Adonijah
Theme:
Succession planning
Business Application:
Develop and communicate a clear plan for succession or others will fill the void.
Who he was:
Adonijah was David’s fourth son and would-be successor after the death of Amnon, Absalom, and presumably a brother born to Abigail, who isn’t mentioned after his birth. He seized the throne while David was on his deathbed even though Solomon was the intended king.
Solomon let him live after taking the throne. However, Adonijah’s request to marry the young Shulammite woman who had cared for King David threatened to undermine Solomon’s authority (because of the symbolic weight of the relationship in that culture). The threat was strong enough that King Solomon ordered him put to death by Benaiah.
Why his story matters:
The transition of power from David to Solomon was fraught with conflict and confused loyalties. Both David and Solomon needed to establish the new monarchy and defend it against threats.
What we can learn from him:
Adonijah’s story serves as a warning against a sense of entitlement that can turn against us when we don’t get what we believe we deserve. It also shows the importance of succession planning and reinforcing difficult decisions so the organization can move forward.
Where we see his archetype today:
We see evidence of entitlement and power grabs when people resist new directions. We also see the dynamics at work during leadership transitions, planned or unplanned.
How we can learn more about him:
Adonijah is introduced in 2 Samuel 3:4. The story of his would-be succession is in 1 Kings 1:1-27 and 2:13-25.