Chayei Sarah Haftorah (I Kings 1:1-31)

In this week’s haftorah, we see a vignette unfold in which we find an aged King David receiving the assistance of what we’d take to be something of a home health care worker for the elderly. One of his sons, Adoniahu, pounces on this situation as an opportunity to shimmy his way into being next in line. But King David had previously declared his wish for another son, Solomon, to rule next. Adoniahu is well aware of this, so he sets about sneakily to put the ball in motion by getting the endorsement of a high priest and the commander of David’s armies (both of whom are out of the King’s good graces of late), throwing himself festive parties of hand-selected (and supportive) attendees, and otherwise prancing around the town like owns it, declaring his forthcoming ascension.

The prophet Nathan coaxes Bat Sheva, Solomon’s mother, to tell [Read more…]