1 Kings 1:40

_AND ALL THE PEOPLE CAME UP AFTER HIM, AND THE PEOPLE PIPED WITH PIPES, AND REJOICED WITH GREAT JOY, SO THAT THE EARTH RENT WITH THE SOUND OF THEM._ All the people came up after him - i:e., from the valley to the citadel of Zion, through the Jaffa gate, close by the castle of David. AND ... PIPED WITH PIPES., [The _ CHAALIYL_ (H2485) was a pipe made of a reed, with perforations at the side.] The Hebrew pipe was probably borrowed from that of the Egyptians, being of the same form and length, and seems to have been always used by the Hebrews on all occasions of joy and festivity....

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 1:40. _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....

PIPED WITH PIPES - Some prefer “danced with dances” - a meaning which the Hebrew would give by a change in the pointing, and the alteration of one letter. But the change is unnecessary. (Flutepipes were known to the Israelites 1 Samuel 10:5; they were very ancient in Egypt, and were known also to the Assyrians. THE EARTH RENT - If the present Hebrew text is correct we have here a strong instance of Oriental hyperbole. But it is suspected that there is a slight corruption, and that the verb really used meant “resounded.”...

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

AND ALL THE PEOPLE CAME UP AFTER HIM,.... Following him from the fountain to the city, with their loud acclamations: AND THE PEOPLE PIPED WITH PIPES; which were hollow instruments, and full of holes which they blew with their mouths, and upon with their fingers; Jarchi says they were and very probably: AND REJOICED WITH GREAT JOY; which they expressed by such loud shouts: SO THAT THE EARTH RENT WITH THE SOUND THEREOF; an hyperbolical expression, showing the great numbers gathered together on this occasion, and the sonorous acclamations they made....

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 ...

PIPED WITH PIPES. playing loudly on pipes. Figure of speech _Polyptoton_ App-6. REJOICED WITH GREAT JOY. greatly rejoiced. THE EARTH RENT. Figure of speech _Hyperbole_. App-6....

_piped with pipes_ The LXX. adopting some slight alteration of the Hebrew, renders -danced in dances." And Josephus speaks of the people (_Antiq_. vii. 14, 5) as -dancing and playing on pipes"; thus shewing a desire to combine both readings. That the Israelites were likely to have _pipes_on such an occasion seems probable from 1 Samuel 10:5, where they are enumerated among the instruments used by the company of prophets. _rent with the sound_ The Hebrew text implies -cleaving asunder" and must, if correct, be taken as hyperbolic: that it is correct seems clear from the LXX. which has -was broken asunder" (ἐῤῥάγη), though a slight change in the letters of the Hebrew (reading תקע for בקע) would give the meaning which the Vulgate has, -insonuit," i.e. resounded. Josephus appears thus to have understood the phrase, whatever reading he had, for he writes -from the multitude of