(REFLECTIONS ON 1 Kings 2:13-46)

All who supported Adonijah in his attempt to seize the throne after David were eventually put to death. Even Adonijah himself, who refused to abandon his pursuit of the kingdom, was put to death.

Why? Because he attempted to strengthen his claim to the throne by asking to marry Abishag the Shunammite, a request Solomon recognized as a renewed challenge to his kingship.

In today’s Scripture, we see justice being carried out throughout Solomon’s kingdom in order to firmly establish him as king. Those who opposed God’s chosen king, whether openly or subtly, were removed so that the kingdom could be established in peace and righteousness.

The warrior entrusted with carrying out this justice for King Solomon was Benaiah, one of David’s mighty men, who faithfully served both King David and now King Solomon.

Interestingly, the NASB translation of today’s Scripture says that Benaiah “fell upon him” in describing the execution of judgment on behalf of Solomon.

What is significant about the phrase “fell upon him”? It shows that this was not murder, revenge, or a random act of violence, but judgment being carried out against those who betrayed the kingship established by God. Through the hand of Benaiah, judgment fell upon those who opposed the king.

Benaiah “fell upon” those under judgment as the servant of the king, carrying out the justice that established the kingdom of Solomon. In contrast, as believers under Christ the King, we are now called to be instruments not of destruction, but of reconciliation, grace, truth, all for the glory of God.

May the presence of God fall upon us through our faithfulness, obedience, love, and witness. May the Spirit of the living God, fall upon us, that our worship may be filled by His Spirit, and the kingdom that we serve and establish is His and His alone.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: 1 Kings 2