Solomon: Israel's Wisest King (4): David Orders Solomon’s Enthronement (I Kings 1:32-40) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The Swift Decision Regarding the Schism
II. The Decisive Resolution of the Schism
Matthew Henry on I Kings 1:36-40: “To this [Benaiah the son of Jehoiada] adds a prayer for Solomon (v. 37), that God would be with him as he had been with David, and make his throne greater. He knew David was not one of those that envy their children’s greatness, and that therefore he would not be disquieted at this prayer, nor take it as an affront, but would heartily say Amen to it. The wisest and best man in the world desires his children may be wiser and better than he, for he himself desires to be wiser and better than he is; and wisdom and goodness are true greatness ... Zadok took a horn of oil, which denotes both power and plenty, and therewith anointed Solomon. We do not find that Abiathar pretended to anoint Adonijah: he was made king by a feast, not by an unction. Whom God calls, he will qualify, which was signified by the anointing; usurpers had it not. Christ signifies anointed, and he is the king whom God hath set upon his holy hill of Sion, according to decree (Ps. 2:6-7).”