but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother.
Adonijah's feast had a priest, an army commander and a crowd of royal guests. This verse lists the four men he left out, and those four names decide everything.
after
A Guest List That Confesses
The four omissions were not oversights. One commentator explains why Adonijah left each name off:
Leslie M. GrantHowever, he did not invite Nathan the prophet, a faithful man of God. He did not invite Benaiah, a fully devoted servant of David, or the other mighty men like Benaiah, or Solomon his brother (v.10). Why did he leave these men out? Because he knew he could not count on their support. Everyone knew that David had decided Solomon was to be king. But Adonijah seemed to think David was now too old to enforce that choice, and that popular opinion would favor him. Sad blunder!
Religion Enlisted for the Plan
The gathering was not irreligious on its surface. Sacrifices were offered, and a priest was on hand to make them look proper:
Leslie M. GrantHis plans were well thought out, for wanting to include God as one supporting him, he sacrificed sheep, oxen and fatted cattle near to Jerusalem, in the Kidron valley (v.7). Having Abiathar as priest, he could consider these sacrifices appropriate for his purpose. Also, he invited all his brothers, the kings' sons and many servants of David. He marshaled all the support he could possibly find.
The Four Who Stayed Away
Each missing man already had a master. One writer asks what these four could want from Adonijah:
H. L. RossierZadok, Benaiah, Nathan, and the mighty men of David are not present with Adonijah. The true priest; the prophet, the messenger of God; Benaiah, the true servant who follows in his master's footsteps — what do they have to do with him? The priest looks to God, the prophet looks to the Spirit of God, the servant looks to David, to Christ. Do they need anything else? These mighty men found their strength in David. Will they now follow Adonijah, who has no strength to give them?
The One Name He Had to Omit
Adonijah invited every brother except one. One writer sees in that exception a picture of how the world treats Christ:
H. L. RossierHe invites all his brothers, with one exception. He leaves out the only one who has a right to the throne by the will of God and of his father: Solomon, the one who is to become the king of glory. Clearly he had to shut out of his feast the one whose presence would judge it, would condemn it, would bring all his plans and all his ambitions to nothing. Christ is the last one the world invites; more than that, the world is unwilling to invite Him.
Who Went, and Why
Some men did follow Adonijah. One writer points out what those followers had in common:
Leslie M. GrantNotice that the men who were willing to live at a distance from David were the ones drawn to follow Adonijah. They were not close to David, as Bathsheba and Nathan were. What a lesson for every believer! Only by staying near to the Lord will we be kept from the danger of dishonoring Him by following what looks appealing but is really disobedience.
Success at First, Failure in the End
At first the rebellion looked unstoppable. One writer weighs that early success against the one thing it could not reach:
William KellyTurning away from the mind of God is always likely to succeed at first. Every step of unfaithfulness has a great effect in the world where there is ability, and where everything that sways people's minds is gathered up. This plot was no doubt well calculated. Joab would influence a certain set. Abiathar the priest would have his religious name and reputation. And above all there were the king's sons — all of them except Solomon... It was a widespread rebellion, and it seemed a carefully planned one. "But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother." And that is exactly where faith can rest — on God's word.
One writer looks at how schemes like this end:
J. N. DarbyBut in the end, human shrewdness fails before the judgment of God. God arranges events so that sooner or later the shrewdest people are shown as they really are.
Summary
- Uninvited. Adonijah left out Nathan, Benaiah, the mighty men and Solomon. He knew he could not count on their support.
- Unimpressed. The four missing men looked to God, to His Spirit, to David. Adonijah had nothing to offer men whose strength came from the true king.
- Unwelcome. Adonijah had to shut Solomon out. His presence alone would have condemned the feast — and the world still keeps Christ off its guest list.
- Undone by distance. The men who joined Adonijah were already living far from David. Staying near the true king kept the faithful safe.
- Unshaken. Unfaithfulness often succeeds at first. But clever plans fail before God's judgment, and faith rests where the rebellion could not reach — on God's word.