The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 23

Adonijah's "I will be king'' led to conspiracy, rebellion, intrigue, ingntitnde; to defiance of a father, of a brother, of God. • v. HE WAS NOT WITHOUT WARNING, BUT IT WAS IN VAIN. The failnre of his first' conspiracy, the abject terror which followed, the flight to the sanctnary, the terrified clinging to the horns of the altar, the piteons entreaty for life-these things should have been remembered, should have "changed his hand and checked his pride.'' Still more, his brother's magnanimity, "there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth;" or, if not that, his message, "If wickedness be found in him he shall die.'' All are of no avail. The passion for empire, like the passion for play, is almost incurable. Adonijah was playing for a throne: he staked hononr, safety, piety-and lost. He played again-and this time a drawn sword was snspended over his head-he staked Iris life, and lost H. VI. HE WAS SUDDENLY CUT OFF, AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY. And this was the end of the spoiled child, of the "curled darling;" this the end of his pomp ancl cu:cumstance, of his flattery and intrigue, of his steadfast resistance of the will of heaven-that the sword of the headsman smote him that be died. Instead of the throne, the tomb ; instead of the sceptre, the sword. Chariots and horses, visions of empire, visions of love-one fell thrust of the steel put an end to all that. Died Adonijah as a fool dieth, ingloriously, ignobly. "When we are dead, all the world sees who was the fool.'' Adonijah's death was the :fitting and natural conclusion of his life. He has sowed to the wind: what wonder if he reaps to the whirlwind. Ver. 5.-Adonijah and the Lord's Anointed. The conspiracy of Adonijab and its issue may suggest some lessons as to the kingdom of Christ and those who oppose His reign. For consider- I. SOLOMON IS A TYPE OF OUR BLESSED LORD. This is universally allowed. The true "son of David" is the Son of God. He is the Divine Wisdom, the true Anointed One, the eternal King of Israel. Solomon "the peaceful'' prefigured the great "Prince of Peace." II. THE KINGDOM OF SOLOMON FORESHADOWED CHRIST'S REIGN. This is taught "by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture" (see e.g., Luke i. 82, 33, and cf. 2 Sam. vii.11, 12; Ps. l.xxii.11, sqq.; Isa. ix. 7; xvi. 5; Jer. xxiii. 5). !!I. THE OPPOSITION TO SOLOMON'S RULE PREFIGURED THE RESISTANCE OF THE POWERS OF THIS WORLD TO CHRIST. The second Psalm, the primary reference of which is to Solomon, has its absolute fulfilment in our Lord (Acts iv. 25-27). Note here (1) As against Solomon were leagued princes, priest, and general, so against the Christ were gathered tetrarch, priests, and proconsul. (2) As the aid of religion was invoked against Solomon by Adonijah and Abiathar (note on ver. 9), so it was invoked against our blessed LORD by Annas and Caiaphas (St. Matt. xxvi. 65; St. John xix. 7). In both cases, religion was used as a cloke. Now observe- IV. THE COURSE OF ADONIJAH'S CONSPIRACY FORESHADOWS (1) THE BRIEF SUCCESS, AND (2) THE SUDDEN OVERTHROW, OF THE POWERS OF EVIL. (1) The brief Buccess; As for a time everything seemed to favour the conspirators-David's in- decision, Adonijab's following, &c.-so now the powers of this world seem to have their own way. The silence of God, a corrupt priesthood, physical force, the chariots and horses of the world, the pomp and glitter of wealth-all seem to proinise success. The cause of Christ, like that of Solomon, seems to be desperate. But (2) The sudden overthrow. In the very hour of apparent success, ainid cries of "God save King Adonijah," the trnmpet blast proclaimed the destrnction of their hopes, and the trembling and terrified guests hurriedly dispersed to their homes. So, at the trump of the archangel, if not before, the "gates of hell" shall be over- come and the enemies of our Lord shall be put to confusion, and flee to the moun- tains and hills to cover them (St. Luke xxiii. 80). Meanwhile the Church and her ministers, like Batbsheba and Nathan, must cry to the Eternal Father, "Lord, how long" (Rev. vi. 10)? V. THE DURATION OF THE CONSPIRACY PREFIGURES (1) THE BRIEF REJECTION AND (2) THE ETERNAL REIGN OP" CHRIST. The conspiracy lasted at the longest a few weeks ; the peaceful reign of Solomon extended over forty years. The conspiracy  16 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [en. r. 1-58.