1 Kings 1:42 - Printer Friendly

ESV: While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news."

NIV: Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news."

NASB: While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Then Adonijah said, 'Come in, for you are a valiant man and you bring good news.'

CSB: He was still speaking when Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest, suddenly arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are an important man, and you must be bringing good news."

NLT: And while he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. 'Come in,' Adonijah said to him, 'for you are a good man. You must have good news.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: While he was still speaking, there came Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest. And Adonijah said to him, “Come in, for you are a prominent man, and bring good news.”

Joab is confused. His uncle and king, David, is old and ill. He will soon die, and Israel will have no king. Undoubtedly, Joab knows David wants Solomon to rule. But Joab supports David's son Adonijah's efforts to take the crown and give stability to the kingdom. Later, Solomon will follow David's advice to dispose of Joab for murder and insubordination (2 Samuel 3:26–30; 18:5, 14–15; 20:4–10).

Adonijah, Joab, the priest Abiathar, and the prince's supporters are just finishing the feast celebrating Adonijah's unofficial self-coronation close to the city when they hear a terrible racket. Joab is alarmed and asks what it means (1 Kings 1:41). Abiathar's son, Jonathan, rushes in and gives them the news.

Joab's switch in loyalties is understandable: it's his best chance of avoiding execution. Abiathar's and Jonathan's decisions are harder to explain. Abiathar is the priest, and he's been with David nearly as long as Joab (1 Samuel 22:1; 11–23). The text doesn't say why he would betray his king.

Jonathan—not the same person as David's dear friend (1 Samuel 18:1)—has also served David for a long time. Years before, David's son Absalom rebelled against him and marched on the city. While David and his servants fled, Jonathan and a friend risked their lives to reach the exiles and give them word of Absalom's plan (2 Samuel 17). Joab, Jonathan, and Jonathan's father Abiathar, all had a hand in ensuring David was still king.

Adonijah's words are poetic and ironic. At the end of Absalom's civil war, David looked out and saw Jonathan's fellow spy Ahimaaz running toward him (2 Samuel 18:26). David said, "He is a good man and comes with good news" (2 Samuel 18:27). This was not so; Ahimaaz was coming to tell David that Absalom was dead. But when he arrived and realized David would be devastated, he couldn't bring himself to give his report (2 Samuel 18:28–29).

Now, Jonathan has the same experience. His news isn't what Adonijah wants to hear. David has crowned Solomon as king (1 Kings 1:43–48).

First Kings 1:41–48 shows Adonijah's reaction when he learns he's failed to take the throne. He's the oldest surviving eligible son of an ailing king who had not officially named a successor. He knows that his father promised to appoint Solomon, but that hasn't happened. So Adonijah took matters into his own hands and arranged for his own coronation ceremony (1 Kings 1:1–10). As his guests feast, they hear a loud commotion in Jerusalem. Jonathan arrives and gives the news: David has installed Solomon as king. Adonijah's guests flee, and the would-be king runs to the tabernacle, hoping that Solomon will be forgiving (1 Kings 1:49–50).

First Kings 1 records Solomon's first anointing as king. David is weak. His fourth son, Adonijah, convinces Joab, Abiathar, and the officials of Judah to declare him king. Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba convince David to crown Solomon. With the help of Zadok the priest and Benaiah the royal guard commander, Solomon becomes king. His first act is to pardon his brother, although the truce doesn't last long. After David dies, Solomon must execute Adonijah for rebellion and Joab for murder, as well as banish Abiathar the priest (1 Kings 2:13–35).

First Kings 1 picks up the story of David's kingship several years after the events at the end of 2 Samuel. David has protected the kingdom, gathered supplies for the temple, and purchased the land (2 Samuel 24:18–25; 1 Chronicles 21:2–5; 29:1–9). It's time for Solomon to take over and build the temple. First, however, David must ensure Solomon is king and that the throne does not fall to Solomon's brother Adonijah. Once crowned, Solomon solidifies his hold by executing Adonijah, Joab, and David's nemesis, Shimei. He also banishes Abiathar, the priest who supported Adonijah. With Nathan, Benaiah, and Zadok beside him, Solomon is ready to rule (1 Kings 2).

This was originally the first half of a combined text. First Kings records the end of David's reign and the rule of Solomon. After this, the kingdom is split in two. The northern nation of Israel no longer submits to the king of the southern nation, called Judah. The prophet Elijah first appears in this book. The kings mostly fail to honor the Lord. They participate in idolatry and other sins. This will eventually result in their conquest and exile, as depicted throughout the books of Chronicles.