Week 1: The Establishment of Solomon as King

The Establishment of Solomon as King: 1 Kings 1-2

Objective: 

• The transition from David to Solomon
• God chose Solomon over Adonijah
• Death of David

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• • 1 Kings 1:1-40
  • 1 Kings 2:1-12

Key verse(s):

• "And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn” 1 Kings 2:3

Comments:

• The story in Chapter 1 can’t be split. There are 40 verses to be read. Plan to focus mainly on the parts where Nathan and David are planning and anointing Solomon as a king.
• The first book of Kings starts with the end of David and the beginning of Solomon's reign.
• We see David’s health has declined so they hired a servant girl to assist him.
• Adonijah is David's fourth son after Absalom, Amnon, and Chileab. He wanted to take the throne by force and decided to make himself king. He thought it was his turn (as he is older than Solomon). But God chose Solomon.
• Even though his old age, David asked to bring his most trusted counselors to start the process of making Solomon a king.
• We see the difference between David and Saul. David was not attached to his throne like Saul and wanted his son to take over. David understood that God is the King and his eyes were towards the Heavens.
• We see Zadok the priest anointed Solomon (1:39) with Holy Oil, just like Samuel did with Saul and David.
• In Chapter Two, David is giving Solomon wise instructions to be a king.
• The instructions are not just for kings. They are valuable instructions for us too.
• “I go the way of all the earth" 1 Kings 2:2 is a reminder from David to Solomon that he should not get attached to the throne. We also should look up to eternal life and we are not staying on earth forever.
• David warns Solomon about some people in the kingdom is not hate, but wise instructions to be aware of ungodly people around Solomon. We learn to differentiate between Godly and ungodly people around us.

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Who was the third king of Israel?
2. Who was the son that wanted to reign after David?
3. How did they stop Adonijah from being a king?
4. Who anointed Solomon as a king?
5. What are the instructions David gave Solomon before his death?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Solomon was older than Adonijah. (T/F)
2. Who spoke to Bathsheba about the reign of Solomon?
3. ____ anointed David as a king. ____ anointed Solomon as a king.
4. Where was David buried?
5. The period that David reigned over Israel was ____ years.