1 Kings 1:1--2:46
old <02204> [old.]
David was probably now about sixty-nine years of age. He was thirty years old when he began to reign, reigned forty, and died in his seventieth year; and the transactions mentioned here are supposed to have taken place about a year before his death. Sixty-nine was not an advanced age; but he had been exhausted with various fatigues, and especially family afflictions, so that he was much older in constitution than in years.
old <0935 03117> [and stricken in years. Heb. and entered into days.]
found <01245> [Let there be sought. Heb. Let them seek. a young virgin.]
Heb. a damsel, a virgin. stand.
nurse ..... sleep <05532 07901> [cherish him. Heb. be a cherisher unto him. lie.]
warm <02552> [get heat.]
looked <01245> [So.]
Abishag <049> [Abishag.]
Shunammite <07767> [Shunammite.]
sexual relations <03045> [knew her not.]
Adonijah <0138> [Adonijah.]
<04984> [exalted.]
king <04427> [I will.]
king <04427> [be king. Heb. reign. and he.]
corrected <06087> [had not.]
<03117> [at any time. Heb. from his days. very.]
born ... after <03205 0310> [bare him.]
collaborated <01697> [And he conferred. Heb. his words were.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
Abiathar <054> [Abiathar.]
supported him <0138 05826 0310> [following Adonijah helped him. Heb. helped after Adonijah.]
Zadok <06659> [Zadok.]
Nathan <05416> [Nathan.]
Shimei <08096> [Shimei.]
warriors <01368> [the mighty.]
Adonijah <0138> [Adonijah.]
The Oriental banquet, in consequence of the intense heat, is often spread upon the verdant turf, beneath the shade of a tree, where the streaming rivulet supplies the company with wholesome water, and excites a gentle breeze to cool their burning temples.
sacrificed <02076> [slew.]
En Rogel <05883> [En-rogel. or, the well Rogel.]
invited <07121> [called.]
Nathan <05416> [Nathan.]
Adonijah <0138> [Adonijah.]
Haggith's <02294> [Haggith.]
<03289> [let me.]
save <04422> [save.]
life ...... life <05315> [the life.]
Surely <03588> [Assuredly.]
sit <03427> [sit.]
arrive <0935> [I also.]
verify <04390> [confirm. Heb. fill up.]
very old <02204 03966> [very old.]
bowed down on <06915> [bowed.]
king ... king <04428> [And the.]
[What wouldest thou? Heb. What to thee?]
master <0113> [My lord.]
swore <07650> [thou swarest.]
It is not recorded when or upon what occasion David sware to Bathsheba that Solomon should succeed him; but it is supposed, with some degree of probability, that it took place after Absalom's rebellion; and as God himself had settled the succession, he might very properly give her this assurance.
Adonijah <0138> [Adonijah.]
aware <03045> [thou knowest.]
watching .... see <05869> [the eyes.]
<05046> [that thou.]
At this time the monarchy of Israel was unsettled; no man knew who was to succeed to the crown; and the minds of the people were as unsettled as the succession. It was neither hereditary nor elective: the king, as was anciently the case in most countries, named his successor; but in this instance, God had already assigned the throne to Solomon.
<07901> [sleep.]
son <01121> [that I.]
That is, when Adonijah is established on the throne, I and my son Solomon shall be put to death as state criminals. The history of the world demonstrates, that the lust of dominion has tempted men to commit the most enormous crimes. A father has destroyed his son, a son deposed a father, and a brother murdered a brother, in order to obtain a crown!
criminals <02400> [offenders. Heb. sinners.]
bowed <07812> [he bowed.]
said ........ announce <0559> [hast thou.]
king <04427> [reign.]
sacrificed <02076> [slain.]
king's .......................... live King Adonijah <02421 04428 0138> [God save king Adonijah. Heb. Let king Adonijah live.]
informing <03045> [and thou.]
Summon Bathsheba <07121 01339> [Call me.]
She appears to have gone out when Nathan entered; and he retired when she was readmitted.
King .......... before ... king <04428 06440> [into the king's presence. Heb. before the king.]
Lord <03068> [As the.]
rescued <06299> [hath.]
swore <07650> [Even as I sware.]
bowed <07812> [did reverence.]
master <0113> [Let my.]
Zadok <06659> [Zadok.]
Take <03947> [Take.]
Solomon <08010> [and cause.]
Maimonides informs us, that it was a capital offence for any one to ride on the king's mule, to sit on his throne, or to handle his sceptre, without permission; and as David ordered Solomon to ride on his own mule, etc., it was ample evidence that he had appointed him his successor.
put <07392> [to ride.]
mule <06506> [mine own mule. Heb. the mule which belongeth to me.]
Gihon <01521> [Gihon.]
Zadok <06659> [Zadok.]
blow ... trumpet <08628 07782> [blow ye.]
live <02421> [God.]
sits <03427> [sit.]
decreed <06680> [I have.]
So be it <0543> [Amen.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Lord <03068> [As the.]
greater <01431> [and make.]
Zadok <06659> [Zadok.]
<03774> [the Cherethites.]
King David's <01732 04428> [king David's.]
horn <07161> [an horn.]
tent <0168> [out.]
poured <04886> [anointed.]
people <05971> [all the people.]
flutes <02485> [pipes. or, flutes.]
celebrating <08056> [rejoiced.]
ground shake <01234 0776> [the earth rent.]
We use a similar expression in precisely the same sense: "They rent the air with their cries."
finished <03615> [as they.]
sound ............ noisy <06963> [Wherefore.]
city <07151> [the city.]
Jonathan <03129> [Jonathan.]
important <02428> [a valiant.]
No <061> [Verily.]
[44]
Gihon <01521> [Gihon.]
This was a fountain on the west of Jerusalem, (consequently in an opposite direction to En-rogel on the east, where Adonijah was proclaimed king,) of which there were two pools, an upper and a lower. (2Ch 32:30.) There is a large square cistern in the ravine west of the city, mentioned by Dr. Richardson as a little to the south of the Jaffa gate, which Dr. Pococke describes as a basin about 250 paces long and 100 broad. It is commonly called the pool of Bathsheba, but seems to be the lower pool of Gihon. "Nearly a mile to the N.N.W. is the pool of Gihon, which I suppose to be the upper pool. It is a very large basin, and, if I mistake not, is cut down about ten feet into the rock, there being a way down to it by steps. It was almost dry at that time, and seems designed to receive the rain waters which come from the hills about it. There is a canal from the pool to the city, which is uncovered part of the way, and, it is said, goes to the pool in the streets near the holy sepulchre. The fountain of Gihon arose either in the upper pool, or out of the high ground above it."--Travels, book i. ch. 6.
city <07151> [the city.]
sound <06963> [This is.]
congratulate <01288> [bless.]
God <0430> [God.]
leaned <07812> [bowed.]
praise <01288> [Blessed.]
placed <05414> [which.]
allowed <05869> [mine eyes.]
grabbed <02388> [caught.]
hair of his head <08185> [there shall.]
traitor <07451> [wickedness.]
King ............... bowed .... King <07812 04428> [bowed himself.]
When <03117> [the days.]
told <06680> [charged.]
about <01980> [I go.]
strong <02388> [be thou.]
man <0376> [and shew.]
Do ................ obeying <08104> [And keep.]
[statues.]
laws <05715> [testimonies.]
written <03789> [written.]
succeed ..... do <07919 06213> [that thou.]
succeed <07919> [prosper. or, do wisely.]
accomplish <06437> [whithersoever.]
Lord <03068> [That the Lord.]
promise <01697> [his word.]
<03212> [walk.]
heart <03824> [with all their heart.]
fail <03772> [fail, etc. Heb. be cut off from thee from the throne.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
Amasa <06021> [Amasa.]
Jether <03500> [Jether.]
[Ithra. shed. Heb. put. put.]
appropriate <02451> [according.]
live long <07872> [let.]
peaceful <07965> [in.]
Barzillai <01271> [Barzillai.]
needs <0398> [eat.]
flee <01272> [when I fled.]
Shimei <08096> [Shimei.]
horrible <04834> [grievous. Heb. strong. he came.]
treat <05352> [hold him.]
Do not consider him as an innocent man; for, as thou art a wise man, and knowest how to treat such persons, treat him as he deserves; only, as I have sworn to him that I would not put him to death, "bring not his hoar head down to the grave with blood." So Solomon understood David; for, after he had commanded Joab to be slain, in obedience to his father, he sent for Shimei, and knowing he ought to be well watched, he confined him to Jerusalem for the rest of his life: and so it appears David should be understood; for the negative particle {lo,} in the former clause, "hold him not guiltless," should be repeated in the latter clause, though not expressed; instances of which frequently occur in the Hebrew Scriptures. (See Jud 5:30. 1Sa 2:3. Ps 1:5; 9:18; 38:1; 75:5. Pr 5:16; 24:12, etc.) This is the view taken of the subject by Dr. Kennicott, and it seems the best and most correct mode of interpreting the text.
wise <02450> [wise.]
death <07872> [his.]
bloody <01818> [with.]
David ........... David <01732> [So David.]
city <05892> [the city.]
reigned ... Israel ..... reigned <04427 03478> [reigned over.]
Solomon sat <08010 03427> [A.M. 2990. B.C. 1014. An. Ex. Is. 477. sat Solomon.]
<04438> [his kingdom.]
Adonijah <0138> [Adonijah.]
visited ......... come <0935> [Comest.]
know <03045> [Thou knowest.]
Lord <03068> [for it was.]
refuse ..... Go ahead <06440 07725> [deny me not. Heb. turn not away my face.]
Abishag <049> [Abishag.]
That's <02896> [Well.]
So ............... got up <06965> [rose up.]
sat .................. sat <03427> [she sat.]
ask ................. ask <07592> [I desire.]
ask ................. ask <07592> [Ask on.]
Abishag <049> [Let Abishag.]
request ................ request <07592> [why dost.]
kingdom <04410> [the kingdom.]
God <0430> [God.]
Adonijah <0138> [if Adonijah.]
We have already seen, that the whole harem of an eastern monarch was a part of the regal succession (See note on 2 Sa 16:23); and it was treason for a subject to claim any wife or virgin who had once formed a part of it. Solomon evidently considered the request of Adonijah in this light; and was convinced that he was still aiming to seize the crown, to which he considered this as one step. But it is very doubtful, how far the plea either of policy or state necessity can justify Solomon in thus embruing his hands in his brother's blood, whatever might have been his treasonable intentions or conduct.
<01696> [spoken.]
Lord <03068> [as the Lord.]
sit ...... throne <03427 03678> [set me.]
dynasty <06213 01004> [made me.]
promised <01696> [as he promised.]
executed <04191> [put.]
killed <06293> [he fell.]
Abiathar <054> [Abiathar.]
Anathoth <06068> [Anathoth.]
deserve ... die <04194 0376> [worthy of death. Heb. a man of death.]
carry <05375> [barest.]
suffered ..... through .... difficult <06031> [hast been.]
Solomon <08010> [So Solomon.]
This was for having taken part with Adonijah; but by it a remarkable prophecy was fulfilled. God had told Eli, (1 Sa 2:30-36) that the priesthood should depart from his house; Abiathar was the last of the priests of Ithamar, of which family was Eli the high priest. Zadok, who succeeded, was of the family of Eleazar; and by this change the priesthood reverted to its ancient channel.
fulfilling <04390> [that he.]
Shiloh <07887> [Shiloh.]
Joab ... Joab ... supported ....... supported ... he <03097 05186> [Joab had.]
grabbed hold <02388> [caught.]
beside <0681> [he is by.]
<03212> [Go.]
Do <06213> [Do.]
away <05493> [that thou.]
Joab's <03097> [which.]
family <01004> [and from.]
<07725> [return.]
innocent <06662> [more righteous.]
father <01> [my father.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
Amasa <06021> [Amasa.]
Jether <03500> [Jether.]
[Ithra.]
David <01732> [upon David.]
family <01004> [his house.]
Benaiah <01141> [Benaiah.]
executed <06293> [and fell.]
It appears that he slew him at the very altar. The altar was so sacred among all the people, that, in general, even the vilest wretch found safety, if he once reached it. This led to many abuses, and the perversion of public justice; and God decreed (Ex 24:14) that the presumptuous murderer, who had taken refuge at his altar, should be dragged thence and put to death.
buried <06912> [buried.]
wilderness <04057> [in the.]
army <06635> [in his room.]
Zadok <06659> [Zadok.]
Shimei <08096> [Shimei.]
Build <01129> [Build.]
No doubt Solomon suspected that Shimei's influence would be dangerous upon his own estate and among his numerous dependents in different parts of the land; and therefore he proposed to him, as the condition of his indemnity for former crimes, that he should live in Jerusalem under his eye, and by no means remove thence. These terms Shimei readily agreed to, and solemnly swore to observe them; and for three years he lived unmolested and in affluence. But growing secure, in contempt of Solomon's authority and of the oath of God, upon an unnecessary business he took a journey, which according to his own engagement forfeited his life. Thus the Lord left him to be infatuated, that due punishment might be inflicted upon him; in order that every ringleader of opposition to Solomon's kingdom might be crushed, and others be intimidated by their examples. Solomon's throne by the death of this man was established in peace, and became a type of the Redeemer's kingdom of peace and righteousness.--SCOTT.
cross .... Valley <05674 05158> [over the.]
[Cedron. thy blood.]
proposal <01697> [The saying.]
Achish <0397> [A.M. 2993. B.C. 1011. An. Ex. Is. 480. Achish.]
got <06965> [arose.]
oath <07650> [Did I not.]
said .................... warned ................... said <0559> [and thou saidst.]
broken <08104> [Why.]
order <04687> [commandment.]
aware <03045> [Thou knowest.]
punish <07725> [return.]
be empowered <01288> [blessed.]
dynasty <03678> [the throne.]
kingdom <04467> [the kingdom.]
