Being the Successor

 

    For a while David and Solomon reigned together.  David was teaching Solomon how to be a king, but once David was gone Solomon would have to do it on his own.  Being a successor can have a lot of pressure.  He had to follow God to have wisdom to know when to show kindness and when to establish justice immediately (taking a life).

    Solomon took the job seriously.  That is why when David was dying and he charged Solomon to follow God no matter what that he agreed with all his heart.  His first piece of business was to deal with Joab.  It is never easy, and normally not good, to mess with a well established government.  However Joab had crossed the line with Adonijah.  

    When David died he was buried in Jerusalem, aka City of David.  He had reigned well for 40 years and now it was time for Solomon to be the official successor.  I imagine it would be difficult since he actually loved his father to mourn and get excited about a vital job at the same time.  

    Solomon had to establish his throne firmly and quickly to avoid an uprising.  He had to push any feelings he had to the side until that was done.  Lucky for Solomon he had a wise mom.  She was the Queen mother and his primary advisor, so she sat at his right hand.  Adonijah went to Bathsheba to ask for Abishag to be his wife.  She was the woman that cared for David in his final years.  It was a political move that would have cost Solomon his life.

    Adonijah and Joab were both killed.  Abiathar was banished because he carried the ark, so Solomon would not kill him.  It took two more years to kill Shimei, another traitor.  Once he was dead, Solomon's throne was fully established and he was accepted by all the people.  It took two years to be able to process all his feelings, but now the nation could be unified and live in peace.

1 Kings 2