As David approaches the end of his reign on his death bed, Adonijah, who, since Absalom’s death, was the next in line for the throne, begins preparations to receive the throne of his father David. This is proper and appropriate since this was in keeping with the culture and customs of the Near Eastern people.

Adonijah first secures the support of the military when he confers with General Joab. Next mentioned is the High Priest Abiathar who also is willing to recognize and support Adonijah as the next king. The chariot, the royal runners (a personal body guard which most likely included some counselors and noble men of rank and power) and the anointing feast where prepared. The sacrifices and anointing was to take place at En Rogel (Image HERE). En Rogel was the second of two water sources in the Kidron Valley. The first and main source was the Gihon Springs. The springs of En Rogel were south of the Gihon Springs in the junction of the valley where the Hinnom Valley meets the Kidron Valley. This is the likely location of the King’s Gardens mentioned by Solomon and where Abraham met with Melchizedek in Genesis 17 in the Valley of Shaveh, or the King’s Valley.

The son of the king, the general with the military and the high priest have all come together for what would seem like a smooth transition. But, this is not what the Lord had prophesied thru Nathan to David concerning who would be the next king when he had said years before:

“You will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.” – 1 Chronicles 22:8-10

So, when Nathan heard of Adonijah’s preparations he sought an audience with Bathsheba, and asked her to go into the dying king to ask what his intentions where and to tell him that Adonijah’ has his anointing and inauguration party planned.

It is interesting the see David, Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan interacting together to bring about God’s plan in their old age when it was a much younger Nathan who confronted the young King David for inappropriately taking another man’s young, beautiful wife, Bathsheba. Now the three of them were coming together to put David and Bathsheba’s son, Solomon on the throne of Israel because he was the Lord’s choice.

“If we deny our inherent fallen nature, some form of socialism becomes the most attractive economic system for creating a heaven
on earth.”
- David A. Noebel, Understanding the Times

It appears that before the fall of man in Genesis 3 that man was created to live forever, all animals lived together peacefully as vegetarians
and food grew abundantly
in the wild.