Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-28
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

indulgences as a father. He had return
ed to power after Absaloms rebellion.
but the seeds of division and revolt had
not been completely crushed Adonijah,
whom he had pampered and petted by
. indiscriminate indulgences. followed the
example of Absalom in starting up re-
bellion against his aged fathers author
ity- He was supported by Abiather, the
high priest, and Joab. whose military
skill had been tower of strength TO
David. as we'll as by the same forces
who had co-operated in helping to make
AbSalom's rebellion a success. His Wen
prepared plans to take the throne from
: his aged father aroused all the strength
of purpose and swiftness of action for
which David was famous.
When he learned from BathSheba and
Nathan eff the plot and of his promise
that Solomon was to succeed him in ac-
cordance with the decision of Jehovah,
David ignored the attempts of AdonlJah
and his associates by PROMPTLY ordering
that Solomon should be anointed pub
icly and proclaimed king Immediately.
The sounding OF the trumpet which pro-
claimed Solomon king. warned Joab that
their plot had been nipped in the bud
, and that Adonijah was doomed to de-
feat before he had publicly started his
rebellion against his father. The secret
banquet at En-rogel broke up in great
confusion. Every guest was afraid, so
they departed in different directions.
realizing that their safety depended
upon their being loyal to the newly
crowned king. God having indicated in
n most solemn manner that solomon
was to succeed David, their attempt to
give the kingdom to another was not
only rebellion against David. but trea-
aon against Jehovah. While David
quick action had crushed the rebellion,
it was doomed to failure from the start.
as no group of men can hinder or pre-
vent God having His will in the affairs
of men.
While David had publicly abdicated
his throne in favor of Solomon, it was
not until some months later, after the
representatives of the people had pub
licfy approved his appointment. that
Solomon became in all respects the king.
1t was a solemn occasion when David
presided for the last time over the as
,sembly Of the people and formally turn
ed over his authority to his son. with
tender affection ne addressed the peo-
pie and unfolded to them his cherished
desire to build temple to Jehovah and
how God had through His prophet re-
served that right for his successor, whom
he solemnly charged to carry on his
work, build the temple according to the
plans which had been prepared and to
use the resources of the treasures which
he had accumulated for the temple.
Taking his place among the people, he
praised God and turned over the ruler
ship to Solomon. who was publicly
drowned and recognized by the assembly
as their king.
Solomon commenced to rule with
An iron hand. He erected his throne
on the dead bodies of his opponents"
and established his kingdom by car
rying out David's instructions con-
corning the trouble makers, whose
cooperation with Adonijah called for
th~sr being executed. Solomon has
been criticised for his harsh actions
in carrying out his fathers request
1t was an hour of rebellion and dis
turbance. and in all probability ne
saved thousands of lives by prompt
" staying Shimei, who had taken ad-
vantage of Absalom's rebellion to in
cult and curse David. and Joab, who
Rad served David for many years,
but whose acts frequently were con-
t9ary to the wishes of the king. IL
David had dealt with AbSalom, as
promptly as Solomon did with Adoni-
fab. he probably would have spared
himself much sorrow and saved Is
rael at least twenty thousand precious
lives lost in AbSaloms rebellion. A
careful study of each Individual case
will show that every one OF the men
whom Solomon ordered executed de-
served their fate because OF their
erimes apart from the fact that they
were sediti0ks and dangerous char
acters. His strong hand secured Tor
the nation internal peace and estab-
iished his kingdom so that none
questioned his power.
Having laid the foundations for
peace within the nation. he proceeded
to form an alliance with Egypt that
would give him added strength. He
courted and married daughter OF
Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt While
the teachings of Gods word and the
spirit of IsraeIs policy appear to be
opposed to such an international mar
>riage, especially with the daughter
of Israers ancient foe and bondmas-
ter. it is not expressly condemned ana
forbidden. yet it does not appear to
have been wise move for Solomon
10 have made. Doubtless she gave up
her faith and outwardly at least con-
formed to the ritual of the Jewish
faith of her husband. with whom she
dwelt in David's palace in Jerusalem
until Solomon could erect more
splendid residence of his own. In the
Creek version this marriage is some
times placed in connection with the
kings whole relationship with the
Egyptian dynasty and sometimes as
an independent item showing his
greatness and glory. While 1T en-
phasizes the place that the home has
in the development of a nation, all
recognize that his greatness was due
to Gods gift of wisdom.
Solomon under the teaching of his
tutor, Nathan, the prophet. had learn
ed to love God. 1t is natural that he
should desire to recognize Jehovah
at the very commencement of his
reign, which he did after consultation
with all the people and the Leading
governmental officials by celebrating
a great religious festival at dlbeah
six miles north of Jerusalem. where
the Tabernacle of the congregation
and the brazen ALTAR of burnt Of
ferings" had been transferred from
Mob. There he commenced his klngiy
career with religious feast, "hlcn
was participated in by all the people
who politically recognized JehoVah
as the God of Israel.
Upon the last night of the feast
the king laid down to rest over
whelmed with the thought of his
great responsibility He recognized
the need of wisdom for the task that
his duty to God and the nation called
upon him to perform. He recog-
nized that if his administration was
10 be successful he would require
more than tact, discernment and
knowledge if he was to penetrate
beneath the appearances of things
and see the essential things. He
needed IAN understanding heart, so
when God appeared to him in a dream
asking the king what He should give
Go the young monarch Solomon did
not request wealth, health or long
life. but for wisdom so that as a king
lie might honor Jehovah and do well
his task. He asked for the highest
gift to enable him best to serve
humanity, and God gave him wisdom
and added all the other gifts of life
This experience of Solomon's is not &c
he considered as miraculous and ex.
ception. for God comes to all anC
offers to each the choice of what
they wish in life. All who put frs
the kingdom of God and His right
cousness have all other things added