1 Kings 1:38–39 (ESV)

38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon.

These verses show us that David’s instructions were carried out precisely. There is, therefore, not much to say that would advance our understanding more than the statements found in the comments on the verses where the instructions were given.

One thing might be said, nevertheless. I have been referring to David’s instructions, and so they were. But when a king instructs, he commands at the same time. Therefore, two things can be concluded from this observation regarding the speed and precision with which the instructions were obeyed: they were the king’s commands, and they were agreeable to the desires of those who carried them out.

We might also need to understand to whom it is that the writer refers by the Cherethites and Pelethites. It is commonly believed that these two groups made up David’s personal bodyguard and were foreigners drawn largely from territory at one time belonging to the Philistines. Such a practice we are told was common in the ancient world. You might remember that Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, had attempted to make David and his men his bodyguard for life.

We conclude our observations here with the comment that by the events recorded in these verses we see that Solomon had become the king of Israel. There was nothing left for him to do but to sit down on the royal throne.