Bathsheba's Son

Outside Jerusalem, a feast is in full swing. Guests are shouting, long live King Adonijah! But there is one problem. The real king, old David, has not chosen him. And inside the palace, two people are hurrying to the king's room.

King David is very old now. He is so frail that he cannot keep warm, even under blankets. His son Adonijah, handsome and ambitious, decides that the throne should be his. He gathers chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him. He wins over Joab, the army commander, and Abiathar the priest. Then he throws a great sacrificial feast by the stone of Zoheleth, near the spring of En-rogel, and invites all his brothers and the royal officials. But he does not invite Nathan the prophet, or Benaiah the bodyguard, or the mighty men. And he does not invite his brother Solomon.

Nathan the prophet goes to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. Have you not heard? he says. Adonijah has made himself king, and our lord David does not know it. If you want to save your life and your son's life, do this. Go to King David and say: my lord, did you not swear to me that Solomon your son would reign after you and sit on your throne? Why then is Adonijah king? And while you are still speaking, I will come in and confirm your words. It is a careful plan. A mother and a prophet, both reminding the king of a promise he made.

So Bathsheba goes into the king's room and bows low. What do you want? asks David. My lord, you swore to me by the Lord your God that Solomon would reign after you. But now Adonijah has become king, and you don't know it. He has held a great feast, and he has not invited Solomon. The eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who will sit on your throne. Then, just as planned, Nathan arrives and says the same thing. The old king stirs. He calls Bathsheba back and makes a solemn vow. As the Lord lives, who has rescued me out of every trouble, just as I swore to you, Solomon your son will reign after me. And I will do it today.

David gives his orders. Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah. Put Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. Anoint him king over Israel there, blow the trumpet, and shout, God save King Solomon. Then bring him back to sit on my throne. And it is done. Zadok takes a horn of oil from the sacred tent and anoints Solomon. The trumpet sounds. All the people shout, “God save king Solomon.” Then they follow him up into the city, playing pipes and rejoicing so loudly that the earth seems to shake. Down at Adonijah's feast, the guests hear the noise. And one by one, they slip away.

Gihon was the main spring of ancient Jerusalem, just below the old city of David on its eastern side. Centuries later, King Hezekiah cut a long tunnel through the rock to bring its water inside the city walls. An inscription carved by the tunnellers was found inside it in eighteen eighty, describing how two teams dug toward each other and met in the middle. Anointing Solomon at Gihon, in full view of the city, made his kingship public and unmistakable.

This story is in First Kings chapter one, verses eleven to forty. Matthew's family tree names Solomon, the son born to David by the wife of Uriah. God had promised David a son who would build a house for his name, and that promise kept moving forward, all the way to Jesus. So here is a question to carry with you. Bathsheba and Nathan spoke up to make sure a promise was kept. When is it right for you to speak up?