Political Machinations

This reflection is part of the ongoing Forest Hills Haftorah Series. The rest of the content can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/groups/FHJC-Haftorah-Series .

Even before King David's life came to an end, there were plots within plots amongst the people in his household to lay claim to the throne of Judah and Israel.

King David is portrayed as old, as frail and unaware, lying on his death-bed, while one of his sons makes an immediate power grab.

Every piece of information we are told here is important; Every name and very descriptor. So let's break this down before we go on, starting with a look at the figures of David's household to see how Adonijah fits in. This background is given back in the Book of Samuel:

So basing ourselves off of this list, if we were to plot out the line of succession, it would like this:

1. Amnon son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;
2. Chileab son of Abigail;
3. Absalom son of Maacah;
4. Adonijah son of Haggith;
5. Shephatiah son of Abital;
6. Ithream son of Eglah

This is an important point to remember; For as we dig deeper, we will see that whatever political machinations play themselves out in the Book of Kings actually began a long time ago. For Adonijah seems pretty far down the line of succession! What makes him think that he is the one to be rightfully crowned after David???

The answer to this question is grim: Murder and treachery.

We won't go into the backstory of every detail, but here are the highlights.

Amnon is the first in line. But:

And good-bye Amnon, the former Crown Prince. At whose hands? Absalom, who, as a result of Amnon's death, found himself moved up the ladder a notch, being one step closer to being the first heir of the king.

While it's true that if you know the backstory behind the murder, Absalom had a legitimate vendetta against Amnon, it is still interesting that even outside of their feud he stood to gain so much from Amnon's death.

The next in line would be Chileab son of Abigail. But oddly enough, other than the line of his birth above, we get no information about him whatsoever. Anyone's guess is as good as another's; Perhaps he died young.

If so, then it makes the above point even more impactful. For with Amnon's murder at the hands of Absalom, it means Absalom would not be a step closer, but would outright replace Amnon as being the future King himself!

But like Adonijah above, Absalom got impatient, declaring himself king during the lifetime of his own father:

This would result in civil war, King David's loyalists against a population that Absalom had won over to his side.

Unfortunately for Absalom, David was able to command such passion and zeal and dedication amongst those in his close circle and in his elite fighting corps. Absalom made a big mistake, and here is his end:

And good-bye Absalom.

Counting Chileab, that's already three down. Which brings us to whom? Adonijah! Who we see repeating the same mistake as his older half-brother Absalom above, declaring himself king prematurely, during the lifetime of his father.

(Very interesting that our opening verses of Kings goes so far as to say that Adonijah and Absalom were similar in appearance, just as we read that they were similar in action.)

Let's now turn our attention back to our opening verse from Kings. Now that we've seen Adonijah's genealogical pedigree, we are told about the kind of support he has behind him:

Yet another important detail. These are big-time names; Home-runs, actually.

Let's start with Joab son of Zeruiah. Who exactly was this?

We first have to turn to Chronicles for some of David's family-tree:

So Zeruiah is David's sister, while Joab, along with his two brothers Abishai and Asahel, David's nephews.

These are names worth taking note of. The three sons of Zeruiah would be amongst the most staunchly loyal and fanatic of David's supporters, each of them playing major roles in David's rise to power and continued triumph over his enemies. All three were bloody-minded, though in different ways, with legendary stories of their accomplishments being told throughout the Book of Samuel and Chronicles. All three won renown in war, making for themselves names throughout Judah and Israel, and then becoming top-level commanders of King David's troops.

Joab was the middle of the three, and probably the coldest and most calculating, even being directly responsible for a few political assassinations. (Look back up at the story of Absalom's death, and you'll see one such example.)

So the fact that Adonijah had Joab supporting his claim to the throne would be a major deal to everyone watching throughout Judah and Israel.

below: Joab killing Amasa. (or maybe Abner; Hard to keep track with him!)

Adonijah also had the support of Abiathar, a priest. Who was this?

This, too, is a story that goes way back.

Before David was king, he was an accomplished war hero in King Saul's army; One who was beloved, seemingly even more so, then the King himself. After major success in war against the Phillistines, the Book of Samuel records thusly:

King Saul would be driven mad with jealousy, and David would flee for his life. (We spoke quite a bit about Saul in A Promising Beginning, found here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/247084?lang=bi ).

At some point during David's many attempts to elude King Saul's hired killers, he took refuge in a priestly town called Nob, where Ahimelekh was the head priest. Ahimelekh gave David and his companions shelter, food, and then weapons.

But shortly after David would leave, King Saul would arrive looking for blood:

When David was in trouble, Ahimelekh took him in. And Ahimelekh paid for it with his life, as well as with the lives of nearly the entirety of his town and family. Nearly 100 people were put to the sword that day; Only Ahimelekh's son, Abiathar, was able to escape.

And just as Ahimelekh took in David, David would in turn take in Abiathar, and David never forgot the debt he owed Ahimelekh, with Abiathar serving as one of David's personal priests ever since.

Like the support of Joab for Adonijah, the support of Abiathar made a big statement.

David's retinue, those who had been with him from the very beginning, the heads of his family and of the religious establishment, who had started from the bottom and helped him rise to the top, are now recognizing Adonijah as the sole and rightful heir, whose time had arrived.

But then we get to the next line in our passage:

While Joab and Abiathar had major clout between the two of them, there were some who did not join them in crowning Adonijah.

So who are these people, and why do they matter?

Well, while Abiathar was one of David's personal priests, he was not the only one.

Zadok was the other! While we know less about the background of the relationship between David and Zadok, it had to be something special enough which would warrant David giving him equal status as that of Abiathar.

I don't want to say too much about Nathan for now; Suffice it to say that Nathan was recognized by David as being an authentic prophetic figure, to whom David would turn to understand the will of YHWH (2 Sam 7), as well as who would rebuke David when David would overstep the boundaries of appropriate behavior for a king (2 Sam 12). And if he was recognized by David, he most definitely was recognized by the people-at-large.

Shimei and Rei are a mystery to me.

But it's the last name on the list that draws most of my attention: Benaiah son of Jehoiada.

Like Joab son of Zeruiah, this is a major name which carries huge weight.

In fact, when we first meet him, he is amongst a very select few of David's top officials, right alongside Joab himself, amongst other important names we have already discussed above:

Just like the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, Joab and Asahel were probably enough to strike fear into the hearts of David's enemies during times of war, David's Cherethies and Pelethites would do the same.

While there is major uncertainty as to the national origin of these peoples, it is accepted that they are foreign mercenaries whose total and uncompromising allegiance was to King David. (I read in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia that it was pretty common practice of ancient monarchs to employ foreign mercenaries as their personal guard, so that there would be no dual allegiance to any other family or tribal faction.)

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a distinguished hero in his own right. The Book of Samuel summarizes some of his many accomplishments:

below: I kid you not, if you search for Benaiah ben Jehoaida on google-images, this is what comes up! I can't blame his enemies for quaking in their boots when he took to the battle field!

How do I know the Cherethites and Pelethites were amongst the elite of the elite?

Two reasons.

One; I doubt King David would have surrounded himself with anyone short of the best.

And two, because Benaiah son of Jehoida would not have let them be anything but.

It's important to emphasize that the chronicler of these histories is expecting us to have all of this in mind. When we are told that Joab supported Adonijah, for example, that's supposed to make quite the impact; And it does, once one appreciates the kind of weight behind this statement.

What drama and intensity with which to open the Book of Kings! We right away start off with the battle lines being drawn, looks like it is amounting to a cataclysmic clash between heroes and giants, even beyond what the Israelites suffered through during the wars of Absalom.

So what is Adonijah's first move once Joab and Abiathar declare support?

This is an interesting passage. It seems like Adonjiah is holding his coronation ceremony, and that he realizes who his opponents are, as he withholds invitations from the names of those who did not recognize his authority.

But now a new name is added to our story: Solomon, one of the princes.

How odd! He invited all of the brother princes and courtiers of Judah except one. Why was Solomon left out?

If we learned anything from the other stories above, it is that half-brother would not hesitate to turn on half-brother, when royal succession was on the line, and perhaps there had been some vying between the two of them behind the scenes that we are not getting here.

Unfortunately for Adonijah, he probably never saw The Godfather II. For if he did, he would have seen Michael Corleone sharing some of his father's most important advice.

Keep your friends close... But your enemies closer.

Adonijah would do the opposite, and it would cost him his life.

He ran off to En-rogel, out of David's immediate reach, and took all of his confidantes and supporters with him, and started to celebrate. As far as his supporters understood, the coronation had been accomplished, a new king had ascended, and the time for merry-making had begun!!!

But he had made a fatal mistake.

The king might have been old, he might have been frail; But he was still alive, and he was still the king.

And now that Adonijah and his retinue had run off, any forces that might be interested in mobilizing against Adonijah had David's ears all to themselves.

So just as sacrifices and feasts and merry-making were occurring in En-rogel; Back in Jerusalem, counter-forces were maneuvering:

With the above words, the prophet Nathan would set a chain of events into motion which would result in Adonijah's undoing. (Note, by the way, the urgency with which he addresses Bathsheva; So that you and your son may live! I think this demonstrates that there had been some kind of prior conflict between Bathseva's family and Adonijah's, and that were Adonijah to be successful in this, lives would be in danger.)

What Nathan understood was that no one could undo the memory of David as the beloved sweet-singer of Israel, who even still commanded an uncanny zealous and passionate dedication of those closest to him. David's word was enough to negate any momentum that Adonijah had already started building for himself.

For in Jerusalem, with David still on the throne and his elite Cherethites and Pelethites by his side, his word was law.

And almost immediately after Bathsheva's and Nathan's audience with the king, another celebration would begin:

Adonjiah never even have a chance. Not when Solomon would emerge from the royal palace on David's own mule, being paraded through the city with an escort of David's personal guard; Benaiah son of Jehoiada overseeing security, and Priest Zadok performing the anointing.

David, as the true and divinely-ordained rightful king, had the prerogative to choose his successor. And what the people who were in Jerusalem on that day saw would leave no room for question or ambiguity. David had made his decision and passed on the mantle. Solomon was king!

Of course, word would quickly spread, finding its way to En-rogel, where things would all fall apart as quickly as they seemed to have begun. Adonijha's enthusiastic supporters would tremble in fear and shame, and they would slink off to their homes, leaving Adonijah to humble himself alone before his new king, Solomon, and beg for mercy:

It must have been the case that Adonijah was taken over by a spirit of folly; For very shortly after, he would make a request of astounding brazenness, in requesting to have the rights to King David's former concubine!

That request would cost him his life.

And Benaiah son of Jehoaida, who had been ever fervent in his loyalty to David, would have the honor:

Adonijah would not be the only one to suffer a tragic end.

After nearly a lifetime of fierce support and loyalty, Joab would undue it all. And when he heard that Adonijah was put to death, he figured his time would not be long in coming.

And yet again, the death sentence would be carried out by Benaiah son of Jehoaida, who seemed to take Joab's place as the king's hitman; Ironically with Joab towards the top of that list:

With these calculated killings, as well as still some others in the opening chapters to Kings, Solomon sends a clear message; The transfer of power has been complete, and any insurrection will be considered treasonous, and repaid accordingly.

And as Solomon continuously strengthens his position, those who remained loyal to David and stood by found their own positions advancing. Zadok is now the sole priest of the royal family, and Benaiah son of Jehoaida is no longer only the commander of the elite bodyguards, but wields authority over anything and everything that was once under the control of Joab.

And between Nathan, Bathsheva, Benaiah and Zadok, along with David's blessing, Solomon would successfully usher in a generation of stability.

As I reflect on crucial historical moments such as these, I cannot help but notice some stark overlapping themes in the stories of Absalom and Adonijah.

Both of them were next in line of succession! All they had to do was trust the system, wait patiently, and their moment would come. It might not be as soon as they want it, but it would come!

And yet, they couldn't. They attempted to seize power prematurely, resulting in infighting and broken families and war, costing not only their own lives, but the lives of those around them.

What's fascinating, though, is contrasting their methods.

Let's start with Absalom:

Absalom's methods here are as effective as they are utterly repulsive. What it amounts to is a misinformation campaign.

He has successfully set up for himself a propaganda machine, with which he would intercept and outright manipulate everyone who had planned to seek an audience with the king.

By the time Absalom got done with them, they would be convinced that the king would not have helped them anyway, would not have cared, maybe even would have ruled against them; Unlike Absalom, of course.

This would go on for four years! How many people walked away from the palace with anger in their hearts that had been deceitfully and cunningly and calculatingly planted? Absalom's desire was for power; And like a snake, he would feign compassion, would pretend to befriend and would throw out promises left and right; All the while continuing to undermine and destroy any trust that people might otherwise have rightfully placed in a king that truly cared.

This was a long-term strategy.

Adonijah's strategy couldn't be any more different.

He was not interested in playing the slow game, in winning people over one by one. Adonijah saw his moment - the age and declining health of the king - and he seized it.

Like Absalom, Adonijah's main technique would be to spread misinformation. But rather than doing so with whispers; With a handshake here and a kiss on the cheek there; Adonijah would do so with trumpets and with shouting and large-scale pronouncements. He did not try to convince people that he would one day make a better king; He declared himself king, showed the world that he had the backing of those that mattered, and brazenly dared anyone to question him on it.

But by the time anyone would realize there was something to question; It would be too late! Adonijah thought to complete the process before anyone could even blink and start to notice that there was anything amiss.

Never mind that David is still alive. Never mind that there are those in the upper echelons who seem to think Solomon is the intended heir. Never mind that Adonijah does not seem to have the support of the royal guard, nor of the royal prophet. Never you mind any of that. In fact, nothing to see over there in Jerusalem. Look over here in En-rogel, where we've already begun to celebrate! And you better not question, lest you want us to let Joab loose against you!

If there is anything positive to take away from such stories, for me it is this: Truth has a way of outing itself for those who fight for it.

You might find yourself behind, you might even find yourself at what you think can only be rock bottom. Absalom, in fact, was so successful that David had to flee Jerusalem for his life!

And if this wasn't bad enough, both David and his supporters were ridiculed, were taunted, were stoned. Absalom seemed to have been so successful in spreading his noxious lies such that when David was down, there was no compassion, no mercy. There was glee at his suffering, at his lowest moment:

And so David found himself in exile, while his own subjects for whom he had dedicated so much, would see him as nothing more than a cold-blooded killer who had usurped the throne!

But David didn't cower. David didn't succumb. For he knew that truth was on his side, and that truth was worth fighting for; As did his loyalists, who pushed through it all, standing by him no matter what. In fact, even while David was down, they were eager to jump in at his defense at a moment's notice.

Remember we mentioned Abishai son of Zeruiah? (Brother of Joab, one of the "rash" ones.) Here is his response to the taunting:

It was most definitely an uphill battle of what might have seemed like insurmountable proportions. But overcome they did, by a combination of relentless determination and fortitude, as well as unshakable faith in themselves that they had truth on their side.

I cannot overstate how important I think this take-away is; David demonstrates that there might come a time when nearly the whole world directs their fingers and their ire at you. They point at you and tell you that you're wrong, or evil, or that your defeat is so inevitable such that you might as well concede, and a refusal to do so is petty and pathetic.

Well, to that, David let out a resounding NO! that would be heard throughout all of Canaan. And he teaches us that if you know, deep down in your heart of hearts that you are fighting for truth, you never roll over. You keep fighting and clawing with every single breath; And if others are urging you to accept defeat, and then threatening both you and those who support you, throwing rocks with impunity as Shimei did, it might very well be because they are terrified that if you don't give them the submission that they want, that you will succeed in clawing your way back and bringing whatever truth to light of which they are utterly terrified.

For those who are willing to fight hard enough for it, YHWH will help truth to out itself! After all, El-of-truth is one of his very titles!

So with that, may YHWH help us to always be able to separate truth from falsehood. And may he grant us the means to fight for it, with everything we have; And if the world should try to make us believe that up is down and left is right and right is wrong, may YHWH help us to keep our eyes and our ears wide open, aiding us in the fight against falsehood and encouraging us to do everything in our power to be forces for shedding light and truth and goodness wherever it needs to be shed.