1 Kings 1-2: Enter Solomon

 And so begins the reign of King Solomon.  We read of David's death in 1 Kings 1, though what I didn't know was there was a slight tussle over who would succeed David (not hard to believe there would have been however).  Adonijah makes a play for the throne and nearly succeeds in being crowned king by Abiathar the high priest, but at the last second Nathan and Bathsheba find out and inform Solomon, who steps in and asserts his rightful claim and authority.  Though maybe the word "asserts" is too light; what Solomon does is more like a purge of all his and his father's enemies so that his rise to the throne will be completely and totally unchallenged.  These two chapters read a lot like a mob boss who systematically eliminates all his potential adversaries in an elaborate wave of killings.  I don't mean to be irreverent with that analogy, but I think we can question Solomon's actions here to a degree.  David and Solomon were both God-appointed kings, but that doesn't mean they weren't without their flaws. David's infamous falls from grace have already been covered, and likely we will see the same from Solomon.  Remember that God's plan originally did not involve kings at all.  So the establishment of the kingdom, though permitted and even used by God for our instruction, was going to inherently involve pitfalls and stumbling blocks, as kings are human, and humans err.  One of Solomon's killings in 1 Kings 2 involves David's old general Joab.  Joab, who himself was guilty of shedding much blood, sought refuge in the tabernacle, thus claiming the age-old right of sanctuary.  It is debatable whether or not Solomon did the right thing here, for he orders his commander to kill Joab anyway, even in that holiest of places.  Some say that because Joab was guilty of horrendous murders that the right of sanctuary for him did not exist; others say that Solomon had him dragged out of the tabernacle before killing him.  Whatever the case may be, Solomon at the very outset of his reign makes a statement for all to see and at which to tremble.  He is the supreme king of all Israel and he knows that it's a precarious place to be, and so he makes sure no one would be so bold as to challenge him.  We now begin a new era.