To Four Thousand Years Later

After Solomon was anointed, he returned to Jerusalem surrounded by the crowd.

In order to save time, the other one is really unnecessary to disturb the public. When Solomon left the city, he did not deliberately look for participants in the city with the same number of participants as Adonijah.

"I have arranged people before. The people from Adonijah's side will come to my side sooner or later." Solomon said so calmly.

Although Priest Zadok still hesitated, he still chose to trust Solomon... everything turned out to be as Solomon expected.

Zadok did not quite understand what Solomon and the prophet Nathan explained. But at least he can realize that those are words of wisdom far ahead of the times.

…Solomon, it really has changed.

That Solomon who was originally kind and humble, but a little cowardly and incompetent, now seemed to be suddenly enlightened, and everyone cheered and praised Solomon loudly. Solomon was among them, greeting everyone gently, smiling and nodding.

What moved the people the most was that Solomon was able to accurately name everyone.

As he said each person's name, he gave his sincere blessing. The man knelt down on the ground, trembling with excitement, and some even wept with joy.

"Long live King Solomon! Long live Israel!"

The Israelites bowed down to him and praised Solomon's name with a loud voice.

People blow flutes made of reed pipes, and priests blow horns. The sound of praise and playing music converged like an invisible torrent. When people are in it, they are coerced and screaming with all their strength.

"—Long live Solomon! Long live Israel!"

The sound was so loud that it could be heard several miles away. If you get closer, you will even feel the ground trembling slightly.

Before the slow-moving crowd reached Jerusalem, the torrent of praise had already reached the city. The cities that put down the windows and lock the doors and windows as if they were dead opened the windows one by one, leaned out of the windows and looked towards the east curiously.

Immediately, they heard the praises overflowing with joy.

They realized something one by one, opened the windows, or simply walked outside, waiting for the crowd to slowly walk towards the city.

Two rows of city guards with decorative metal helmets lead the way, followed by the high priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan. But Solomon, who was in the crowd, was not riding a tall horse, but a small donkey.

But he wasn't ashamed of it. He just stood upright, with a gentle smile on his face, and calmly nodded to the people around him.

Immediately, he raised his right hand high in the crowd and blessed the Israelites loudly: "All the people of Israel! Blessed are you!"

He solemnly said: "May the Lord bless you and protect you. May you be safe and stay away from conquest."

"—Blessed are you. Blessed are you to be."

"Long live King Solomon! Long live my king!"

The crowd erupted and shouted loudly to Solomon: "Long live King Solomon! Long live Israel!"

When people sent Solomon back to the palace of King David, those who participated in Solomon's anointing ceremony couldn't wait to leave.

They were going to tell their relatives and friends what they saw and heard when King Solomon was anointed today. And he intends to show them off that King Solomon called out his name in the crowd, and kindly blessed himself like an old friend

Solomon entered David's palace, turned the corner, and headed toward the inner sanctum.

"Long live my king."

"You're back, Solomon."

Solomon nodded respectfully to David. David on the throne also smiled at Solomon: "Come... stand beside me."

Although King David was still unable to get up, with the help of Bathsheba and Abishag, he was carried from the sleeping chamber to the inner chamber, where he lay down on his seat with difficulty.

Solomon saw that in front of David's seat, Field Marshal Joab's hands were tied behind his back, and the two guards of the king's city stepped on his ankles and knelt in front of King David's seat with shoulders clasped.

David looked away from Solomon and looked back at Joab.

"Joab. You've failed me."

David said flatly in a weak voice.

Joab quickly raised his head and looked at King David: "I—will be loyal to my king forever."

But as soon as he raised his head, he was held down by two silent royal city guards and forced him to lower his head again.

"No, not forever. Joab."

David looked directly at Joab and said in an old but steady voice, "You killed my son, Absalom."

"That's because at that time he conspired against..."

"But I told you not to kill him—did I say so!"

With a bang, David stretched out his hand and patted the throne. He opened his eyes and glared at Joab.

Absalom was David's third son. It is also the most beautiful, outstanding and proudest of all David's sons. Therefore, even if he launched a rebellion and tried to rebel, David was still reluctant to kill him.

At that time, Joab had already trapped Absalom, and David asked Joab to bring his son back, but Joab ignored David's order and killed Absalom with his own hands. And after returning, he took the lead in attacking David, accusing David of favoring Absalom in front of all the soldiers.

Had it not been for David's oath not to kill Joab as long as he lives—I am afraid that Joab would have died by then.

New hatred added to old hatred, David opened his eyes, and his eyes were burning like flames.

The strong sense of presence emanating from King David made Joab's back instantly drenched in cold sweat.

"...but, but, my lord, there was a war at that time—"

Joab's voice was suppressed by David's power. However, David interrupted him bluntly: "It has been three times. This is the fourth time, Joab...The fourth time you violated my command and struck the sword against the righteous."

"I will always be loyal to my king!"

Joab kowtowed to King David without hesitation, his head hit the ground with a thumping sound: "Never once did I intend to harm you—"

"Not anymore, Joab."

David's voice came calmly, catching the second half of Joab's words in his throat.

For a moment, the royal court was silent.

"Make him stand up."

King David ordered.

The two inner guards of the royal city violently lifted Joab's shoulders, clamped his armpits and wrists, and raised him up.

David looked at Joab. The aging, vicissitudes of life's face was calm, and the lifeless gray pupils shone with a calm and rational light.

"Then salute the king."

David spoke word by word in a calm voice.

Marshal Joab bowed down to David without hesitation. But as soon as he made a move, David stopped him softly: "Wrong."

King David stretched out his slightly trembling fingers, pointed at Solomon beside him, and said softly, "Salute...King Solomon."

Joab's body froze instantly.

And Solomon didn't hesitate, and bowed respectfully beside King David's bed, kissed his finger lightly, and said naturally and smoothly: "No, father. As long as you are alive, Israel will only have one king."

David stroked Solomon's hair, but looked directly at Joab without saying a word.

After more than ten seconds, Joab slowly bowed to Solomon.

And Solomon didn't seem to see it, he just lay down in front of David's bed with his back to Joab.

The silence lasted for five full minutes. Solomon opened his mouth and said, "Father, what do you plan to do with Marshal Joab?"

"Not the Marshal. It's Joab."

King David looked at Solomon, then at Joab and said in a low voice, "Joab, you deserve death for your sins."

"But I won't kill you."

His words filled Joab's pale complexion with blood again.

But that blood color turned into deeper despair in an instant

David said softly: "I swear to you, I will never kill you in this life. Today I will cut your position as commander-in-chief and imprison you under the city of Jerusalem."

"I live, you live... After I die, your life will be handed over to the new king."

David said word by word, calmly: "Your life and death will be judged by Solomon—not me."

"My father... I will do what you wish."

Under Joab's desperate gaze, Solomon nodded gracefully and peacefully to David.