David’s succession marks a delicate moment in the history of the monarchy. The Lord had promised Jesse’s son that his house would endure forever. Still, until now, succession had been a tragic experience: Amnon, the firstborn, was murdered by his brother Absalom, who in turn died as a victim of his ambition. What will happen now that the king is old and weak? By order of age, the succession belonged to Adonijah (5); however, David promised it to Solomon, the son of Bathsheba. Adonijah, feeling his supposed right to succeed threatened, decides to hasten events and organizes a veiled “enthronement banquet” (9f). Nathan intervenes, warning Bathsheba of Adonijah’s pretensions, and she brings before David the people’s expectations regarding the succession (20) and appeals to the oath he had given her (13). With a new oath, David sets the immediate deadline for the execution, and Solomon is crowned king.