From David to Solomon, a study of throne succession disputes: An exegetical study of 1 Kings 1-2

Abstract

This study examines the phenomenon of succession problems in ancient Israel during the transfer of power from David to Solomon. The study is an exegetical study and thus focuses on the text I Kings 1-2. The exegetical method used in the study is the reader-response criticism, specifically the text centred approach. This approach recommends that the reader oscillates within the world of the text and that of the reader. The world of the text is an insight into the historical and sociocultural elements in the narration. The world of the reader is the reader’s present contextual make up. The world of the text and the world of the reader merge to produce a meaning through the reader’s encounter with the text. The study shows that ancient Israel at the time of David’s last days had not clearly dealt with the issue of the transfer of power and the question of who to succeed David was an open one. Solomon’s ascension to the throne epitomizes this problem. Solomon ascended the Davidic throne because he was fortunate to have clever personalities who were able to outsmart the camp of Adonijah to place him on the throne. The study concludes that the phenomenon of throne succession problems during the united monarchy was due to factors such as the rudimentary nature of the procedure for succession, the personality of David and the clash between the old and new political systems.