Solomon Consolidates His Position: David has gone, and Solomon has been left to fend for himself. His rule was firmly established, 2:12 tells us. This is clearly an allusion to 2 Samuel 7:11b–16, where the verb ḵwn (established) appears on three occasions (vv. 12, 13, 16; cf. also v. 26) of God’s action in ensuring for David an everlasting dynasty. In 1 Kings 2:12–46, this same verb appears on four occasions, strategically positioned at the beginning and end of the section (vv. 12, 45–46) and halfway through (v. 24). God has done for Solomon what he had done before for David (2 Sam. 5:12), in accordance with his promise (1 Kgs. 2:24). He has established Solomon as king. And everything that happens in 2:12–46, our authors tell us by structuring their account around ḵwn, must be understood i…