1Ki 2:13-14 | MHM | STEP | v. 13-18 : Adonijah, who had once tried to make himself king, came up with a new plan. He wanted to marry Abishag, the young woman who had cared for King David. In those times, marrying a former king’s wife or concubine was seen as a claim to the throne (2 Samuel 12:8 ). Adonijah was not really in love with Abishag, but hoped that marrying her would help him become king. He did not ask Solomon directly because he was afraid, and he also did not speak to Abishag himself. Instead, he went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and asked her to request this favor from Solomon for him. Adonijah pretended to be humble and peaceful: I come peaceably and to beg a favour (1 Kings 2:13–14 ). He tried to make Bathsheba feel sorry for him, saying, You know the kingdom was mine, and all Israel set their faces on me (1 Kings 2:15 ). He claimed he had given up his claim and just wanted to marry Abishag as a small reward for accepting Solomon’s rule, but his real goal was to challenge Solomon’s authority.

‏ 1 Kings 2:13-14

v. 13-18: Adonijah, who had once tried to make himself king, came up with a new plan. He wanted to marry Abishag, the young woman who had cared for King David. In those times, marrying a former king’s wife or concubine was seen as a claim to the throne (2 Samuel 12:8 ^a). Adonijah was not really in love with Abishag, but hoped that marrying her would help him become king. He did not ask Solomon directly because he was afraid, and he also did not speak to Abishag himself. Instead, he went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and asked her to request this favor from Solomon for him. Adonijah pretended to be humble and peaceful: I come peaceably and to beg a favour (1 Kings 2:13–14 ^b). He tried to make Bathsheba feel sorry for him, saying, You know the kingdom was mine, and all Israel set their faces on me (1 Kings 2:15 ^c). He claimed he had given up his claim and just wanted to marry Abishag as a small reward for accepting Solomon’s rule, but his real goal was to challenge Solomon’s authority.

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