Buckle up, because we're diving into a tale of succession, sickness, and a whole lot of sons.
Our story focuses on a king – unnamed in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews from which this tale is drawn – facing his own mortality. He decides it’s time to name an heir. And who gets the nod? Adikam, his second son.
Now, Adikam wasn't exactly a seasoned ruler at this point. He was, in fact, only ten years old! Talk about starting young. To secure his future, the king arranged a marriage for him with Gedidah, the daughter of Abilat. And Gedidah? She delivers the goods, bearing him four sons. But Adikam wasn't done there. Oh no. He went on to take three more wives, adding eight more sons and three daughters to the royal mix. Can you imagine the family gatherings?
But back to the king. His health was failing rapidly. And I mean really failing. We’re told, in rather graphic detail, that his flesh began to stink "like a carcass cast into the field in summertime in the heat of the sun." Yikes.
Faced with this grim reality, the king knew the end was near. So, he summoned Adikam, his chosen successor. And right then and there, he officially made him king over the land in his place. The transfer of power was complete.
What does this all mean? We see a glimpse into the world of ancient succession, where even a child could be king, and where royal lineage was everything. But it also shows us the very human side of power. The dying king, desperate to secure his legacy. Adikam, thrust into leadership at a tender age, surrounded by a rapidly expanding family. It's a potent mix, isn't it? A reminder that even in the grandest of legends, the most basic human dramas are always playing out. What kind of king will Adikam be? And how will he manage such a large and complex family? Well, that's a story for another time…