transition of power from one generation to another. Israel's external enemies had been brought under control by the military genius of David. But two dangers remained. One was internal division over David's successor. Who would take his place? The other was more subtle but far more significant. What would happen in the heart of the king who followed David? That is why the central passage in the first two chapters of 1 Kings also is the key to the future of the nation.

The last recorded interaction between David and Solomon (2:1–4) shaped the movement of the entire history that followed. Surrounding that section is a historical account of the power struggle that resulted in Solomon's being firmly established on the throne. The entire section is about power, both political and spiritual.

II. COMMENTARY

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Transfer of Power

MAIN IDEA: God accomplishes his sovereign purposes, but his people are called to promote his purposes.

The Struggle for the Throne (1:1–53)

SUPPORTING IDEA: God's people live in a fallen world, where they must act shrewdly and decisively to further the interests of God's kingdom.

1:1–4. The dominating question of chapter 1, arising out of the account of the struggles within David's family recorded in 2 Samuel, is, Who will sit on David's throne? In one form or another, the phrase recurs eleven times. The reason it is important is given in these opening verses: David was not only growing old; he was becoming increasingly frail. The fact that he could not keep warm suggests poor circulation, perhaps linked to advanced arteriosclerosis. This was not just a personal problem; it also had significant political ramifications.

The leaders of the nation attempted to deal with the problem in a way that seems strange to us—providing David with a young woman who would provide nursing care and help him keep warm. The beautiful young woman they enlisted, Abishag (see “Deeper Discoveries”), became his concubine. In this context, the fact that David had no intimate relations with her is not a sign of David's purity but of his physical frailty. That weakness created a political vacuum.

1:5–10. David's oldest living son, Adonijah, determined to fill the political vacuum. He apparently knew that Solomon, and not he, was David's intended choice, or he would have been content to let events take their course. But David had not publicly named his successor, so the opportunistic Adonijah decided to make a play for the throne. The description of David's indulgence of Adonijah has an ominous tone, especially combined with the reference to Absalom. Like Absalom who rebelled against his father, Adonijah was spoiled, handsome, and willing to go behind his father's back in a bid for personal power. His determination was clear: I will be king.

In his play for the throne, Adonijah first surrounded himself with the trappings of power—chariots and horses … with fifty men as military attendants. This was a quasi-military force, using powerful cultural images. He also enlisted some of David's power brokers, especially two powerful figures, Joab the military leader and Abiathar the religious leader. Third, he held a celebration just outside the city limits of Jerusalem as the final event before presenting himself to the nation as the new king. Those who attended were the people who would make his coup a reality. By their participation in this quasi-coronation meal, they were entering into a covenant with Adonijah.

1:11–27. Adonijah knew that his intentions were not universally acceptable. He had carefully excluded some of those closest to David: the prophet Nathan … Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He had also been careful not to invite his brother Solomon to his celebration. At this point Nathan seized the initiative, fearing that David's frailty had made him unaware of the seriousness and urgency of events. Nathan was not just a godly and wise man, but the prophet through whom God had revealed his covenant to David. He was not willing to wait passively for the will of God to be done. Aware of the danger posed by men concerned only to further their own agenda, he acted shrewdly and decisively to protect and to promote the purposes of God.

Nathan approached the queen mother, Bathsheba, knowing that she would have unique access to David as well as concern for the best interests of her son. He informed her of Adonijah's actions and then charged her to remind David of his solemn promise to her: Solomon your son shall be king after me. We have no record of this promise in the biblical record, but there is no reason to doubt the truth of it. Nathan reminded Bathsheba that this was a life-and-death issue, both for Solomon and herself, since the normal pattern for a newly crowned king was to eliminate all potential rivals. Adonijah's failure to invite Solomon to his party showed that Adonijah viewed him as a dangerous rival.

Bathsheba follow...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Editorial's Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Holman Old Testament Commentary Contributors
• Holman New Testament Commentary Contributors
• Introduction
• 1 Kings 1:1-2:46
• 1 Kings 3:1-4:34
• 1 Kings 5:1-7:51
• 1 Kings 8:1-66
• 1 Kings 9:1-10:29
• 1 Kings 11:1-43
• 1 Kings 12:1-24; 14:21-31
• 1 Kings 12:25-13:34
• 1 Kings 14:1-16:28
• 1 Kings 16:29-17:24
• 1 Kings 18:1-46
• 1 Kings 19:1-21
• 1 Kings 20:1-21:29
• 1 Kings 22:1-2 Kings 1:18
• 2 Kings 2:1-3:27
• 2 Kings 4:1-6:7
• 2 Kings 6:8-8:29
• 2 Kings 9:1-10:36
• 2 Kings 11:1-12:21
• 2 Kings 13:1-15:31
• 2 Kings 15:32-17:41
• 2 Kings 18:1-19:37
• 2 Kings 20:1-21:26
• 2 Kings 22:1-23:30
• 2 Kings 23:31-25:30
• Glossary
• Bibliography