BATHSHEBA arrived at the king’s chamber and there saw King David with his new wife tending to him.
It was biting cold that winter morning, as the old king took warmth and affection in the arms of his young wife… the fair, beautiful Abisha.
Abisha was beautiful and stunningly so. She was the fairest of all women called David’s. Even so, King David couldn’t lay with the stunning damsel that was his to own. He was too old to have his way this time.
So there laid the weather-beaten one, cuddled up like a newborn in the sensual arms of a virgin wife...
And the beautiful one only warmed the king with her warmth. It was the only thing the dying man could take...
Warmth, and only warmth.
Now as Bathsheba was let in, she was too occupied with the thought in her mind that she had little time for jealousy.
She only faced David and bowed low to greet him.
The king was old and so was his queen consort. So the former knew that his woman wasn’t there to talk affections or to claim her space as wife.
Thus David sat up in his bed and dismissed his young wife for the moment, as he sensed that the reason his queen had knocked at his door must be a serious one...
Especially for the fact that she went that early.
Therefore after Abisha had left the two to talk, David beckoned on the queen to speak.
‘So tell me,’ he said, ‘what is it that I must do for you?’
Bathsheba spoke up right then.
‘Your Majesty, you promised me by the name of the Lord God of Israel, that my son Solomon will be King after you.
‘But now Adonijah is making himself King in En Rogel. And he has invited all your officials, your sons and the men of Israel.
‘He has in fact won Joab commander of your army to his side and has made Abiathar his priest.
‘Right as I speak, Your Majesty, he is sacrificing at the spring of En Rogel, in the same manner that his brother did to launch his revolt twenty years ago!’
At that point King David was quite startled. He’d never imagined his fourth son to be as ambitious. But what he was hearing then even beat the thought.
He gasped out, ‘Adonijah doesn’t fear the Lord God! No, you can’t tell me this is my son! The child I call by His name! No, you can’t tell me this is him!’
The queen watched King David surprised; but her concern was a different matter – she came for her own son.
So in that instant she moved on to what mattered. At least, what mattered to her own self.
‘Now, I know you know nothing of Adonijah’s plan,’ she said. ‘But still, let Israel know of whom you approve!
‘The whole kingdom looks to you now, my lord. And if you do not show who your successor is, my son Solomon and I will be treated as traitors when you pass.
‘Please tell me, I plead of you; will Solomon indeed reign as you promised? Show to me, please, that this haven’t changed!’
Now as those words fell on King David’s ears, the monarch heaved a troubled breath.
He knew Bathsheba must be speaking the truth, yet he was surprised Adonijah would go that length for the throne.
David was equally shocked at how everyone had heeded the call without waiting for him. Without confirming with him on who he had made his successor.
Yet while the ruler was on the thoughts, the messenger at the doors announced Nathan’s arrival. So David asked his queen to wait out a moment while he attended to the prophet.
Bathsheba walked out as Nathan strode in, and the two brushed past themselves with glances no more than a polite nod of greeting.
Now as Nathan was let inside, he shut the doors after him and paid his respect. Then he spoke about the thing that took him there. And it was the same matter as Bathsheba’s.
Even still, Nathan’s words were even more fuel added to fire.
‘Your Majesty!’ he cried. ‘Have you made Adonijah the King without informing us your officials?
‘Right now as I speak, he is making coronation sacrifices! He is probably offering oxen, fattened calves and sheep in large numbers, there by the spring of En Rogel!
‘He has invited every one of your ministers—except Zadok, Benaiah and I!’
So he went on and on as King David saw fire in his eyeballs. Then at a point the elder spat flaming words.
‘Did you perhaps endorse all these, Your Majesty? Did you not let us your men know about these on purpose?
‘Then if it is no longer Solomon that must reign after you, according to all the great words before him... then do well to let us know, Your Majesty!
‘Zadok, Benaiah and I must know your true heir! Or you’d have deceived us for donkey years!’
The prophet stopped right there and waited for his words to stir remembrance. He wanted David to recall those prophecies and there recognize it was time.
Thus David heaved another sigh and it was a thoughtful one.
He leaned fully back on a pillow of straw; then as he gleaned through the memories, he saw everything. The conspiracies, the grand conspiracies—both of the Third and Fourth Princes…
Well, with prophecies, too, about Salemon. About the child of peace born for a time as this.
So right there, he saw everything—that it was time. That Salemon was born for right then. That peace lives for wartime.
Thus King David called for Bathsheba and asked her in.
The elderly queen walked in and glanced at the prophet with grateful eyes. The latter caught her gaze and nodded in acknowledgement.
Now as soon as Bathsheba stepped in, the monarch gave the word, and it was verdict.
That verdict, everything else swung after.
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