The First Book of the Kings, commonly called the Third Book of the Kings
1 Kings 1
Chapter I · Vol. II, pp. 715–718
1 Abishag cherisheth David in his extreme age. 5 Adonijah, David's darling, usurpeth the kingdom. 11 By the counsel of Nathan, 15 Bathsheba moveth the king on Solomon's behalf, 22 and Nathan secondeth her. 28 David reneweth his oath to Bathsheba. 32 Solomon, by David's appointment, being anointed king by Zadok and Nathan, the people triumph. 41 Jonathan bringing these news, Adonijah's guests flee. 50 Adonijah, fleeing to the horns of the altar, on condition of his good behaviour, is dismissed by Solomon.
1 Now king David was aold and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
2 Wherefore his bservants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin; and let her cstand before the king, and let her cherish1 him, and dlet her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king emay get heat.
b Ge.20.8; 40.20; 41.37,38, i.e. courtiers.
c De.1.38; 10.8. 1 Sa.16.21,22.
1 Heb. be a cherisher unto him. This practice is common in the East; old and decrepit men often repay a young person by leaving her a large property.—Roberts.——That Abishag was considered as David's concubine is evident from ch. 2. 22. A 'Shunammite' means a native of Shunem, in the tribe of Issachar, a few miles south of Tabor.—I.
A.M. 2988. B.C. 1016.
d Ge.16.5. De.13.6. 2 Sa.12.3. Mi.7.5.
e Ec.4.11. ver.1.
3 So they fsought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found gAbishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
f Es.2.2-4.
g ch.2.17,22. Jos.19.18. 1 Sa.28.4. 2 Ki.4.6,25.
4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king hknew her not.
5 Then iAdonijah the son of Haggith exaltedk himself, saying, I will be king: and lhe prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
6 And his father mhad not displeased him at any time1 in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very ngoodly man: and his mothero bare him after Absalom.2
m Pr.23.13; 29.15. 1 Sa.3.13. Le.19.17.
1 David's weakness seems to have been over-fondness, and consequent indulgence, of his children. For such a line of education, it is no excuse to call it 'a failing that leans to virtue's side;' however amiable the over-fond parent may be, 'he that spareth the rod (when it is deserved) hateth the child.'—C.
n 2 Sa.14.25. 1 Sa.9.2; 10.23.
o 2 Sa.3.3,4. 1 Ch.3.2.
2 Absalom's mother was Maacah, Adonijah's Haggith, 2 Sa.3.3,4, the words therefore mean that Haggith bare Adonijah after Maacah had born Absalom.—C.
7 And he pconferred with qJoab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they, following Adonijah, helped him.
q 2 Sa.8.16,17. ch.2.28-35.
8 But rZadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei,3 and Rei, and the smighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
r 2 Sa.8.17,18; 7.2; 12.1-15; 16.5.
3 It is by no means probable that this is Shimei of Bahurim, but one of David's 'mighty men' of the same name, whom we find distinguished under Solomon, ch. 4.18.—C.
9 And Adonijah tslew sheep, and oxen, and fat cattle, by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by uEn-rogel,4 and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:
t Nu.23.1. Pr.15.8. Is.1.11-15.
u 2 Sa.15.17; 17.17, i.e. the fuller's well, Is.7.3.
4 In the bottom of the Kidron, a short distance south of Jerusalem.—P.
10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.5
5 This was a very significant exception, for he doubtless knew that the crown had been assigned to Solomon, though a younger brother. Feeling that this was his best opportunity of asserting his claim, he, in imitation of Absalom, set up a splendid retinue, and courted popularity.—I.
11 Wherefore Nathan xspake unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
x 2 Sa.7.12-15; 12.24. 1 Ch.22.9; 3.5. Ps.37.3.
12 Now therefore come, ylet me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou zmayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, aAssuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall bsit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?
a 2 Ch.22.9,10. 2 Sa.12.24,25.
b De.17.18. 1 Ch.29.23; 28.5; 22.9,10.
14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirmc thy words.
c Heb. fill up, ver.17-27.
15 And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the dking was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.
d ver.1,4.
16 And Bath-sheba ebowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
e Ge.18.2; 19.1. Ru.2.10. 2 Sa.9.6,8; 14.4,22,33.
17 And she said unto him, fMy lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, gAssuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne:6
f 1 Pe.3.6. Ge.18.12. Ep.5.33.
g 2 Sa.7.13. 1 Ch.29.1,9; 22.9,10. ver.13.
6 As Saul and David had been divinely designated to the throne, so was Solomon, as appears from 1 Ch. 22. 8-11, and not by any undue influence of Bathsheba, or paternal partiality of David.—Note, In this respect Solomon was a type of Christ, who became 'prince of peace,' not by the will of man, but by the election and appointment of God the Father, Is. 42.1. Mat. 12.18.—C.
18 And now, behold, hAdonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:
A.M. 2988. B.C. 1016.
h ver.11,13,25.
19 And he ihath slain oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.
i ver.7,9,10,25.
20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne7 of my lord the king after him.
7 It appears that David's right to nominate which of his sons he pleased to succeed him was recognized by his subjects. Michaelis thinks that he had secured this right by the terms of his covenant with the people. But it rather seems to have been a right which needed no stipulation, being sanctioned by general usage; as we see exemplified in the case of Jacob, who deprived his eldest son Reuben of that priority which would otherwise have belonged to him. The right of the eldest son was in general recognized, but with a reserved right in the father to give the preference to a younger son if he saw occasion. Oriental kings still enjoy this power. The late King of Persia, for instance, publicly recognized his second son (Abbas Mirza) as his successor, to the exclusion of the eldest, who, however, took no pains to conceal his intention to put the matter to the arbitration of the sword.—Kitto.
21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall ksleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted loffenders.
22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, mNathan the prophet also came in.8
m ver.14.
8 He had come into the anteroom, but not yet to the king's private chamber. See ver.28.—C.
23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he nbowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
n ver.16.
24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
25 For ohe is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, pGod save king Adonijah.
o ver.7,9,19.
p Heb. let king Adonijah live, 1 Sa.10.24. ver.34. Re.13.4.
26 But me, qeven me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
q ver.8,19.
27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not rshowed9 it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath-sheba:1 and she came into the king's presence,2 and stood before the king.
1 According to the abbreviated style of Scripture narrative, the retirement of Bathsheba, on the entrance of Nathan, is not noticed, but is clearly to be inferred from her recall.—C.
2 Heb. before the king.
29 And the king sware, and said, sAs the LORD liveth, that hath tredeemed my soul out of all distress,3
s Ju.8.18,19. 2 Sa.12.5. ch.17.1.
t Ps.34.19,22; 71.23. 2 Sa.4.9. Ge.48.16.
3 The true believer loves to review his past experience, and to remember all the way in which he has been led in the wilderness. The grateful recollection of the distresses out of which the Lord has redeemed him enhances his joy, enlivens his hope, and animates him to his duty, even under the decays of nature and the approach of death.—I.
30 Even as uI sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
u ver.13,17.
31 Then Bath-sheba xbowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, yLet my lord king David live for ever.4
A.M. 2988. B.C. 1016.
4 Not a form of mere conventional ceremony or courtly adulation, but a prayer—a sincere and humble prayer, not that he might 'live for ever' on earth, in the feebleness and misery of old age, but that he might attain to 'glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life' with God.—C.
32 And king David said, Call me zZadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.
z ver.8,26,38.
33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to aride upon mine own mule,5 and bring him down to bGihon:6
5 Adonijah and his friends were now at the fountain of En-rogel, ver. 9, a place of public resort, well suited to give publicity to his assumption of royalty. This is generally admitted to have been on the east of Jerusalem. Solomon is sent to the fountain of Gihon, a place of similar publicity on the west, so that all collision of parties might be avoided, and his inauguration peaceably consummated.—C.
b 2 Ch.32.30. ver.45.
6 The pool of Gihon lay at the head of the valley of Hinnom, nearly half a mile west of the city. From it an aqueduct was made to the city. The flat ground round the pool was an admirable place for public assemblies.—P.
34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, canoint him there king over Israel: andd blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.
35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and eI have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
e Ps.2.6. 2 Sa.19.41. ch.12.19.
36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, fAmen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
f Je.11.5. De.27.15-26. Ps.33.9. Mat.6.13.
37 Asg the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and hmake his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
g Jos.1.5,17. 2 Ki.2.9. He.13.5. Is.41.10. 1 Ch.22.16.
h ver.47. Ps.72.8. 2 Ki.2.9. Da.7.14. Mat.28.18. Phi.2.10,11.
38 So iZadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.
i ver.8,26,32,33,44. 2 Sa.15.18; 8.18.
39 And Zadok the priest took an khorn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon: and they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
k 1 Sa.10.1; 16.1. Ex.25.6. 1 Ch.29.22.
40 And lall the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent7 with the sound of them.
l 1 Sa.10.24; 11.15. 2 Ki.11.20. 1 Ch.12.38. Zec.9.9. Ps.97.1; 47.5-9. Re.11.15-18.
7 This is not a mere figure, but may be matter of fact. In several parts of the Alps, the guides will not permit the traveller to speak above a whisper for fear of disengaging the avalanche. The rejoicing of the multitude may have produced a similar effect on the looser parts of the rocky cliffs around Jerusalem. C.——This is synonymous with our expression, 'They rent the air with their cries.'—I.
41 And Adonijah, and all the guests that were with him, heard it as they had made an endm of eating.8 And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?
42 And while he yet spake, behold, nJonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art ao valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
n 2 Sa.15.36; 17.17.
o 2 Sa.18.27. 1 Ki.22.8. Je.12.6. 1 Th.5.2,3.
43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, pVerily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
p ver.32-40.
44 Andq the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:
q ver.38,39.
45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come rup from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.
46 And also Solomon ssitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
s ver.13. Ps.132.11. 1 Ch.22.10; 28.5; 29.23.
47 And, moreover, the king's servants came to tbless our lord king David, saying, uGod make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king xbowed himself upon the bed.
48 And also thus said the king, yBlessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
49 And zall the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, aand caught hold on the horns of the altar.9
a Ex.38.2; 21.14. ch.2.28. Ps.118.27.
9 There is no precept in the law directing a culprit to take hold of the horns of the altar. Yet it seems to be an act admitted as testimony of an appeal to the legal but temporary protection afforded to certain culprits in the cities of refuge. It is not said where this altar was, but as Gibeon was a city of refuge, and as an altar was still there, ch. 3. 4, it is most likely Adonijah would flee to it, as he might fear to be ranked, if not with actual, yet still with intentional manslayers, according to that principle of European jurisprudence which condemns even the imagining the death of a king. C.——The altar erected on the thrashing-floor of Araunah, 2 Sa.24.25. The altar of the Hebrews seems to have been a refuge till a man's case was heard, or till pardon was obtained; though there is no precept in the law to make it a privileged place, as it was among the Greeks and Romans. The murderer was to be taken from the altar and slain, Ex.21.12-14. 'Adonijah acknowledged Solomon as king both by word and deed, and received a conditional pardon; but Solomon gave him fair warning that he was put upon his good behaviour. He also required him to go to his house and live a retired life, not affecting the splendour and state that he had done before' (Scott).—I.
51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to-day, that he will not slay his servant with the sword.
52 And Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, there bshall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if cwickedness1 shall be found in him, he shall die.
b 1 Sa.14.45. 2 Sa.14.11. Ac.27.34.
c Le.19.15. De.1.17. 2 Ch.19.7.
1 Future plotting against Solomon's government.—C.
Notes
[Ver. 1. King David was old. He was now about his 69th year. For he came to the throne at thirty, and reigned forty years; which extended to about a year after this period. He died therefore at an age comparatively young. But his fatigues in eluding Saul during his exile amongst the Philistines, his various harassing campaigns, but above all his family afflictions, might well bring on a premature old age, and wear out the most vigorous constitution. C.]
Ver. 5. [Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself. The sons of David in order, were Amnon, slain by Absalom; Chileab, of whom there is no subsequent mention; Absalom, slain by Joab; and next Adonijah, who, as eldest, might now claim the throne, by right of orderly succession. C.]
Reflections.—The strongest constitution of men quickly wastes of itself, and every project for retaining of strength or vigor is foolish and ineffectual. A burden of infirmities attends old age; and happy they who, in the views of it, have all things ready for an eternal state! Indulgent parents are commonly in their old age contemned and plagued by their children, especially such as they most indulged. Ambition of reigning leads many to trample on the ordinances of both God and men. And they are, in general, most fond of high stations who neither know the duties of them, nor consider the labour and vexation which attend them. Such as make their belly their god will side with any party that will feast them best. But how easily God defeats every project inconsistent with his promise, even when it seems fully secured! In times of danger every prudent mean ought to be used for averting it. And they who know God's will should be zealous for the accomplishment of it.—While kings are often kept ignorant of things nearly concerning their kingdom and interest, usurpers will stick at no cruelty to fix themselves on a throne. But if the enemies of God's people be alert and vigorous, their friends ought to be active and vigilant: and such as are weak, through infirmity, should be stirred up and encouraged. Our oaths should ever be remembered, and our consciences bound to fulfil them. Hearts truly grateful never forget God's mercies, nor allow themselves to neglect opportunities of thankfully mentioning them. And it is extremely pleasant when aged saints take every opportunity of witnessing for God. What is right and seasonable should be done without delay: and that is most likely to prosper which is begun with dependence on God, and fervent prayer for his blessing. It is affection, not force, that can make dutiful subjects: and to leave church and state in a prosperous condition is the joy of a dying saint. What discouragement and danger attend a bad cause! And blustering traitors are often cowards when matters come to a crisis. How becoming is it when kings are ready to forgive those who have injured them! But much more astonishing is the pardoning mercy of our Lord Jesus to the guiltiest sinners who flee to his atonement, and prostrate themselves at his throne of grace.