Transiting from David to Solomon (1 Kings 1; 1 Chronicles 29)

1 chronicles 29

David solicits offerings from the whole assembly of people for gifts for the temple.  The people respond with an outpouring of precious metals and stones.

David also publicly acknowledges that Solomon will be the next king.  They also sacrifice many animals in a big party for Solomon's anointing by David to be the next king. They even out Solomon on David's throne.  I picture Solomon as a tween/early teenage boy at this time.  

David dies at the end of this chapter.  So, if the foregoing events happened before what happens in 1 Kings 1, then we have a full-on rebellion on our hands.  If not, then I think the actions are somewhat understandable, but still somewhat rebellious.

1 kings 1

Adonijah is David's eldest living son.  David had made a few statements that Solomon will succeed him as king, but I always got the impression they were to his inner circle.  It was not until 1 Chronicles 29 that we saw public announcement and semi-coronation of Solomon.  Still though, Joab would at least know that David wants Solomon as king.

Adonijah declares himself as the next king and starts having a coronation party.  It actually is similar to what Solomon get in 1 Chronicles 29, but just on a smaller scale.  That actually makes me think that this happened before what happens in 1 Chronicles 29 because David would have wanted to outdo this party by Adonijah.  Otherwise, Adonijah would have wanted to outdo Solomon's party, which he does nor do.  

Adonijah gets the support of some of David's inner circle, including Joab.  Joab should know that David has selected Solomon, so this at least is a rebellion among David's inner circle.  The public knowledge of this is unclear.

Meanwhile, David is nearly dead is being tended to by a beautiful virgin girl named Abichag.  However, they don't have sex.  Why not?  Now, this is not in the Bible, but I wonder if David is impotent.  The context seems to suggest that everyone expected David to have sex with Abichag.

Nathan and Bathsheba go to David's bed and complain that Adonijah is acting like king.  David says to put Solomon on his personal mule, have a royal procession, and publicly declare Solomon as the next king.  

This works and Adonijah and his party guests start worrying for their lives.  Adonijah clings to an altar in a desperate move for his life.  Solomon says that he will conditionally let Adonijah live if he stays honorable.  In other words, Adonijah is on parole.  If he stays quiet and accepts his much younger half- brother as king, he will live.  If he causes any more trouble, he will die.