1 Kings 2 25

1 Kings 2:25 kjv

And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

1 Kings 2:25 nkjv

So King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he died.

1 Kings 2:25 niv

So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.

1 Kings 2:25 esv

So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.

1 Kings 2:25 nlt

So King Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him, and Adonijah was put to death.

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 25 Meaning

King Solomon, having received intelligence of Adonijah's further intent to challenge his newly established throne through the seemingly innocent request for Abishag as a wife, understood this as a strategic move to solidify a claim to the kingship. Consequently, Solomon ordered his loyal and trusted commander, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, to execute Adonijah. This act solidified Solomon's power and removed a significant claimant to the throne, marking a definitive end to any internal rivalries concerning the Davidic succession.

1 Kings 2 25 Context

This verse is set in the immediate aftermath of David's death and Solomon's ascension to the throne, following a prior attempt by Adonijah, David's elder son, to seize power. King David had publicly anointed Solomon as his successor (1 Ki 1). In 1 Kings 2, David gives his final instructions to Solomon, emphasizing faithfulness to God's ways and also urging him to deal with certain individuals like Joab and Shimei, who posed threats or had caused injustices. Adonijah, initially spared by Solomon, attempts to exploit a cultural loophole by requesting to marry Abishag, David's last concubine. For a claimant to the throne, marrying a former king's wife or concubine was a significant act of claiming royal authority and legitimate succession (cf. Absalom in 2 Sam 16:21-22). Solomon, imbued with wisdom and acting decisively to secure his God-given reign, recognizes this subtle yet profound challenge as a renewed attempt to usurp the throne. His command for Adonijah's immediate execution reflects the precarious nature of early kingship and the need to decisively remove all potential rivals to establish a stable and legitimate reign.

1 Kings 2 25 Word Analysis

• So King Solomon: King Solomon (Meleḵ Šĕlōmōh). "Solomon" is from Hebrew שְׁלֹמֹה (Shelomoh), meaning "peaceful." This title and name signify his reign, prophesied to be one of peace and rest after David's wars, and the beginning of the established Davidic dynasty. His identity as "King" highlights his absolute authority and God-ordained position, newly consolidated after David's death. This decision showcases his exercise of royal wisdom and power.

• sent: yišlaḥ (Hebrew: וַיִּשְׁלַח), from the verb šālaḥ (שָׁלַח), "to send." Implies delegation of authority and decisive action. The king's command is binding and final.

• Benaiah the son of Jehoiada: Benaiah (Běnāyāhû, Hebrew: בְּנָיָהוּ). The name means "Yahweh has built." He was a highly respected and trusted commander, part of David's mighty men, and now chief executioner for Solomon. His loyalty was absolute, and he consistently carried out the king's direct and sensitive orders, particularly those requiring lethal force. Identifying him as "the son of Jehoiada" connects him to a priestly lineage, highlighting his stature and trusted position within the royal court, and likely the reason David entrusted Solomon to trust him too.

• and he struck him down: wayyakhwēhû (Hebrew: וַיַּכֵּהוּ), from nākhāh (נָכָה), "to strike, smite." This verb is frequently used for inflicting a mortal blow or execution. The immediacy of "he struck him down" emphasizes swift and certain execution, leaving no room for Adonijah to gather support or flee.

• so that he died: wayyāmōth (Hebrew: וַיָּמֹת), from mûth (מוּת), "to die, perish." This phrase signifies the absolute and irreversible finality of the act. Adonijah's challenge to the throne, and indeed his life, comes to a conclusive end.

• King Solomon sent Benaiah...: This phrase highlights Solomon's active role in establishing his authority. It demonstrates his strategic thinking, relying on his loyal chief military officer to execute politically sensitive tasks.

• Benaiah... and he struck him down: Emphasizes Benaiah's unwavering loyalty and efficacy as the instrument of the king's justice and authority. This relationship underscores the firm grip Solomon was gaining on the reins of power.

• struck him down, so that he died: This terse and direct statement signifies the non-negotiable nature of Solomon's command and the complete success of the execution. There is no resistance or escape for Adonijah, ensuring the elimination of a persistent threat to the nascent kingdom.

1 Kings 2 25 Bonus section

• The immediate execution of Adonijah also serves as a critical demonstration of Solomon's adherence to the will of God regarding his rightful succession, in contrast to Adonijah's self-proclaimed kingship.
• The biblical narrative does not portray this act as tyranny but as the necessary action of a king to secure the God-ordained kingdom and maintain stability, in line with divine will and the nature of kingship at the time.
• The role of Benaiah here foreshadows his later appointment as commander of the army, replacing Joab, showcasing his transition from a royal bodyguard/enforcer to the highest military rank due to his loyalty and effectiveness.
• This event underlines a theme present throughout Kings: the establishment and stability of the Davidic throne are achieved through divine guidance and human decisive action against those who defy God's plan for succession.

1 Kings 2 25 Commentary

1 Kings 2:25 recounts a pivotal moment in the consolidation of Solomon's kingship, immediately after the death of David. Solomon, demonstrating precocious wisdom and firm resolve, eliminates Adonijah, who, despite having been spared earlier, made a request to marry Abishag, signaling a continued claim to royal succession. This seemingly innocuous request for the concubine of the previous king was understood in ancient Near Eastern monarchies as a powerful symbolic act to legitimize one's right to the throne, as marrying a king's concubine was equivalent to stepping into his position. Solomon’s swift and decisive action, carried out by the trusted Benaiah, was not merely personal revenge but a calculated political necessity to stabilize his reign. It reflected his commitment to secure the kingdom that God had promised to establish through David’s lineage, by purging potential threats and disloyalty from within the royal court. This act sets a precedent for Solomon's subsequent actions against other threats, demonstrating a clear understanding of the ruthless realities of securing power in that era and fulfilling the Davidic counsel to walk in the Lord's ways for the peace of his kingdom.