1 Kings 1:37

_AND BENAIAH THE SON OF JEHOIADA ANSWERED THE KING, AND SAID, AMEN: THE LORD GOD OF MY LORD THE KING SAY SO TOO._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

32-53 The people expressed great joy and satisfaction in the elevation of Solomon. Every true Israelite rejoices in the exaltation of the Son of David. Combinations formed upon evil principles will soon be dissolved, when self-interest calls another way. How can those who do evil deeds expect to have good tidings? Adonijah had despised Solomon, but soon dreaded him. We see here, as in a glass, Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God, exalted to the throne of glory, notwithstanding all his enemies. His kingdom is far greater than that of his father David, and therein all the true people of God cordially rejoice. The prosperity of his cause is vexation and terror to his enemies. No horns of the altar, nor forms of godliness, nor pretences to religion, can profit those who will not submit to His authority, and accept of his salvation; and if their submission be hypocritical, they shall p...

Verse 1 Kings 1:37. _MAKE HIS THRONE GREATER THAN THE THRONE OF - DAVID._] A wish of this kind a _king_ will suffer in behalf of his _son_, but it is never in ordinary cases considered a _compliment_ to say, "I hope this child will make a better man than his father," because it seems to insinuate some reflections on his father's conduct or character. Many foolish people deal in such compliments, and they may rest assured, for the reasons given above, that they are far from being either welcome or agreeable. Claudian, in his panegyric _De Quarto Consulatu Honorii Augusti_, ver. 428, has words something similar to those of Benaiah, when he describes a father, worn out with toils and difficulties, committing the reins of government to the hands of his son:- Adspice, completur votum: jam natus adaequat Te meritis; et, quod magis est opta

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 Genesis 26:3, Genesis 26:24 and Jacob Genesis 28:13. See further margin reference....

EXPOSITION THE REVOLT OF ADONIJAH AND THE ACCESSION OF SOLOMON.—The first chapter of this book is occupied with the accession of Solomon and with the circumstances which preceded, marked, and followed that event. The author, or compiler, evidently considered that his work properly began with the reign of Israel's third king, and David's illness and death are only introduced into the narrative because they necessitated a hasty and premature coronation of Solomon, and exercised an important influence on the beginning of his reign (1 Kings 2:1). In the natural order of events, Solomon would not have succeeded until his father's death, but Adonijah's attempt to possess himself of the kingdom required the immediate elevation of Sol

AS THE LORD HATH BEEN WITH MY LORD THE KING, EVEN SO BE HE WITH SOLOMON,.... To guide and direct him, protect and defend him, succeed and prosper him the Targum is, "as the Word of the Lord has been the help of my lord the king, so let him be for the help of Solomon:'' AND MAKE HIS THRONE GREATER THAN THE THRONE OF MY LORD KING DAVID: which he knew would not displease David, who not only had an affectionate regard for Solomon his son, but wished heartily the prosperity of the kingdom of Israel; and the wish on all accounts was grateful to him, though to an envious and ambitious prince it might have been disagreeable....

2. THE ANOINTING OF SOLOMON AND ADONIJAH'S SUBMISSION CHAPTER 1:28-53 _ 1. The renewed promise to Bath-sheba (1 Kings 1:28)_ 2. The anointing of Solomon commanded (1 Kings 1:32) 3. Solomon made king (1 Kings 1:38) 4. The consternation of Adonijah (1 Kings 1:41) 5. Adonijah's fear and submission (1 Kings 1:50) Bath-sheba had withdrawn while Nathan was before the king. She is called back and David once more assures her that Solomon her son should reign after him. Then David commands that Solomon

LAST DAYS OF DAVID AND ACCESSION OF SOLOMON. This chapter with the following has many analogies with the court history of David (2 Samuel 11-20). The narrative bears every sign of an authentic account of actual events, told with complete impartiality, and without any attempt to comment favourably or otherwise on the events related. David is represented as a very aged man nursed by his youngest wife, Abishag the Shunammite (1 Kings 1:3). Her beauty is especially noticed as it may have caused the death of David's son, Adonijah. Shunem, her native place, was a slope overlooking the plain of Esdraelon near Jezreel, and she is the Shulammite in the Song of Songs (Ca. 1 Kings 6:13). The pivot around which all revolves is the succession. The chief claimant was Adonijah the son of Haggith ...

_so be he_ i.e. -So let him be." The Massoretic note corrects into -so shall he be," which makes nonsense of the verse. _make his throne greater than the throne of my lord_ No doubt David's faithful servants knew of the large promises which God had made to Solomon already, and that the heart of the king was gladdened at the thought of the future glory of his son (1 Chronicles 17:11-27). They had therefore no fear of David's anger when they used words such as these. That Solomon's kingdom and grandeur did surpass David's may be seen from the narratives in 1 Kings 10. and 2 Chronicles 9....

I. THE CORONATION OF SOLOMON 1:28-53 The impassioned plea of Bathsheba and the timely confirmation of Nathan served to impress the ailing king with the urgency of royal action in favor of Solomon. David decreed that Solomon should immediately be taken to the spring Gihon and anointed king. By this swift action Adonijah's conspiracy was nipped in the bud. In discussing this crucial coronation the author speaks of (1) the authorization by David (1 Kings 1:28-37); (2) the anointing of Solomon (1 Kings 1:38-40); and (3) the apprehension which seized Adonijah and his crew when news of the anointing reached them (1 Kings 1:41-53). A. THE AUTHORIZATION BY DAVID 1:28-37 In order for Solomon's cor