1 Kings1chapter 1

1 Kings 1:1

“Now - Rather, “and.” The conjunction has here, probably, the same sort of connecting force which it has at the opening of Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, etc., and implies that the historian regards his work as a continuation of a preceding history. King David - The expression “king David,” instead of the simpler “David,” is characteristic of the writer of Kings. (See the introduction to the Book of Kings) The phrase is comparatively rare in Chronicles and Samuel. Stricken in, years - David was perhaps now in his first year.”

1 Kings 1:2

“Secondly, it appears from this phrase of lying in his bosom, which is everywhere in scripture mentioned as the privilege of a wife. Thirdly, this made Adonijah's crime in desiring her to wife, so heinous in Solomon's account, because he saw, that by marrying the king's wife he designed to revive his pretense to the kingdom.”

1 Kings 1:3

“Once David had been a man of war, but at seventy, age had chilled him so that nothing would make him warm. A girl is accordingly sought from the coasts of Israel—Abishag the Shunammite—to sleep with the king and warm his aged frame. Does it not seem to you—if you keep to the letter that kills—like some farcical story or some broad jest from an Atellan play? A chilly old man is wrapped up in blankets and only grows warm in a girl's embrace.”

1 Kings 1:5

“The narrative concerning - Abishag, the Shunammite (see the margin reference “a”), is introduced as necessary for a proper understanding of Adonijah’s later history (see 1Ki 2:13-25.) But even as it stands, it heightens considerably the picture drawn of the poor king’s weak and helpless condition, of which Adonijah was not ashamed to take advantage for his own aggrandizement. Adonijah was born while David reigned at Hebron, and was therefore now between thirty-three and forty years of age. He was David’s fourth son, but had probably become the eldest by the death of his three older brothers.”

1 Kings 1:5

“This entail Adonijah attempted by force to cut off, in contempt both of God and his father. Thus is the kingdom of Christ opposed, and there are those that say, "We will not have him to reign over us." 2.”

1 Kings 1:6

“Had not displeased him - i. e. “His father had never checked or thwarted him all his life.” A very goodly man - Here, too, Adonijah resembled Absalom 2Sa 14:25. The Jews, like the other nations of antiquity, regarded the physical qualities of rulers as of great importance, and wished their kings to be remarkable for strength, stature, and beauty 1Sa 9:2. Adonijah’s personal advantages no doubt helped to draw the people to him. His mother ... - i. e. Haggith bare Adonijah after Maacah bare Absalom 2Sa 3:3-”

1 Kings 1:6

“Displeased him - This is noted as David's great error, and the occasion of Adonijah's presumption. Saying - He neither restrained him from, nor reproved him for his miscarriages: which David well knew was a great sin. Goodly man - This was a second ground of his confidence, because his great comeliness made him amiable in the peoples eyes.”

1 Kings 1:7

“Joab’s defection on this occasion, after his faithful adherence to David during the troubles caused by Absalom 2 Sam. 18:2-17, may be accounted for by his fear that Solomon would be a “man of rest” 1Ch 22:9 and by his preference for the character of Adonijah. He may also have thought that Adonijah, as the eldest son 1Ki 1:5, had almost a right to succeed. Abiathar’s defection is still more surprising than Joab’s. For his history, see 1Sa 22:20 note. Hereto, David and he had been the firmest of friends.”

1 Kings 1:8

“There is some difficulty in understanding how Zadok and Abiathar came to be both “priests” at this time, and in what relation they stood to one another. The best explanation seems to be that Abiathar was the real high priest, and officiated at the sanctuary containing the ark of the covenant in Zion, while Zadok performed the offices of chief priest at the tabernacle of Witness at Gibeon 1Ch 16:39. For Benaiah, see 2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 20:23; 2Sa 23:20-21. For Nathan, see 2Sa 7:2-3, 2Sa 7:17; 2Sa 12:1-15, 2Sa 12:”

1 Kings 1:9

“Adonijah’s feast was probably of a sacrificial character, and intended to inaugurate him as king. Compare the “sacrifices” of Absalom 2Sa 15:12. Zoheleth - No satisfactory explanation has been given of this name. Large blocks of stone always attract attention in the East, and receive names which are often drawn from some trivial circumstance. Sinai and Palestine are full of such “Hajars,” which correspond to the “Ebens” or “stones” of Holy Scripture. (Compare Gen 28:22; Jos 4:9; 1Sa 6:14.) For En-Rogel, see the margin reference.”

1 Kings 1:10

“But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. Did not invite them to this feast; not Nathan, who he might know had prophesied of Solomon's succession in the throne, and therefore it could not be thought he would be drawn over to him; nor "Benaiah and the mighty men"; David's bodyguards, over whom this officer was; and still less Solomon, his competitor and rival.”

1 Kings 1:11

The son of Haggith - Compare the margin reference. This expression was well chosen to touch the pride of Bath-sheba. “Adonijah; not thy son, but the son of thy rival, Haggith.”

1 Kings 1:11-27

“Adonijah, in common with the people generally, expected that this natural arrangement should be followed in the Hebrew kingdom as in all others. Nathan, who was aware of the old king's solemn promise to Solomon, and, moreover, that this promise was sanctioned by the divine will, saw that no time was to be lost.”

1 Kings 1:12

“Save thine own life, and the life of thy son - Nathan took for granted that Adonijah would put both Bath-sheba and Solomon to death as state criminals, if he got established on the throne. O cursed lust of rule! a father will destroy his son, a son depose his father, and a brother murder a brother, in order to obtain a crown! 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.”

1 Kings 1:12

“Such as this is the counsel that Christ's ministers give us in his name, to give all diligence, not only that no man take our crown ( Rev. iii. 11 ), but that we save our lives, even the lives of our souls.”

1 Kings 1:13

“Go and get thee in unto King David - He knew that this woman had a sovereign influence over the king. If Bath-sheba was a source of pleasure to David, must she not also have been a source of pain to him? For could he ever forget the guilty manner in which he acquired her? Didst not thou - swear - It is very likely that David made such an oath, and that was known only to Bath-sheba and Nathan. It is nowhere else mentioned.”

1 Kings 1:14

“Confirm thy words - “Establish” them, by giving a second testimony. Nathan thinks it best to move David’s affections first through Bath-sheba, before he comes in to discuss the matter as one of state policy, and to take the king’s orders upon it.”

1 Kings 1:15

“Into the chamber - The “bed-chamber” or “inner chamber.” Abishag was a disinterested witness present, who heard all that Bath-sheba said to David.”

1 Kings 1:16

Bath-sheba bowed, like the woman of Tekoah 2Sa 14:4, with the humble prostration of a suppliant. Hence, the king’s question, “What wouldest thou?”

1 Kings 1:20

“That thou shouldest tell - who shall sit on the throne - This was a monarchy neither hereditary nor elective; the king simply named his successor. This obtained less or more, anciently, in most countries.”

1 Kings 1:20

“A divine sentence is in the lips of the king. Note, Whatever power, interest or influence, men have, they ought to improve it to the utmost for the preserving and advancing of the kingdom of the Messiah, of which Solomon's kingdom was a type. She suggested the imminent peril which she and her son would be in if this matter was not settled in David's life-time,”

1 Kings 1:21

“Shall sleep - This euphemism for death, rare in the early Scriptures - being found only once in the Pentateuch (margin reference.), and once also in the historical books before Kings 2Sa 7:12 - becomes in Kings and Chronicles the ordinary mode of speech (see 1Ki 2:10; 1Ki 11:43, etc.; 2Ch 9:31; 2Ch 12:16, etc.). David uses the metaphor in one psalm Psa 13:3. In the later Scriptures it is, of course, common. (Jer 51:39; Dan 12:2; Mat 9:24; Joh 11:11; 1Co 11:30; 1Co 15:51; 1Th 4:14, etc.)”

1 Kings 1:22

“Nathan came into the palace, not into the chamber, where he might not enter unannounced. Bath-sheba retired before Nathan entered, in accordance with Oriental ideas of propriety. So, when Bath-sheba was again sent for 1Ki 1:28, Nathan retired (compare 1Ki 1:32).”

1 Kings 1:24

“Hast thou said - Thou hast said. In the original no question is asked. Nathan assumes, as far as words go, that the king has made this declaration. He wishes to draw forth a disclaimer.”

1 Kings 1:26

“But me - Whom he knew to be acquainted with thy mind, and with the mind of God in this matter: and therefore his neglect of me herein gives me cause to suspect that this is done without thy privity.”

1 Kings 1:27

“Shewed thy servant - Who, having been an instrument in delivering God's message to thee concerning thy successor, might reasonably expect that if the king had changed his mind, thou wouldest have acquainted me with it, as being both a prophet os the Lord, and one whom thou hast always found faithful to thee.”

1 Kings 1:28

“Call me Bath-sheba - She had gone out when Nathan came in, and he retired when she was re-admitted. Each had a separate audience, but to Nathan the king did not express any will.”

1 Kings 1:28-31

“Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath-sheba--He renews to her the solemn pledge he had given, in terms of solemnity and impressiveness which show that the aged monarch had roused himself to the duty the emergency called for. SOLOMON, BY DAVID'S APPOINTMENT, IS ANOINTED KING.”

1 Kings 1:29

“As the Lord liveth” was the most common form of oath among the Israelites (e. g. Jdg 8:19; 1Sa 14:39; 1Sa 19:6). It was unique to David to attach a further clause to this oath - a clause of thankfulness for some special mercy 1Sa 25:34, or for God’s constant protection of him (here and in 2Sa 4:9).

1 Kings 1:29

“Out of all distress - The words contain a grateful acknowledgement of the goodness of God to him, in bringing him safe through the many difficulties, which had lain in his way, and which he now mentions to the glory of God, (as Jacob when he lay a dying) thus setting to his seal, from his own experience that the Lord redeemeth the souls of his servants.”

1 Kings 1:30

“In the first place, he appoints Solomon as king, even though he had many sons, in order to confound the fools, who believed that nature is more valuable than a virtuous spirit before God. In the second place, he did this because he feared that …”

1 Kings 1:31

“A lower and humbler obeisance than before 1Ki 1:16. In the Assyrian sculptures ambassadors are represented with their faces actually touching the earth before the feet of the monarch.”

1 Kings 1:32

“And King David said, call me Zadok the priest,.... Not Abiathar the high priest, for he had joined Adonijah; and besides Zadok was David's favourite priest, and for him the high priesthood was designed, as it was in a little time translated to him: and Nathan the prophet; who very probably went out of the room when Bathsheba was called in: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; the captain of his guards: and they came before the king; who it is very likely sat up in his bed, and they stood around him.”

1 Kings 1:32

“The combination of the high priest, the prophet, and the captain of the bodyguard (the Cherethites and Pelethites, 1Ki 1:38), would show the people that the proceedings had the king’s sanction. The order of the names marks the position of the persons with respect to the matter in hand.”

1 Kings 1:33

“And the king said unto them, take ye the servants of your lord,.... Meaning his own servants, his bodyguards, the Cherethites and Pelethites, as appears from 1Ki 1:38; the Jews (a) from hence gather, that a king is superior to an high priest, since David calls himself the lord of Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet: and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule; for it seems on such a creature David used to ride, as did his sons; horses not being so common in Judea as they were afterwards.”

1 Kings 1:33

“Mules and horses seem to have been first employed by the Israelites in the reign of David, and the use of the former was at first confined to great personages 2Sa 13:29; 2Sa 18:9. The rabbis tell us that it was death to ride on the king’s mule without his permission; and thus it would be the more evident to all that the proceedings with respect to Solomon had David’s sanction.”

1 Kings 1:33

“This place David chose, either, as remote from Adonijah and his company, that so the people might be there without fear of tumults or bloodshed; or, to shew that Solomon was chosen king in opposition to Adonijah: or, because this was a place of great resort, and fit to receive and display that numerous company, which he knew would follow Solomon thither.”

1 Kings 1:34

“Anoint him - Inauguration into each of the three offices (those of prophet, priest, and king) typical of the Messiah or Anointed One, was by anointing with oil. Divine appointment had already instituted the rite in connection with the kingly office 2Sa 2:4; but after Solomon we have no express mention of the anointing of kings, except in the three cases of Jehu, Joash, and Jehoahaz 2Ki 9:6; 2Ki 11:12; 2Ki 23:30, who were all appointed irregularly.”

1 Kings 1:35

“Sit upon my throne - The matter of conducting a business of this kind seems to have been this: 1. The king elect was placed on the mule of his predecessor, and caused to ride abroad to one of the public wells, or to a river where there was the greatest concourse of people, that they might see who he was that was appointed. Solomon was here taken to the river Gihon, in order to be anointed; the continual stream or constantly running fountain, denoting the perpetuity of the kingdom.”

1 Kings 1:35

“Over Israel and over Judah - There is no anticipation here of the subsequent division of the kingdom; the antithesis between Judah and Israel already existed in the reign of David 2Sa 2:9; 2Sa 19:11.”

1 Kings 1:35

“Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne--The public recognition of the successor to the throne, during the old king's lifetime, is accordant with the customs of the East.”

1 Kings 1:37

“As the Lord hath been with my lord - This phrase expresses a very high degree of divine favor. It occurs first in the promises of God to Isaac Gen 26:3, Gen 26:24 and Jacob Gen 28:13. See further margin reference.”

1 Kings 1:38

“So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,.... The three men that David sent for on this occasion: and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; not the sanhedrim, as Ben Gersom, but David's guards, over whom Benaiah was: these went down; from Jerusalem; and caused Solomon to ride upon King David's mule; as he had ordered: and brought him to Gihon; or Siloah, as the Targum; hence the Jews say (e), they do not anoint a king but at a fountain; but this is the only instance of it. (e) T. Bab. Ceritot, fol.”

1 Kings 1:38-40

“No time was lost, but Solomon was brought in state to the place appointed, and there Zadok (who, though he was not as yet high priest, was, we may suppose, the suffragan, the Jews called him the sagan, or second priest) anointed him by the direction of Nathan the prophet and David the king,”

1 Kings 1:39

“Moreover, you should know that in the old Scripture there lies the symbol of this Chrism. For what time Moses imparted to his brother the command of God, and made him High-priest, after bathing in water, he anointed him; and Aaron was called Christ or Anointed, evidently from the typical Chrism. So also the High-priest, in advancing Solomon to the kingdom, anointed him after he had bathed in Gihon. To them however these things happened in a figure, but to you not in a figure, but in truth; because ye were truly anointed by the Holy Ghost.”

1 Kings 1:39

“The tabernacle - Probably that which David had made for the ark of the covenant on Mount Zion 2Sa 6:17. For the holy oil, see the margin reference. That it was part of the regular furniture of the tabernacle appears from Exo 31:11; Exo 39:38.”

1 Kings 1:40

“The people piped with pipes - They danced, sang, and played on what instruments of music they possessed. The earth rent - We use a similar expression in precisely the same sense: They rent the air with their cries.”

1 Kings 1:42

“Jonathan had acted in a similar capacity, as a carrier of intelligence, in the time of Absalom’s attempt 2Sa 15:36; 2Sa 17:17; but at that time, like his father, he was faithful to David, and “a valiant man,” “a virtuous man,” or “a man of worth.” (See 1Ki 1:52; Pro 12:4.)”

1 Kings 1:43

“And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, verily,.... Or, "nay, but" (k) it is not so as you imagine; it is not good tidings, but bad tidings to thee I bring: our lord King David hath made Solomon king; of which he gives the following account in proof of it. (k) אבל "nequaquam", V. L. Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.”

1 Kings 1:47

“The king bowed himself - The king worshipped God and prayed that it might be so. Compare Gen 47:31, with margin reference, Heb 11:21.”

1 Kings 1:48

“Blessed, &c. - It is a great satisfaction to good men, when they are going out of the world, to see their children rising up in their stead, to serve God and their generation: and especially to see peace upon Israel, and the establishment of it.”

1 Kings 1:50

“Adonijah feared - He knew he had usurped the kingdom, and had not his father’s consent; and, as he finds now that Solomon is appointed by David, he knows well that the people will immediately respect that appointment, and that his case is hopeless; he therefore took sanctuary, and, fleeing to the tabernacle, laid hold on one of the horns of the altar, as if appealing to the protection of God against the violence of men. The altar was a privileged place, and it was deemed sacrilege to molest a man who had taken refuge there. See 1Ki 2:28.”

1 Kings 1:50-53

“The horns or projections at the four corners of the altar, to which the sacrifices were bound, and which were tipped with the blood of the victim, were symbols of grace and salvation to the sinner. Hence the altar was regarded as a sanctuary (Ex 21:14), but not to murderers, rebels, or deliberate perpetrators.”

1 Kings 1:51

“He owns Solomon for his prince, and himself his servant, dares not justify himself, but makes supplication to his judge. It was a great change with him. He that in the morning was grasping at a crown is before night begging for his life.”

1 Kings 1:52

"Not one of his hairs shall fall to the ground," that is, he shall not undergo any punishment of the guilty, if he proves to be innocent; but he will deserve capital punishment, if he is found to conspire against my sovereignty. Indeed, if he …

1 Kings 1:52-53

“Adonijah is sent for, and told upon what terms he stands, which he signifies his grateful submission to, and then is told to go to his house and live retired there. Solomon not only gave him his life, but his estate, thus establishing his throne by mercy.”

1 Kings 1:53

“Go to thine house - Intimating that he should have no place about the king’s person, nor under the government. Adonijah must have seen that he stood continually on his good behavior. Friar Bacon’s method of restoring and strengthening the Natural Heat “I have read many volumes of the wise: I find few things in physic which restore the natural heat, weakened by dissolution of the innate moisture, or increase of a foreign one. “But certain wise men have tacitly made mention of some medicine, which is likened to that which goes out of the mine of the noble animal.”