Unspoken (19 page)

Bathsheba’s heart was in her throat as she stood with members of David’s household and watched Zadok take the horn of oil from the sacred tent, anointing her son king. David was smiling, two men giving him support while Abishag stood nearby.

As Nathan turned toward him, David removed his crown and held it out. “Give it to Bathsheba.”

The old prophet’s eyes lit up. As he handed the crown to Bathsheba, her eyes welled with tears at being honored so before the people. David smiled and inclined his head toward her. She smiled back, turned, and placed the crown on their son’s head.

The people shouted joyfully,
“Long live King Solomon!”
Over and over again, they cried out their blessings. Some played flutes. Thousands danced in the streets and sang, making such revelry the earth shook with their jubilee.

Bathsheba laughed and cried, her heart so full she felt it would burst. She looked from David to her son. The anointing oil dripped down Solomon’s face into his beard.
“Beloved of the Lord!”
Who would have ever thought
her
son would be king over Israel!
Oh, Lord God of Israel, merciful redeemer, lifter of my soul, look what You have done for me! Look what You have done!
She put her hands over her heart and bowed low.

When Solomon was seated on the royal throne, David, near exhaustion, bowed down to him. “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who today has chosen someone to sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it.”

A messenger came, informing David that Adonijah’s guests had fled when they heard the people celebrating Solomon’s coronation. Now, out of fear for their lives, all were clamoring to be first to sing Solomon’s praises and bow down before him. David rose. When Bathsheba started to rise, he shook his head. “Enjoy this day, my love. See what God has done.” He was assisted from the room by two male attendants, with Abishag following.

Another messenger came, throwing himself on his face before Solomon. “My lord the king!”

“Rise, and speak your message.”

“Adonijah is afraid of you and has fled to the sacred tent for protection. He said, ‘Let Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!’”

Bathsheba held her breath as she saw Solomon’s eyes darken and his hands tighten on the arms of the throne. “If he proves himself to be loyal, he will not be harmed. But if he does not, he will die.” She breathed easier as her son sent guards to get his brother and bring him to the throne room.

The elder brother bowed to her son, but he didn’t throw himself on the floor as others had done before him. He inclined his head, but did not bend his back. Her son watched Adonijah closely, his eyes narrowed. “Go on home, Adonijah. Go and remember my warning.”

There was a hushed silence as Adonijah turned and walked out of the throne room. Bathsheba knew there would be trouble ahead if a way to peace between the brothers could not be found.

As Solomon took over the responsibilities of kingship, David’s health declined. Bathsheba came each morning to sit with him, but it was Abishag who was in constant attendance, seeing to his most basic needs.

Bathsheba’s heart ached as she watched the man she loved slip away. She knew it was close to the end when he summoned Solomon from his duties. The king brought his brothers Shobab, Shimea, and Nathan with him.

Solomon bowed down before his father. David put his hand on his son’s head. “My son,” he rasped, tears in his eyes. “Sit and we will talk as we used to.” He smiled at the four men surrounding him.

Reaching out, David took Bathsheba’s hand. “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go.”

Solomon and his brothers began to weep.

“Take courage,” David said, directing his words to Solomon, “and be a man. Observe the requirements of the Lord your God and follow all His ways. Keep each of the laws, commands, regulations, and stipulations written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise He made to me: ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow Me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’”

Bathsheba closed her eyes, her throat constricting as she heard the encroaching weakness in David’s voice. She was losing him. After all these years, he was leaving her.

David took his hand from hers and stirred on his couch, restless, hurried. “And there is something else. You know that Joab son of Zeruiah murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with the blood of war. Do with him what you think best, but don’t let him die in peace!”

“Yes, Abba.”

“Be kind to the sons of Barzillai. . . .”

“Yes, Abba.”

“And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.”

Bathsheba shuddered, but she said nothing as David sank back, breathing heavily. Turning his head, he looked at her, pain etching his face. “Ah, my love,” he said softly. His breath came out in one long, deep sigh of peace and his body relaxed.

Bathsheba rocked back and forth, her anguish so deep, the tears gathered like a hot stone in her chest. When Abishag leaned forward and gently ran her hand down David’s face, closing his eyes, Bathsheba’s grief broke free. Keening, she ripped the neckline of her dress and pressed her hands over her chest, feeling as though her heart had been torn from her. “David!
Daaaa . . . vid!
”

Her sons rose and surrounded her like sentinels. And King Solomon’s hand was gentle upon her shoulder.

David was buried with great ceremony in the city named after him. As the people mourned him, Bathsheba prayed they would remember the good he had done for them and the heart he had for God rather than the mistakes he had made.

Solomon sat easily upon the throne, his mind trained in administration by Nathan and the priests. But his throne was not yet secure. Enemies were gathering.

One afternoon, Adonijah came to see her. “My mother sends you greetings,” he said, bowing to her for the first time she could remember.

Haggith had always been as ambitious for her sons as Maacah. “Have you come to make trouble?” Should she remind him to heed the warning Solomon had given for his own sake? or hear him out to know better what was going on in his mind?

“No,” he said quickly. “I come in peace. In fact, I have a favor to ask of you.”

A favor? She tilted her head. “What is it?” she said cautiously.

“As you know, the kingdom was mine.”

She stiffened, her heart thumping. Did he mean to remind her that he had been next in line after Absalom? Or was he referring to his rebellion? He had managed to gain the backing of powerful men in the kingdom, men who had encouraged him to declare himself king. They’d all mistakenly thought David too tired and ill to notice. And even if the king did know, they figured he would not be able to muster enough strength to stop the rebellion.

Adonijah spread his hands as though to show he had no weapons. “Everyone expected me to be the next king. But the tables were turned, and everything went to my brother instead; for that is the way the Lord wanted it.”

She watched his face for some sign of subterfuge, but he seemed to accept David’s wishes.
The Lord wanted it.
The Lord had chosen Solomon to reign—Solomon, her son.
I am still amazed, Lord, amazed that You would choose the son of an adulterous woman. . . .

“So now,” Adonijah said, drawing her attention back to him, “I have just one favor to ask of you. Please don’t turn me down.”

“What is it?”

He stepped closer and went down on one knee, his face taut, his eyes dark. “Speak to King Solomon on my behalf, for I know he will do anything you request. Ask him to give me Abishag, the girl from Shunem, as my wife.”

Abishag! She searched his face and thought the emotions she saw there must be love, for she could feel his intensity and could see his hunger.

Oh, Lord, is this the way to bring peace between brothers? If Solomon gives his brother Abishag, will there be peace between them? Will that tender girl soften this man’s heart? Oh, let it be so!

“All right,” she said slowly and saw his eyes catch fire. “I will speak to the king for you.”

Adonijah said not another word, but when he rose, his lips curved in a strange smile of triumph.

Bathsheba dressed in her finest attire before going to her son, the king. She waited while he was told she requested an audience with him. When she was admitted, Solomon rose from his throne and came down the dais to her. She blushed as he bowed down before her, his entire court watching him. Smiling, he took her hand and led her up the steps with him. “Bring another throne for my mother,” he commanded.

“You show me too much honor, my son,” she whispered as a second throne was set to the right of his.

“The people must understand my respect for you.” He smiled as he seated her first. “Does the Law not say, ‘Honor your father
and
mother’?”

Tongues would never be silenced where she was concerned, and she would not be able to protect him against the prejudice held against her. Hadn’t her sons been scorned and excluded over the years? It would be best if she went into seclusion. Perhaps if she was not seen, she would be forgotten, and the stains of her sin would not seep into Solomon’s reign. “I hold no grudges, my son.”

“Nor do I, Mother.” His eyes glittered. “But boundaries need to be established. My father loved you and treated you as his queen, and so shall you be treated by all.” He let out his breath and smiled again. “Now tell me what is on your mind, for I know you wouldn’t have come without good reason.”

She laid her hand upon his. “I have one small request to make of you.” She hoped it would bring peace between him and his brother as well as kinder feelings between her and the other widows of David. “I hope you won’t turn me down.”

“What is it, my mother? You know I won’t refuse you.”

She relaxed. “Then let your brother Adonijah marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem.”

Silence followed her words, such a look of shock on Solomon’s face that her heart stopped. When he jerked his hand from beneath hers, she drew in a startled breath, confused by his growing wrath.