The Kingdom of Justice and the Fulfillment of God's Word (1 Kings 2:13-46)

Good morning, beloved! Today, we will dive into a passage from 1 Kings 2:13-46, which highlights the transition of power in Israel from King David to his son, Solomon. This passage also reveals the theme of justice, the consequences of sin, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. It’s a powerful reminder of how God establishes His kingdom, ensures justice, and works through His chosen leaders. Before we read the text, let me give you some context. Solomon was given the task of continuing the work of his father fulfilling the promises God made to David and ensuring justice within Israel. But Solomon had to first deal with a major crisis that came from his half brother Adonijah.

I. God’s Kingdom is Established through Justice (vs. 13-25).

13 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably.” 14 Moreover he said, “I have something to say to you.” And she said, “Say it.” 15 Then he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from the LORD. 16 Now I ask one petition of you; do not deny me.” And she said to him, “Say it.” 17 Then he said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.” 18 So Bathsheba said, “Very well, I will speak for you to the king.” 19 Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the king’s mother; so she sat at his right hand. 20 Then she said, “I desire one small petition of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” 21 So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.” 22 And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “Now why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also—for he is my older brother—for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.” 23 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life! 24 Now therefore, as the LORD lives, who has confirmed me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a house for me, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!” 25 So King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he died.

A. Adonijah’s request.

Solomon had graciously accepted Adonijah’s submission to the new regime, although Solomon certainly knew that the man was deceitful and ready to strike again. Adonijah’s declaration in verse 15 shows how confused he was in his thinking, for if Solomon was God’s choice for the throne, and Adonijah knew it, why did he attempt a coup and try to seize the crown? He thought that a popular demonstration and the cheers of the people meant success.

Solomon immediately detected the reason behind the request. To take possession of a king’s wife or concubine was evidence of possession of the kingdom. The king knew that Adonijah, Abiathar, and Joab were still united in gaining control of the kingdom. By asking for Abishag, Adonijah issued his own death warrant, and Benaiah went and took the traitor’s life.

Imagine a country where the rightful ruler is threatened by rebels, and the first act of the new king is to remove all challenges to his reign. It is a tough, but necessary act to ensure stability. Solomon’s actions reflect the seriousness with which God establishes His kingdom—He does not tolerate rebellion.

Just as Solomon establishes justice in his kingdom, God establishes His rule in our hearts through the justice of Jesus Christ. We, too, must choose justice over unrighteousness in our lives.

B. Bathsheba’s role in this scenario.

The fact that Adonijah went to the queen mother with his request suggests that he expected her to have great influence with her son.

Students differ in their interpretation of Bathsheba’s role. Some say she was very naïve in even asking Solomon, but Bathsheba had already proved herself to be a courageous and influential woman. It’s likely that she suspected another plot. I feel that she took Adonijah at his word, knowing that Solomon would use this as an opportunity to expose Adonijah’s scheme. By having Abishag as his wife, Adonijah was claiming to be a joint ruler with Solomon!

II. Sin Has Consequences, But God’s Grace is Greater (vs. 26-35)

26 And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted.” 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfill the word of the LORD which He spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh. 28 Then news came to Joab, for Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So Joab fled to the tabernacle of the LORD, and took hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to the tabernacle of the LORD; there he is, by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.” 30 So Benaiah went to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said to him, “Thus says the king, ‘Come out!’ ” And he said, “No, but I will die here.” And Benaiah brought back word to the king, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.” 31 Then the king said to him, “Do as he has said, and strike him down and bury him, that you may take away from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed. 32 So the LORD will return his blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword—Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah—though my father David did not know it. 33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab and upon the head of his descendants forever. But upon David and his descendants, upon his house and his throne, there shall be peace forever from the LORD.” 34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.

A. Abiathar’s removal.

Abiathar, though spared death, is removed from the priesthood, and sent into retirement at the priestly city of Anathoth, about three miles from Jerusalem.

Solomon recognized the fact that Abiathar had faithfully served his father David, so he didn’t have him executed. Even in the execution of justice, we see glimpses of God’s grace.

Picture a criminal who stands before a judge, knowing they are guilty. The judge has every right to impose a severe sentence, yet in mercy, he offers a lesser sentence, but only if the criminal turns away from their life of sin. This is the grace God shows us through Jesus Christ—the consequences of sin are real, but God’s mercy can overcome them when we repent and turn to Him. In our own lives, sin may have consequences, but God's grace is greater than any of our wrongs. Solomon’s actions point to the ultimate mercy shown through Jesus, whose sacrifice paid the price for our sins.

B. Joab’s execution.

Joab no doubt had an efficient spy system, and when he heard the news that Adonijah had been slain, he knew he was next on the list. He fled to the tabernacle David had erected in Jerusalem for the Ark of the Covenant and there claimed asylum by taking hold of the horns of the altar. Only people who were guilty of manslaughter could do this and claim the right to a trial, and Joab was guilty of both murder and disloyalty to King David and King Solomon.

It’s important to understand that Solomon wasn’t simply acting in revenge in the place of his father David. Solomon explained that the death of Joab took away the stain of the innocent blood that Joab had shed when he killed Abner and Amasa. Murderers like Joab were not to be given any mercy but were to be executed.

III. God’s Word is Fulfilled (vs. 36-46)

36 Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere. 37 For it shall be, on the day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely die; your blood shall be on your own head.” 38 And Shimei said to the king, “The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do.” So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days. 39 Now it happened at the end of three years, that two slaves of Shimei ran away to Achish the son of Maachah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, “Look, your slaves are in Gath!” 40 So Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to seek his slaves. And Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath. 41 And Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back. 42 Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD, and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and travel anywhere, you shall surely die’? And you said to me, ‘The word I have heard is good.’ 43 Why then have you not kept the oath of the LORD and the commandment that I gave you?” 44 The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know, as your heart acknowledges, all the wickedness that you did to my father David; therefore the LORD will return your wickedness on your own head. 45 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever.” 46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

A. Shimei’s daring.

Since Shimei was related to Saul he was a potential troublemaker who might arouse the tribe of Benjamin against the new king, and perhaps even stir up the ten northern tribes of Israel. By carrying out justice and removing the corrupt elements from the kingdom, Solomon secures the throne and establishes peace.

Solomon didn’t want Shimei creating problems. He ordered him to move to Jerusalem, build himself a house, and stay in the city. If he left the city and crossed the Kidron Valley, he would die.

Think of a master builder who carefully follows the architect’s blueprint. Every stone and beam is placed with precision, ensuring that the building is completed as planned. Solomon’s actions fulfill God’s plan for Israel just as the work of the church today fulfills God’s plan in the world. God is faithful to His word, and He is working out His purposes in our lives and in the world. We can trust that His promises will always come to pass, even when it seems difficult or unclear.

B. Solomon was to be a “man of peace”, and yet he began his reign by ordering three executions.

True peace must be based on righteousness, not on sentiment. The land was polluted by the innocent blood that Joab had shed, and the land could be cleansed only by the execution of the murderer. David didn’t execute Joab, even after Joab killed Absalom, because David knew that he himself had blood on his hands.

David was guilty of asking Joab to shed Uriah’s innocent blood, but Solomon’s hands were clean. Solomon was indeed a “man of peace,” and he achieved that peace by bringing about righteousness in the land.

As we look at the life of Solomon and the establishment of his kingdom, we are reminded that God is a just King, a merciful Savior, and a faithful promise keeper. Just as Solomon upheld justice and fulfilled God’s plan, we are called to live in a way that honors God, trusting that His kingdom is coming and that His promises will always be fulfilled. Let us choose justice, repentance, and faithfulness, knowing that we serve a God who is in control, who upholds righteousness, and whose word never fails.