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<< 1 Kings 1: Solomon Made King >>

sol635 WE are coming near the end of the story of David's life. He was now about seventy years old. At one time one of his sons, Absalom, had tried to take the kingdom from his father. Now Adonijah, another son, made himself king as Absalom had done. He gave a feast and had himself anointed king, at a place very near to Jerusalem, "by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel," the "fuller's spring."

The spring,  which is the only one at  Jerusalem, is now called the "Virgin's Well." It is under the temple hill in the Kidron Valley. The rock Zoheleth is the cliff on the hill-side across the valley, on which the village of Siloam stands.

Among those who joined Adonijah were Joab, David's captain, and Abiathar the priest, who had been faithful to David in Absalom's rebellion. Zadok, the other priest, was still faithful to David, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, who commanded the Cherethites and Pelethites, the king's guards. There was also with David Nathan the prophet. These were not asked to Adonijah's sacrifice and feast; nor Solomon the son whom David had said should be king after him.

They told David what Adonijah was doing. Then he sent the faithful priest Zadok and Nathan the prophet and the faithful guards to anoint Solomon king with holy oil from the tent where the ark was kept. They made him ride on king David's own mule, as kings used to ride, and brought him to Gihon "the spring-head." It would seem to mean to the spring of En Rogel where it flows from the hill. This was very near the place where Adonijah was feasting. Adonijah and his company heard the sound, as they came up the hill into the city blowing the trumpet and rejoicing till the city rang again.

I have told a part of the story so that we shall understand it better when we read it.

Now king David was old and stricken in years;.... Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants: But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: 1:34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon.

And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar? And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings. And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king. And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule: And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard. And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom. And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed. And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it. And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword. And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.

At the beginning of Solomon's reign he made a sacrifice to the Lord at Gribeon, "for that was the great high place." lit is said in Chronicles, that the tabernacle which had been built at Sinai was now in Gribeon. We remember Gibeon, "a great city, as one of the royal cities," northwest from Jerusalem. There had been battles there; we read about one of them. But now all was peaceful and Solomon went there to sacrifice. He was young, perhaps eighteen or twenty years old, and he was king. What gift did he need most to ask from the Lord!

And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?  And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.---1 Kings I.1, 5-10, 32-53.1 Kings III, 4-15

Author: William L. Worcester 1904

Spiritual Correspondences

      King Saul >> Truth obeyed in a Natural way

      King David and his Victories >> Truth with spiritual strength and victory over temptations

      King Solomon >> Truth with Love, Peace and Glory

      Riding upon the mule >> The power of understanding brought into usefulness

      Absalom and Adonijah >>  Natural and external motives attempting to rule

       

Spiritual Meaning

1 KINGS I

1. Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

 1. When the state of man as to Divine Truth leading to good is at its close, he is furnished with an abundant supply of truths, but the state of good does not, as yet appear.

5. Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

5. Because the natural man, from the delight of self-love, is now excited, aspiring after dominion, and is supported by false doctrines, a perverted intelligence, and the full power of natural reason.

6. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
 
 6. For Divine Truth, from good, does not oppose the freedom of the natural man, nor force the natural understanding; moreover, self-love is fair in the eyes of the external man, while its real character is only successively manifested;

And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
 
 7. Nevertheless it favours the falsity derived from evil, which enslaves, and the evil derived from falsity, which prevails; and these in return support the aspirations of self-love.
 
8. But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
 
 8. But good derived from truth, and truth derived from good, with doctrine from the Word, supported by external good and truth, as well as by the natural powers in their integrity from the Lord, do not favour self-love,
 
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:
 
 9. Although the natural man inflamed by self-love, simulates the affections of charity, natural good, and innocence, strengthening itself by appearances of truth from the Word, and by truths, apparently from celestial love, which minister to it;
 
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
 
 10. But genuine doctrine, internal and external, with the celestial principle itself, are rejected by it.
 
And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.
 
 32. And that the celestial spiritual, and natural decrees of the mind, being in subordination, according to order should minister to Divine Truth,
 
The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
 
 33. From which is given the perception that truths should be subordinate to good ; that truth from celestial good should succeed truth leading to good, by the affection of rational truth and that it should descend into the knowledges of goodness and truth;
 
And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.
 
 34 Also that good derived from truth, and doctrine from the Word, should, frorn Love Divine there confirm the rule of the celestial principle in the church, whence there should be abundant revelation and perception, that Divine Truth united to Divine Good should reign triumphant.
 
Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
 
 35. After which should follow a corresponding elevation of kriowledges, now subordinate to celestial good, that this good might govern in the place of truth leading to good, because it is of the Divine appointment that love should be supreme both in the spiritual and celestial churches;
 
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
 36. From all which, the natural man is enlightened, and, from perception, confirms the truth, that, as love and wisdom are one in the Lord, so good and truth should be conjoined in the church.
 
As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
 
37. For Divine Love had ruled, even when truth had appeared to lead: much more, therefore, should it rule, when it was manifestly exalted in the natural, and in the spiritual mind together.

 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.
 
38. Therefore it follows, that the celestial and spiritual principles, with the natural, and its defences, as to good and as to truth, descend together into action, exalting celestial good by means of the affection of rational truth, and uniting it with the knoyvledges of good and truth stored up in the memory;
 
And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
 

39. While, by means of good derived from truth, Divine Love from the Divine Human, in its power, flows into celestial good, confirming; it as the governing principle in the celestial church, whence immediate revelation follows, and truths are conjoined with good in the natural man.
 
And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
 
40. And this produces in consequence, an elevation of the natural loves, accompanied with genuine gladness in the understanding and perfect joy in the heart, which extend themselves to all the powers of the external man in fulness.
 
And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?
 
41. Wherefore self-love, with all its attendant powers, is restrained, evil being appropriated, while falsity from evil is sensible of the presence of Divine 'Truth which reveals its true character, and shows that it produces nothing but disorder.
 
And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
 
42. But still there is, as yet, communication with the literal sense of the Word, which is supposed to favour self-love and support its claims, which it does only in appearance.
 
And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
 
43. And therefore, from its genuine sense, there is influx and perception, grounded in Divine Truth, that a state of truth leading to good, in the man of the church, is succeeded by a state of genuine good;
 
And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:
 
44. In which the celestial, the spiritual, and the natural degrees of the mind, with its defences as to good and as to truth, have exalted celestial good, by means of the affection of rational truth;
 
And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.
 
45· And in which also good derived from truth, and truth derived frorn good, in the natural man, where are the knowledges of goodness and truth, have confirmed the influx of Divine Love Irorn the Divine Human in its power, whence the natural man has been elevated above temptations by the realization of good, and by the manifestation of true doctrine in gladness of the understanding and in joy of the heart. And that thus what, to the evil who tempt, appears as disorder, is really the result of true order.
 
And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
 
46. For celestial good now reigns supreme in the whole mind.
 
And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.
 
47· And that thus, too there is conjunction of natural truths which serve, with spiritual truth which rules, and the perception thence that spiritual truth from celestial good is superior to spiritual truth leading to good, and thus that the government of the former is superior, a state of humility being induced.

 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
 
48. Whence now it is seen, that there bas been conjunction of spiritual truth leading to good with Divine Good and Truth, through conflicts against evil, resulting in the supremacy of celestial good for ever.
 
And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
 
49. On this account falsities derived from evil, which favour self-love, or the evil spirits, who are in those falsities, and tempt mankind, come into a state of fear, and are dispersed, each walking in the way of his own love.
 
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
 
50. Self-love also (or the evil genii who are in self-love) is filled with fear, because it is opposed to celestial good; and hence it is elevated, as to externals, and seeks protection from an outward conformity to truth from good in the ultimate of order.
 
And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.
 
51. But celestial good (or the angels who are in that good) perceives, by influx from Divine Good, that such is the state of those in whom self-love is confirmed, that they can only seek protection from the laws of order in ultimates, and hence that they have the perception that those laws are irrevocably established, and that outward obedience secures freedom from punishment.
 
And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.
 
52. And further, it is perceived from celestial good, that every man is at liberty to act according to order, and that if he do so, he will secure the enjoyment of his life in ultimates, and suffer no condemnation , but that if be be disobedient, he will suffer the punish merit of evil, which is spiritual death.
 
So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.
 
53· Wherefore it is of Divine Truth from good, that the evil are in no internal worship, while yet they are outwardly submissive, and being so, are allowed the enjoyment of their own life.

1 KINGS III

 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
 
 4· Consequently a change of state is experienced into the celestial love of truth, which is the inmost love of truth; and into a full worship of the Lord in that state.
 
 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
 
 5· Then also, there is revelation from the Divine Love although somewhat obscure, and with the absence of conscious delight from good, but still by means of Divine Truth. And thence comes an earnest desire for further enlightenment,
 
 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
 
 6. Accompanied by the perception that Divine Love operates by Divine Truth, when expressed in the actions, in the understanding, and in the heart, resulting in a new state, from the Divine mercy, wherein truth from good governs the mind, and not truth leading to good. This state of good is permanent,

  And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
 
 7. And is certainly the effect of Divine Love united with Divine Truth, This state also, is a state of innocence, which acknowledges that it has not the life of truth and good from itself.

 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
 
 8. Besides this, it is the central principle from  which proceeds all truths, which are Divine, which have power, and whose quality, internally and externally, is infinite and eternal.
 
 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
 
 9. An earnest desire therefore is enkindled in him who is in this celestial state of good, for a clear knowledge of Divine Truth, which shall rule in the church, and enable the member of it accurately to discern good and evil, which can only be done by perception from the Lord.
 
 And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.
 
 10. And it is in perfect agreement with Divine Love, that the celestial 111an should desire truth according to his good.

And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
 
 11. Hence therefore comes the perception from Divine Truth, that because celestial good desires truth rather than the perpetual enjoyment or mere, the glory or knowledge, or mere dominion over evil from self-love,
even the understanding of truth for the sake of good,

 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
 
 12. Therefore it is according to Divine Order that the celestial man should be in good and truth thence derived; for celesrial good is superior to all other preparatory states, and also to all succeeding and subordinate states of truth ;
 
 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
 
 13. Being endowed from the Lord, with what it does not selfishly desire---namely, abundance of knowledges, and external dignity, and being superior to all truths perpetually.
 
 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
 
 14. But still the celestial man is free; and only on condition of obedience, and of true external and internal worship, even as is the case with the spiritual man, can this state of good be permanently preserved.
 
 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
 
 15. The celestial man, therefore, is aroused by the obscure perception which is granted to him, the consequence of which is, a closer conjunction of goodness with truth, or of the celestial with the spiritual, involving a recognition of inmost good, and the consecration to the Lord of all affections both internal and external in a free state, and thus the full appropriation of good in the natural man.

Author: Rev. HENRY MACLAGAN (1905)

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