Melachim 1

Chapter 1  Posuk 1

"King David was old and his clothes did not keep him warm."

David Hamelech was not really old in years, rather it was a life of hardship that made him old. In medrashim we find, Adam Harishone [the original Adam] donated seventy years of his life to David. The years of Adam did not include the concept of old age since the frailty of old age only started in the days of Avraham, and yet we see David still became old. At the end of Sefer Shmuel, a malach comes to David before a terrible plague was to strike Bnei Yisroel and informs him that this punishment will occur because of some sins he had committed. David was struck with a deep fear that caused his body to become old and frail. Even though David was at the level of being called Eved Hashem (the servant of Hashem) because all his thoughts were one with the Lord, when the Onesh (punishment) loomed before him, his physical body could not deal with it.

Although the years from Adam did not include any elements of old age, this deep fear imbued the years left to David with the characteristics of aging which was normal for life in his time. Other elder people inflicted with this deep coldness naturally resorted to donning extra clothing to retain their body heat. With David HaMelech we find, this normal solution was ineffective. When David hid in the cave from Saul HaMelech, he cut off a piece of Saul’s robe to prove he had the opportunity to kill him. Even though he did this for a good reason, at a time of extreme danger to himself, this act was considered a lack of respect for clothing. Disgracing something even for a purpose can cause an object to lose its tevah. Look and see how terrible disgrace is.

Chapter 1 Posuk 2-4

"His servants said ‘we should look for our master the king, a young virgin who will stand before the king. She will lay in his bosom and the king will be warm.’ His servants looked for a beautiful young girl between the boundaries of Yisroel. They found Avishag HaShunamis [Avishag who comes from Shunam] and they brought her before the king. She was for the king an officer of the house who took care of his house. The king did not live with her."

The  midrash extapolates how terrible it is to give a divorce. David had eighteen wives, which is the maximum permitted for a king. Even though he needed a young wife, he would have had to divorce one of his previous wives in order to live with Avishag. Aware of the sorrow of divorce, David chose not to pursue it.

The main purpose for these pesukim is to help us understand in later pesukim why David did not know what was happening outside the palace.

Chapter 1 Posuk 5-6

Adoniyahu ben Chagis (Chagis was his mothers name} became haughty saying ‘I want to become king’. He made for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men running before them. His father {David } never made him sad all his days saying ‘why are you doing these things?’. He was very beautiful and he was born after Avshalom.

The midrash explains these pisukim as the reasons why and how Adoniyahu wanted to be king. His father never taught him personal discipline or restrained him in his daily activities. If a father, to avoid saddening his child , does not restrain his children, he is surely leading them on a path of death. Saddness is sometimes a constructive emotion. Midos [characteristics] are usually indirect results of a persons upbringing. In this case, the posuk is showing us a direct correlation between an undisciplined upbringing and the mida of haughtiness.

Other reasons for his haughtiness were his exquisite beauty, and his relationship to Avsholom. When Avshalom his old brother died, he concluded that he should be next in line for the throne.

There was a distinct progression in the order given here. Initially his father did not restrain him, which lead to his becoming absorbed in his beauty. Once the mida of haughtiness took root it eventually evolved into his royal aspirations.

Chapter 1 Posuk 7

He spoke with Yoav ben Tzruya and Evyasar the Cohen; and they supported Adoniya.

Who does one choose as supporters? The best supporters are those who have fragile ties to ones opponent. Yoav knew that David was angry at him for killing Avner and Amsha, and for arranging Avshalom death. Evyasar allegiance to David was weakened when he was replaced with Tzadook as cohain gadol.

Chapter 1 Posuk 8

Tzadok the Cohen, Bneyahu ben Yehoyada, Nasan the Navi, Shimei, Rayee, and the strong ones of David did not endorse Adoniya.

Interestingly the posuk does not state their endorsement of David, only their lack of support for Adoniyahu. David had not issued a statement of direction at that point, so they did not know who they should be supporting as the future king, but they did recognize that Adoniyahu’s reasons for ascending the throne were invalid.
Chapter 1 Posuk 9

He slaughtered sheep and fat cattle by the rock of zocheles that’s near the spring of Rogel. He called his brothers the children of the king and all the people of Judah the servants of the king.

The posuk uses the word ‘anshei’ which is usually used for special people like officers. Interestingly, the posuk still calls them avdei hamelech, the sercvants of the king, again indicating their allegiance to David.

Chapter 1 Posuk 10 - 11

Nathan the navi, Binyahu, the strong ones, and Shlomo his brother, he did not call. Nathan said to Bas Sheva, the mother of Shlomo, behold you heard that Adoniyahu became king and our master king David does not know.

Isolated by his age and physical health, David did not know what was happening outside the palace.

Chapter 1 Posuk 12

Now I will give you advice, to save yourself and your son Shlomo.

Seemingly, even from physical harm.

Chapter 1 Posuk 13

Go to king David and tell him ‘You swore that Shlomo your son would become king after yourself and will sit on your throne. Why has Adoniyahu become king?’ While you are still talking to the king, I will come after you and confirm your words.

Even though Nathan was a great prophet, he still did not want it to look like he favored Shlomo because he was the one who prophesized that Shlomo would become king. Look and learn how even great people have to be careful.

Chapter 1 Posuk 14

Bas Sheva came to the king room and the king was very old. Avishag Hashunamis was serving the king. Bas Sheva bowed down to the floor and the king said what is this? She said ‘my master you swore in the name of hashem, your g-d, to your maid servant that Shlomo, your son, will be king after you and he will sit on the throne.’

It is interesting that the navi said ‘king’ and she used the word ‘master’, he said ‘swore’ and she added ‘in the name of Hashem’. As a holy wife, Bas Sheva, was able to change the exact words of the navi.

Chapter 1 Posuk 18-19

‘Behold Adoniya became king and now, my master, the king does not know of it. He slaughtered oxen, fat ones, and sheep. He called all the sons of the king, Evyasar the cohen, and Yoav the general, but Shlomo your servant was not called.’

 She said ‘the sons of the king’ first because having the other children on his side gave Adoniya an advantage in his claim to the kingdom. In a previous posuk that spoke about who helped Adoniya, it mentioned Yoav first. He ran first to help Adoniya because he was afraid the king would kill him in revenge for his killing Avner. Evyasar had just recently been demoted from being cohein gadol. However, Bas Sheva mentioned Evyasar first since he was more respected by the people because his partisanship was less.

Chapter 1 Posuk 20-21

 ‘Now, my master the king, the eyes of all Yisrael are on you to tell them who should sit on the throne of my master the king after him. When my master the king will lie with his fathers, I and my son Shlomo will be threatened.’

 In this last part Bas Sheva says that aside from the promise he had made her about the kingship, her and her sons life were in jeopardy. She suggested that perhaps the swearing had become nullified for some reason but still their lives were on the line and they needed his help.

Chapter 1 Posuk 22 -24

Behold while she was talking with the king, Nathan the navi came in. They announced to the king saying, ‘here is Nathan the navi’. He came before the king and bowed to the floor before him. Nathan said, ‘My master the king, have you said that Adoniyahu should become king after yourself and he should sit on your throne?’

Both Nathan and Bas Sheva said the same two statements ‘to become king’ and ‘to sit on the your throne’. To be king was not enough, they wanted to have David’s throne meaning the same type of government.

Chapter 1 Posuk 25-27

Today he went down and slaughtered oxen, fat ones, and a lot of sheep. He called all the children of the king, the officers, and Evyasar the cohein, and behold they are eating and drinking before him and saying, ‘Long live the king, Adoniyahu’. Yet, I your servant, Tzadok the cohein, Binayahu ben Yihoyada, and Shlomo your servant, were not called. If this was from the king, why did you not tell (I) your servant, who is to sit on the throne of my master, the king, after him.

Nathan knew of the prophecy that Shlomo was supposed to become king. His question stemmed from the thought that perhaps David had a later prophesy that changed the status of who would be king so he specifically mentioned their saying to Adoniyahu, ‘Long live the king’ making him king now. Bas Sheva on the other hand said only that they were slaughtering animals. That is not necessarily a sign of assuming the kingship just of Adoniyahu’s trying to assemble his forces. Similarly, Nathan said, ‘You never told me about Adoniyahu’ as that was against his prophesy but Bas Sheva said, ‘The eyes of the jews are looking to you to hear what the king will say.’

Chapter 1 Posuk 28-31

The King David answered, ‘Call for me Bas Sheva’. She came before the king and stood there. The king swore and said, ‘Hashem lives, who has redeemed me from all bad occurrences’. Just as I swore to you in the name of the lord, the almighty of Yisrael, that Shlomo your son will be king after me and will sit on my throne instead of me, so I will do today. Bas Sheva bowed to the floor face down to the king. She said, ‘My master, the king, David should live forever.’

Chapter 1 Posuk 32-35

King David said, ‘Call to me Tzadok the cohein, Nathan the navi, and Binayahu ben Yihoyada.’ They came before the king. The king told them, ‘Take with you the servants of your master and have Shlomo, my son, ride on my mule and take him down to Gichon. Anoint him there, both Tzadok the cohein, and Nathan the prophet, as the King of Yisrael. Blow on a horn saying, "Long live King Shlomo". Follow him as he comes to sit on my throne and succeeds me as king. I have commanded that he be the ruler of Yisrael and Yehuda.’

In the previous pesukim it said, he will be king first and then he will sit on my throne, here it is in reverse order. When it says here ‘he should sit on my throne’ it means to literally sit on the throne showing he is the rightful king. Once he has possession of the throne he will truly be the King.

Chapter 1 Posuk 36-37

Biniyahu ben Yehoyada answered the king and said, ‘Amen, so should Hashem say, the almighty of my master. Just like Hashem was with my master, the king, so should he be with Shlomo. His throne should be bigger then the throne of my master, the king, David.’

The midrash says, we ascertain from here that a father is not jealous of his son. A person doesn’t mind his son being greater then himself. He specifically said this bracha because the words of Nathan the prophet were ‘I will make your name great’ (Shmuel II 7:9).

Chapter 1 Posuk 38-40

Tzadok the cohein, Nathan the navi, Biniyahu ben Yehoyada, and the archers and slingers ascorted Shlomo riding on King Davids mule and they took him to Gichon. Tzadok the cohein took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Shlomo. They blew with a horn and all the people ‘Long live King Shlomo’. All the people followed after him. The people played flutes with great happiness. The land seemingly was breaking from the noise.

Chapter 1 Posuk 41

Adoniyahu and everyone with him heard as they finished eating and Yoav heard the noise of the horn and asked, ‘What is this noise in the city?’ While he was speaking, behold Yonason ben Evyasar the cohein came. Adoniyahu said, ‘Come because you are a strong warrior and will say good tidings.’ Yonason answered to Adoniyahu, ‘But our master King David made Shlomo the king. The king sent with him Tzadok the cohein, Nathan the navi, Binayahu ben Yehoyada, the archers and slingers and they ascorted him on the King’s mule. They anointed him, Tzadok the cohein, and Nathan the navi to be the king at Gichon. They left from there very happy causing the city to be very noisy and that is what you heard. Also Shlomo sat on the throne. The servants of the king came to bless our master the king, David, saying ‘the almighty should make good the name Shlomo and his throne should be bigger then yours.’ The king [David] bowed on his bed. The king said, ‘blessed is Hashem the almighty of Yisrael that established today a new king to sit on my throne and my eyes saw it.’ The called ones of Adoniyahu got scared and got up and they each went their own way. Adoniyahu was scared from Shlomo and he got up and went to hold the corners of the alter. It was told to Shlomo that Adoniyahu was scared of the King Shlomo. He is holding onto the corners of the alter saying, ‘Shlomo the king should swear to me that he will not kill his servant with a sword.’ Shlomo said if he will be a warrior, no hair from his head will fall, but if he will do bad he will die. King Shlomo sent and they took him down from the alter. He came and bowed down to King Shlomo and King Shlomo told him to go home.