III. Vengeance Confuted

The bitterness grew continually over the years, seeking an outlet. I had to find a scapegoat. In my twisted mind, I now saw David as the one who had started everything. It was his fault that Doeg and Saul had slain my family. Perhaps that was why I went along with Adonijah's plan, or perhaps it was because of Benaiah's interference that one day.

It was Joab who convinced me. I knew, of course, that David had chosen Solomon to be the next king, but I rationalized. Adonijah was the eldest son, and therefore, the heir to the throne, or so I convinced myself.

This was many years after the revolt of Absalom, and David was on his deathbed. We, the conspirators, met at the stone of Zoheleth, near Enrogel. I proclaimed Adonijah king of Israel before a large company of David's sons and men of Judah. We celebrated with a huge feast.

We had planned for every contingency, but we overlooked one man--Nathan the prophet. He alerted the king and Benaiah to our conspiracy. Jonathan discovered what had happened, and hurried to tell us.

We had heard the sound of trumpets, and wondered what it meant. Joab, ever the warrior, feared some sort of military uproar. He was closer than he guessed. Jonathan arrived at our gathering at that moment. Knowing who he was, Adonijah received him, expecting good tidings.

"Our lord King David has made Solomon king!" he reported. From the tone of his voice, I could tell that he was glad that our uprising had failed. "Zadok and Nathan have anointed him," he continued, "and Benaiah took the Cherethites and Pelethites along for an escort. The whole city is rejoicing now, for Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom!"

Great fear rose in all our hearts. Adonijah was desperate. He insisted that since he had been anointed by the high priest, he was the legitimate king. Jonathan calmly pointed out that Zadok was also high priest. That ended any doubts any of the guests might have had. For a moment, I was afraid that Joab might attack Jonathan, but the captain merely laughed and walked away. Everyone else quickly left, as well. I returned home and waited to hear what the fate of the conspirators would be.

As I waited, I found myself reflecting on the events that had led me to this point. Any moment now, Solomon's soldiers, under Benaiah's command, might come to take me away. Treason to the king could only bring death. What had caused me to take such a drastic move? How had I presumed to raise my hand against the Lord's chosen?

Suddenly, words David had spoken long ago returned to me. At one point in our wandering, he had held Saul's life in his hands. We urged him to kill the king, but he refused. David explained that the Lord had anointed Saul as king, and we had no right to do him any harm, no matter what he had done. The Lord would require it of him in His own good time.

Realization of my folly flooded over me. I had been pursuing a lie for over forty years. I had dared to take for myself that which belonged to Jehovah alone. Was it not written in the law, "To me belongeth vengeance and recompence"? I had committed iniquity far above that of Doeg and Saul--I had put myself in the place of God.

I rushed to the tabernacle and fell on my face in the holy place. I poured out my wretchedness to the Lord and offered the sacrifices which were required by the law. Perhaps the Lord might forgive me. I could only hope and wait.

I was summoned to Solomon's presence the next day. He told me that I was worthy of death, but I would live because of the times of suffering that I had spent with his father. I was removed as high priest and told to return to my own lands at Anathoth. I did not realize it at the time, but this fulfilled a prophecy the Lord had given Samuel. I was the last of the house of Eli to serve before the Lord.

Hear my words, oh servants of Jehovah! The path of vengeance is a never-ending circle of evil. It turns upon itself and leads to utter destruction. Revenge belongs only to the Lord. Woe to those who dare to usurp His place!

Learn from me, and be wise. For I have walked the forbidden path and it has led me to greater evil. In trying to gain that which I could not have, I lost everything I could have had. So say I, Abiathar, he who was high priest in Israel.