BENAYAHU SON OF YEHOYADA, Solomon’s Facilitator

 

BENAYAHU SON OF YEHOYADA, יְהוֹיָדָ  בְנָיָהוּ בֶן

Solomon’s Facilitator

 



In this week’s Chayei Sarah Haftarah portion at 1Kings 1:1-31 a successor to King David is to be chosen. There is a controversy between Adoniyahu and Solomon. Although David had promised Bathsheba that Solomon would succeed him, Adoniyahu jumps the gun and has himself declared King.

At verse 26, a certain Benayahu son of Yehoyada appears. He seems  to be siding with the proponents of Solomon. Who is he? What do we know about him? He is a man who emerges from the shadows, making it possible for Solomon to reign in peace.

A couple of weeks ago in our Berakhot Talmud class at 18a-b we learned something about Benayahu son of Yehoyada, יְהוֹיָדָ  בְנָיָהוּ בֶן

Benayahu is the stuff of legends. He is praised for three mighty feats: striking down two lion-hearted warriors from Moab, killing a lion in a pit, and defeating an Egyptian giant (2Samuel 23:20-21). This is only a taste of just how savage he was in the face of his enemies.  Benayahu was a leader. David had 30 or more elite warriors that he trusted and relied on.  Benayahu was at the top of the list. 

Benayahu was pivotal in transferring the kingdom from David to Solomon. Under Solomon’s reign, Benayahu gains prominence. In 1Kings 2” he becomes leader of the army after, on Solomon’s command, he kills Joab the former commander. Solomon entrusts him with the duty of cleaning house

Benayahu is charged with the responsibility of executing more than a few key figures who had evaded punishment under David, and who now posed a threat to Solomon’s reign.

 Solomon saw in Benayahu a capable and extremely loyal deputy, a man who emerged from the shadows and took care of business. It was clear sailing for Solomon once his house had been cleaned.

Some would say that Benayahu was Solomon’s enforcer; I’d say that Benayahu was Solomon’s facilitator.  What do you think?


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