1 Kings 1 – 4

This opens with David on his death bed and his sons struggling for the throne. Adonijah in the initial struggle comes out on top, until David in verse 1:30 names Solomon his successor:

today I will uphold what I promised to you by the Eternal, the God of Israel, when I said, “Your son, Solomon, will reign as king after me. He will inherit my throne.”

I have always found it interesting how David chose his youngest as his successor, since tradition usually had the eldest. Although since Saul did not hand his throne down to family and David was the first to do so, guess there really was no tradition at this time.

Verse 2:4 has simple rules for David, Solomon and their successors:

for the Eternal will be faithful to His promise to me throughout your life. He promised me, “For as long as your sons are devoted to Me and live by My truth and embrace it with all their being, your offspring will always sit upon Israel’s throne.”

It’s a simple order, yet we find the family does not follow it over time.

Verse 3:9 is one of the most telling verses on Solomon:

Please give Your servant a listening heart for judging Your people and for knowing the difference between what is good and what is evil. Who is capable of judging Your chosen ones, a great people?

He is not looking for “wealth and pelf and fame and name and all of that noise” (Pippin- Simple Joys), the world’s definition of “happiness,” but rather what would make him a great ruler. This is very important in Solomon’s initial kingdom, since people came from far and wide to see him and experience his wisdom. This makes Solomon one of the great leaders of Israel!