It may not be clear how the first part of this verse relates to Adonijah’s similarity to Absalom. Nevertheless, it originates in the failure of David to discipline him correctly. The sense of the verb is that David had never opposed any of Adonijah’s misbehaviour. The writer implies that David should have asked, Why have you done thus and so?
on many occasions.
David had also failed as a father in Absalom’s case. At times he was too harsh, at other times too lax. When Absalom killed his half-brother Amnon in revenge for the rape of Absalom’s sister (a capital crime, according to the law), David exiled him. When, at the urging of Joab, David called him back from exile, the king refused to have any interaction with his son. Yet, during Absalom’s rebellion against his father, David placed more value on the life of Absalom than on the lives of his own soldiers who were fighting to defend him.
Adonijah resembled Absalom in two other ways. First, we are told he was a very handsome man. We ought to ask the question, however, if beautiful appearance is a suitable or necessary requirement for leadership. Saul had been a man of imposing appearance, but he proved to be a leader that was rejected by the Lord. Likewise Eliab, David’s eldest brother, was handsome, and the prophet Samuel thought that he might be the one God chose to be king, but Samuel had to be reminded that God looks at the heart, not on the outward appearance.
The last similarity between Adonijah and Absalom was the fact that, at the time of their attempts to seize the throne, they were the eldest surviving sons of David. Apparently this is the meaning of the phrase he was born next after Absalom.
Absalom was the third born of David’s sons, but by the time of his rebellion, Amnon, the first born, was dead by Absalom’s own hand, while Chiliab, the second son was also apparently dead. Absalom died in his rebellion, so that made Adonijah, the fourth born, next in line.
This last point may have played a great part in Adonijah’s reasoning that the throne was to be his by the right of birth and succession. That would follow the practice of the kingdoms of the surrounding nations. Yet we must remember that Israel was a special nation where the king was to rule in God’s name and at his appointment. God had not appointed Adonijah to be king.
6 His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom.