for the throne was Solomon, the "man of peace," the pupil of Nathan, and the representative of the

"religious party" in the land. But it is not so easy to account for the conduct of Abiathar, unless it wa s

prompted by jealousy of Zadok, who officiated at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39). As the latter was considered

the principal Sanctuary (1 Kings 3:4), the high-priest who officiated there might have been regarded as

entitled to the Pontificate, when the temporary dual service of Gibeon and Jerusalem should give place to

the permanent arrangements of the Temple. If such was his motive, Abiathar may have also wished to lay

the new king under personal obligations.

From such a movement - which took advantage first of the indulgence, and then of the illness of David;

which compassed aims that every one would know to be equally contrary to the Divine appointment and the

express declarations of the aged king; and in which the chief agents were an ambitious priest and an

unscrupulous military chieftain, those who were faithful to their God or to their monarch would, of course,

keep aloof. Adonijah knew this, and accordingly excluded such from the invitation to the feast, at which it

had been arranged his accession to the throne should be proclaimed. In other respects his measures closely

resembled those taken by Absalom. For some time previous to his attempt he had sought to accustom the

people to regard him as their future king by assuming royal state (1 Kings 1:5).73

At length all seemed ready. It is characteristic that, in order to give the undertaking the appearance of

religious sanction, the conspirators prepared a great sacrificial feast. We know the scene, and we can picture

to ourselves that gathering in the shady retreat of the king's gardens, under an over-arching rock, close by

the only perennial spring in Jerusalem - that of the Valley of Kidron - which now bears the name of the

"fountain of the Virgin,"  74 at that time the En -Rogel ("Spring of the Spy," or else "of the Fuller").

But a higher power than man's overruled events. To outward appearance the danger was indeed most

urgent, the more so that it was not known in the palace. But already help was at hand. Nathan hastened to

Bathsheba, and urged on her the necessity of immediate and decisive action. If Adonijah were proclaimed

king, Solomon, Bathsheba, and all their adherents would immediately be put out of the way. In such

circumstances court -ceremonial must be set aside; and Bathsheba made her way into the king's sick-

chamber. She spoke respectfully but earnestly; she told him fully what at that very moment was taking place

in the king's gardens; she reminded him of his solemn oath about the succession, which had hitherto

determined her own conduct and that of Solomon's adherents; and, finally, she appealed to him as alone

competent at this crisis to determine who was to be king. The interview had not terminated when, according

to previous arrangement, Nathan was announced. He had come on the same errand as Bathsheba' to inform

the king of what Adonijah and his adherents were doing, and that Solomon and the king's most trusted

servants had been excluded from a feast, the object of which was not concealed. Had all this been done by

direction of the king? If so, why had not he, so old and faithful a counselor, been informed that Adonijah

was to be proclaimed successor to the throne?

With whatever weakness David may have been chargeable, he always rose to the requirements of the

situation in hours of decisive importance, when either the known will of God or else the interests of his

kingdom were in question. In this instance his measures were immediate and decisive.

Recalling Bathsheba, who had withdrawn during the king's interview with Nathan, he dismissed her with

words of reassurance. Then he sent for Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah, and gave them his royal command for

the immediate anointing of Solomon as king over Judah and Israel. The scene is vividly portrayed in

Scripture. The king's body-guard - the Cherethi and Pelethi - under the command of Benaiah, was drawn up

in front of the royal palace. Soon a vast concourse of people gathered. And now the king's state-mule, richly

caparisoned, was brought out. It was an unwonted sight, which betokened some great state event.

Presently, the great news became known, and rapidly spread through the streets and up the bazaars,

Solomon was about to be anointed king! The people crowded together, in hundreds and thousands, from all

parts of the city. And now Solomon appeared, attended by Zadok the high priest, Nathan the prophet, and

Benaiah the chief of the royal guard. The procession formed, and moved forward. To avoid collision with the

party of Adonijah, it took an opposite or western direction to the valley of Gihon.75 Here, by authority and