1 Kings 2:22

The kingdom also. Perhaps Bath-sheba did not see anything dangerous in Adonijah’s request, but Solomon instantly did. To have granted Adonijah’s request would have provided strong encouragement to his pretensions. Those sympathetic with him would have a firm footing on which to rest the elder brother’s claims.

For Abiathar. The words are not clear, but the sense is. Solomon is giving vent to his disgust at his mother’s shortsightedness for having allowed herself to be drawn into such a situation as this. Things were already bad enough without her lending her aid to the efforts of Adonijah to secure the throne. Adonijah was, after all, the elder brother, and many would think he had a just claim to the throne. And at his side were two of the most influential men of the land, Abiathar, the high priest, and Joab, the commander in chief, aiding and abetting him in every possible way. Now the king’s mother had allowed herself to be taken in to the extent that she was actually asking for nothing less than the kingdom for the elder son. Solomon said in effect, “Why ask only for Abishag, why not ask for the kingdom as well? He is my elder brother, and does it not by right belong to him? And in proof of his claims, does he not have with him Abiathar the priest and Joab as well, in support of his cause and giving evidence to all that he indeed is in the right?” Bath-sheba evidently understood the needed rebuke.