Albert Barnes

But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled…

“One of the sons of Barzillai here intended was probably Chimham (see the margin reference). Who the others were is not known. The family continued down to the return from the captivity, and still held property in Israel (compare Ezr 2:61 and Neh 7:63).”

Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man.

“Hold him not guiltless - i. e. “Do not treat him as an innocent man. Punish him as in thy wisdom thou deemest best.”

The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

“Forty years - In all forty years and six months. See 2Sa 5:5, and 1Ch 3:4. The Jewish writers almost universally omit the fractions of a year.”

So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.

“The “establishment” of the kingdom here intended is probably its universal acceptance both by the tribe of Judah and the other Israelites.”

So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne.

“A seat - Or, “a throne.” We have here a proof of the high dignity of the Queen-mother. Compare also 1Ki 15:13; 2Ki 11:1-3. In the Persian court the Queen-mother had often the chief power.”

King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah?

“Ask for him the kingdom also - Bath-sheba had not seen anything dangerous or suspicious in Adonijah’s request. Solomon, on the contrary, takes alarm at once. To ask for Abishag was to ask for the kingdom.”

Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life.

“Against his own life - Adonijah had forfeited his life by his former conduct, and his pardon had been merely conditional 1Ki 1:52.”

And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as…

“The phrase “making a house” means “continuing the posterity” of a person, and, in the case of a royal person, “maintaining his descendants upon the throne.””

So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli.

“That he might fulfil the word of the L RD - We need not understand this as stating that the fulfillment of the old prophecy was Solomon’s motive, or even one of his motives.”

And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood…

“It was only a murderer to whom the tabernacle was to be no protection (margin reference). Hence, the reference to the “innocent blood.””

And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

“The high priesthood had been for some time in a certain sense divided between Zadok and Abiathar. (See the 1Ki 1:8 note). Henceforth, Zadok became sole high priest.”

the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD and warn you, ‘On the day you leave and go elsewhere, know for…

“Did I not make thee to swear - The Septuagint add to 1Ki 2:37 a clause stating that Solomon “made Shimei swear” on the day when he commanded him to reside at Jerusalem.”

Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter.

“What Pharaoh is meant is uncertain. It must have been a predecessor of Shishak (or Sheshonk), who invaded Judaea more than 40 years later 1Ki 14:25; and probabilities are in favor, not of Psusennes II, the last king of Manetho’s 21st dynasty, but of Psinaces…”

Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there.

“Gibeon - The transfer to Gibeon of the “tabernacle of the congregation,” and the brass “altar of burnt offerings” made by Moses, which were removed there from Nob (compare 1Sa 21:6, with marginal references “i,” “k”), had made it “the great high-place,” more sacred, i.”

And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place.

“See 1Ki 2:2 note, and on the hyperbole contained in the phrase “little child,” compare Gen 43:8; Exo 33:11. How to go out or come in - This expression is proverbial for the active conduct of affairs. (See the marginal reference.)”

Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.

“Compare the marginal references. Solomon regards the promises as fulfilled in the existing greatness and glory of the Jewish nation.”

Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

“One of the chief functions of the Oriental monarch is always to hear and decide causes. Hence, supreme magistrates were naturally called “judges.” (See the introduction to the Book of Judges.)”

Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request.

“Although Solomon’s choice was made “in a dream” 1Ki 3:5, we must regard it as springing from his will in some degree, and therefore as indicative of his moral character.”

So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment…

“Thine enemies - e. g. Hadad the Edomite 1Ki 11:14-22 and Rezon the son of Eliadah 1Ki 11:23-25, whom Solomon might well have wished to remove.”

So if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”

“I will lengthen thy days - The promise here was only conditional. As the condition was not observed 1Ki 11:1-8, the right to the promise was forfeited, and it was not fulfilled. Solomon can scarcely have been more than fifty-nine or sixty at his death.”

Then Solomon awoke, and indeed it had been a dream. So he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and…

“Solomon determined to inaugurate his reign by a grand religious ceremonial at each of the two holy places which at this time divided between them the reverence of the Jews.”

So King Solomon ruled over Israel,

“Solomon, that is, was king over “all Israel” from the first; not like David, who for seven and a half years reigned over Judah only.”

Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

“Shisha, or Shavsha 1Ch 18:16, seems also to have been called Sheva 2Sa 20:25, and Seraiah 2Sa 8:17. The “scribes” were probably royal “secretaries” (margin), who drew up the king’s edicts, wrote his letters, and perhaps managed his finances 1Ki 12:10.”

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

“It is curious to find Abiathar in this list of princes, after what has been said of his disgrace 1Ki 2:27, 1Ki 2:35. Some have supposed that after a while Solomon pardoned him.”

Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king;

“The son of Nathan - It is uncertain whether the Nathan of this verse is the prophet or the son of David 2Sa 5:14.”