Adonijah taking refuge at the horns of the altar.  David did not long survive this event:  shortly before his death he advised Solomon to rid himself of all those who had opposed his accession to the throne.  Solomon did not hesitate to follow this counsel, and the beginning of his reign was marked by a series of bloodthirsty executions.  Adonijah was the first to suffer.  He had been unwise enough to ask the hand of Abishag in marriage:  this request was regarded as indicative of a hidden intention to rebel, and furnished an excuse for his assassination.  Abiathar, at whose instigation Adonijah had acted, owed his escape from a similar fate to his priestly character and past services:  he was banished to his estate at Anathoth, and Zadok became high priest in his stead.  Joab, on learning the fate of his accomplice, felt that he was a lost man, and vainly sought sanctuary near the ark of the Lord; but Benaiah slew him there, and soon after, Shimei, the last survivor of the race of Saul, was put to death on some transparent pretext.  This was the last act of the tragedy:  henceforward Solomon, freed from all those who bore him malice, was able to devote his whole attention to the cares of government.*

* 1 Kings i., ii.  This is the close of the history of David, and follows on from 2 Sam. xxiv.  It would seem that Adonijah was heir-apparent (1 Kings i. 5, 6), and that Solomon’s accession was brought about by an intrigue, which owed its success to the old king’s weakness (1 Kings i. 12, 13, 17, 18, 30, 31).

The change of rulers had led, as usual, to insurrections among the tributary races:  Damascus had revolted before the death of David, and had not been recovered.  Hadad returned from Egypt, and having gained adherents in certain parts of Edom, resisted all attempts made to dislodge him.*

* It seems clear from the context that the revolt of Damascus took place during David’s lifetime.  It cannot, in any case, have occurred at a later date than the beginning of the reign of Solomon, for we are told that Rezon, after capturing the town, “was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon” (1 Kings xi. 23-25).  Hadad returned from Egypt when “he had heard that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead” (1 Kings xi. 21, 22, 25).

As a soldier, Solomon was neither skilful nor fortunate:  he even failed to retain what his father had won for him.  Though he continued to increase his army, it was more with a view to consolidating his power over the Bne-Israel than for any aggressive action outside his borders.  On the other hand, he showed himself an excellent administrator, and did his best, by various measures of general utility, to draw closer the ties which bound the tribes to him and to each other.  He repaired the citadels with such means as he had at his disposal.  He rebuilt the fortifications of Megiddo, thus securing the control of the network