Daily Tanach Wednesday Sefer Melachim 1 – Chapter 2: Dovid passes away

1.      Dovid passes away:

• Dovid lied with his forefathers and passed away there, and he was buried in the city of Dovid.
• The number of days of his reign: The number of days that Dovid reigned over the Jewish people was for 40 years. He ruled in Chevron for seven years and in Jerusalem he ruled for 33 years.

2.      The monarchy of Shlomo:

• Shlomo sat on the throne of Dovid his father, and his monarchy became very well established.

3.      Adoniyahu asks to be given Avishag Hashunamis as a wife, and is killed by Shlomo:

• Adoniyahu approaches Batsheva regarding his request: Adoniyahu the son of Chagit approached Batsheva the mother of Shlomo and she said to him, “Have you arrived in peace?” And he replied to her that he is doing well and is in peace. He then said to her that he wants to speak to her about something and she said to him that he may speak. He then said to her as follows, “You know that originally the monarchy was in my hands and to me all the Jewish people were looking up as king and as the heir of the monarchy, however the monarchy swerved from me and went to my brother, as well as the will of G-d for it to be. Now, I have one question that I ask from you, and please do not rebuff me on this request.” So, she said to him that he may speak, and so he said: “Please tell Shlomo the king that he should not rebuff your request and that he should give me Avishag the Shunamis as a wife.” Batsheva replied that she accepts the request that she will speak regarding him to the king.
• Batsheva approaches her son Shlomo regarding the request: Batsheva arrived to King Shlomo to speak to him regarding Adoniyahu. The king got up to greet her and he bowed to her and then sat on his throne. A chair was placed to the right of Shlomo for the mother of the king to sit on. She then said to him as follows, “I have one small request from you and please do not deny it.” The king said to her, “Ask my mother, as I will not reject your request.” So Batsheva asked her son, “Please give Avishag the Shunamis to your brother Adoniyahu as a wife.”
• Shlomo responds by having him killed: King Shlomo answered his mother by saying, “Why do you ask for Avishag the Shunamis to be given to Adoniyahu, just ask for the kingship to be given to him, as after all he is my older brother, and he has by his side Avyasar the priest and Yoav the son of Tzeruya?” King Shlomo then swore by the name of G-d saying, “So shall G-d do to me, and so should he add to me, if I do not consider this request from Adoniyahu as a rebellion for which he is liable for death. Now, by the life of G-d who has established my monarchy on the throne of my father Dovid and has made me a palace as He has spoken, I swear that I will put Adoniyahu today to death.”
• Adoniyahu is killed: King Shlomo sent his emissary Benayahu Ben Yehoyada on the mission to kill Adoniyahu, and so it was that he met him and smote him and he died.