As King David reached the end of his life, the question of who would rule Israel after him came to a head. His son Adonijah moved to take the throne on his own, gathering support and holding a feast to have himself declared king. But David had promised the kingdom to Solomon, the son of Bathsheba — and the prophet Nathan and Bathsheba acted quickly to make sure that promise was kept.
This account, found in 1 Kings 1–2, follows Solomon’s rise from a contested succession to a firmly established reign. It records David’s charge to his son, David’s death, and the decisive steps Solomon took to settle old accounts and secure his rule.
The Story of Solomon Becomes King
King David had grown old and could no longer keep warm, and his strength was failing. With the aged king near the end of his reign, his son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, exalted himself and declared that he would be king. He prepared chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run before him, taking on the trappings of royalty without his father’s blessing.
Adonijah gained powerful allies. He conferred with Joab, the commander of David’s army, and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported his claim. Then he held a great feast, inviting his brothers and the king’s servants, but he pointedly did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
Nathan the prophet went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and warned her that Adonijah had made himself king while David did not know it. On Nathan’s counsel, Bathsheba went in to David and reminded him of his oath that Solomon would reign after him. Nathan then came in and confirmed what was happening. David responded at once, swearing that Solomon would sit on his throne that very day.
David ordered Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada to set Solomon on the king’s own mule and bring him down to Gihon. There Zadok took a horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon, the trumpet sounded, and the people shouted, God save king Solomon. The celebration was so loud that the ground seemed to shake. When Adonijah and his guests heard it, they were afraid; his guests scattered, and Adonijah fled and caught hold of the horns of the altar, fearing for his life. Solomon spared him for the moment and sent him to his house.
As David’s death drew near, he charged Solomon to be strong, to show himself a man, and to keep the commandments of the LORD by walking in His ways, so that he and his descendants would prosper on the throne of Israel. David also gave Solomon specific instructions concerning Joab and Shimei, men who had wronged him, and concerning kindness to be shown to loyal friends. Then David died and was buried in the city of David, having reigned forty years over Israel.
With Solomon now on the throne, his kingdom was established. Adonijah asked, through Bathsheba, for Abishag the Shunammite to be given to him as a wife. Solomon saw this as a bid for the kingdom and had Adonijah put to death. He removed Abiathar from the priesthood, sending him to his fields at Anathoth, which fulfilled the earlier word of the LORD against the house of Eli. When Joab heard the news, he fled to the tabernacle and caught hold of the horns of the altar, but Solomon ordered Benaiah to strike him down there.
Solomon then set Benaiah over the army in Joab’s place and put Zadok in the priesthood in place of Abiathar. He summoned Shimei, who had cursed David years before, and commanded him to build a house in Jerusalem and never to leave the city; if he crossed the brook Kidron, he would die. Shimei agreed, but in time he broke the command, and Solomon had him put to death as well. With these matters settled, the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.
Key Verses
“Now king David was old … and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.” 1 Kings 1:1
“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king” 1 Kings 1:5
“Anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.” 1 Kings 1:39
“Be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man” 1 Kings 2:2
“Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.” 1 Kings 2:12
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation.
What the Story of Solomon Becomes King Teaches Us
The account shows that God’s purposes are carried out even when people try to grasp power for themselves. Adonijah moved fast and gathered allies, but the throne went to Solomon, the one to whom it had been promised. The story presents a real succession with real conflict, and it treats the keeping of a solemn oath as something that matters deeply.
David’s charge to Solomon places obedience at the center of a good reign. He tells his son to be strong and to keep the commandments of the LORD, tying the future of the kingdom to walking faithfully in God’s ways rather than to military strength or clever alliances alone.
The closing chapter also shows the weight of past actions. Old wrongs by Joab and Shimei, and Adonijah’s continued ambition, all come due under Solomon’s rule. The narrative records these outcomes plainly as the means by which the kingdom was made secure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Adonijah, and why did he try to become king?
Adonijah was a son of King David and Haggith, and an older brother of Solomon. As David grew old, Adonijah exalted himself and declared that he would be king, gathering chariots, horsemen, and supporters to press his claim before David had named a successor publicly.
How did Solomon end up being made king instead of Adonijah?
The prophet Nathan warned Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and together they reminded David of his oath that Solomon would reign. David immediately ordered Solomon to be anointed king, and Zadok the priest anointed him at Gihon while the people shouted, God save king Solomon.
Who anointed Solomon, and where did it happen?
Zadok the priest anointed Solomon with oil taken from the tabernacle. Solomon was set on King David’s own mule and brought down to Gihon, where the anointing took place and the trumpet was blown before the people.
What did David tell Solomon before he died?
David charged Solomon to be strong, to show himself a man, and to keep the charge of the LORD by walking in His ways and keeping His commandments. He also gave Solomon specific instructions about Joab, Shimei, and others before he died and was buried in the city of David.
How did Solomon secure his kingdom after David’s death?
Solomon had Adonijah put to death after he asked for Abishag the Shunammite, removed Abiathar from the priesthood, and had Joab and later Shimei put to death. With these matters resolved, the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.