1 Kings 2:12, Solomon’s Secret to Success

So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established. 

//Solomon is recognized in the Bible as the richest, wisest king ever, securing the blessing of God. But he hardly endeared himself to his people, with the excessive slavery and taxation required to build his empire. Did God’s blessing go to Solomon’s head, so that in time he became greedy?

Often, Solomon is portrayed as one who strayed in the latter part of his life, but one wonders how much the rest of his story is politically contrived. Certainly, his beginning exceeds his ending in wickedness.

According to the Bible, immediately after King David’s death, Solomon “firmly established” his place on the throne. How? By executing his enemies, Joab, Shemei, and the rightful heir to the throne: Solomon’s brother Adonijah.

So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.—verse 25

To the priest Abiathar, Solomon said he deserved death, but because of his allegiance to David he would be spared. He was simply stripped of his power. When Joab (who was also loyal to Adonijah) heard what happened to Abiathar, he fled to the house of God and took hold of the altar. But Solomon showed no mercy:

King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!”—verse 29

Shimei’s fate began as a mere house arrest, with the threat of death if he ever left Jerusalem. But Shimei’s slaves ran off and he chased after them outside the city and …

Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and killed him. The kingdom was now firmly established in Solomon’s hands.—verse 46 

One wonders how Solomon’s story would read if this Benaiah fellow had written it.

3 Comments

  1. I was leading a Sunday school class on this last weekend. I should have read this first!

  2. Lee Harmon

    lol! Naw, let’s not change the Sunday school version. 😉

  3. Sylvester Lopez

    King Solomon didnt or couldnt kill anyone; due to his father’s bloody hands King David a man of war. Because Yahweh had ordained King Solomon to build his Temple he could not have blood on his hands. King Solomon was not white with red hair. These edomites are lying in this country. King Solomon’s skin was jet black and he had locks of hair. He had a harem of 1000 women and a few edomite white women which displeased Yahweh. He had a son with Queen Sheba and begat Menelik and made an alliance with Pharoah and married his daughter ref. Book of Kings.

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