1 Kings 2:17

_HE SAID MOREOVER, I HAVE SOMEWHAT TO SAY UNTO THEE. AND SHE SAID, SAY ON._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

12-25 Solomon received Bathsheba with all the respect that was owing to a mother; but let none be asked for that which they ought not to grant. It ill becomes a good man to prefer a bad request, or to appear in a bad cause. According to eastern customs it was plain that Adonijah sought to be king, by his asking for Abishag as his wife, and Solomon could not be safe while he lived. Ambitious, turbulent spirits commonly prepare death for themselves. Many a head has been lost by catching at a crown....

Verse 1 Kings 2:17. _THAT HE GIVE ME ABISHAG - TO WIFE._] He cheerfully gives up all right to the kingdom, and only desires to have this young woman, who, though she had been his father's wife or concubine, was still in a state of virginity. Some think that Joab and Abiathar had advised Adonijah to make this application, not doubting, if he got Abishag, that the popular tide would again turn in his favour, and that Solomon, whom they did not like, might soon be deposed; and that it was on this account that Solomon was so severe. But there is little evidence to support these conjectures. It does not appear that Adonijah by desiring to have Abishag had any thought of the kingdom, or of maintaining any right to it, though Solomon appears to have understood him in this sense. But without farther evidence, this was a flimsy pretext to imbrue his hands in a brother's blood. The fable of the...

EXPOSITION ADONIJAH'S INTRIGUE. 1 KINGS 2:12 AND SOLOMON SATE ON THE THRONE OF DAVID HIS FATHER, AND HIS KINGDOM [_i.e; _dominion, sway] was established greatly. [Cf. 2 Chronicles 1:1, 2 Chronicles 1:2. This verse serves as a kind of heading or introduction to the rest of the chapter. It was principally by the removal of rivals and disaffected persons that his sway was established. 1 KINGS 2:13 AND ADONIJAH, the son of Haggith, came to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon....

AND HE SAID, SPEAK, I PRAY THEE, UNTO SOLOMON THE KING,.... He owns him to be king, and which he the rather did to engage her to take his suit in hand, and to cover his design: FOR HE WILL NOT SAY THEE NAY; or turn away thy face, or deny thy request; she being his mother, for whom he had a great affection, and to whom he was under obligation on all accounts: THAT HE GIVE ME ABISHAG THE SHUNAMMITE TO WIFE; which was contrary to the law of God, Leviticus 18:8; which surely Adonijah must have been ignorant of, and Bathsheba likewise; or the one would never have made such a request, nor the other have undertaken to try to obtain it; but perhaps they did not take her to be David's wife, or the marriage to be consummated, because he knew her not: but yet not being returned to her father's house, and being at the dispose of Solomon, prove that she must be a

II. SOLOMON'S GLORIOUS REIGN. HIS FAILURE AND END 1. The Righteous judgment of Solomon CHAPTER 2:12-46) _ 1. Solomon upon the throne (1 Kings 2:12)_ 2. Adonijah's request (1 Kings 2:13) 3. Bath-sheba before Solomon (1 Kings 2:19) 4. Solomon's answer and sentence upon Adonijah (1 Kings 2:22) 5. Adonijah executed (1 Kings 2:25) 6. Abiathar thrust out (1 Kings 2:26) 7. Joab and Shimei executed ...

DEATH OF DAVID; SOLOMON ESTABLISHED ON HIS THRONE. The main source of this chapter is the same as that of 1, but interspersed are Deuteronomic additions (1 Kings 2:3 f., 1 Kings 2:10; 1 Kings 2:27). The authenticity of David's advice to Solomon has been disputed, especially the reasons given for procuring Joab's execution. Judged by any standard it places his character in an unamiable light. Solomon was advised to find a pretext for putting Joab and Shimei to death, and perfidy is inculcated as wisdom (1 Kings 2:6; 1 Kings 2:9). Without attempting to justify its mo

SAY THEE NAY. turn away thy face. See note above....

_that he give me Abishag_ It is highly probable that the construction which Solomon put upon Adonijah's request was the true one, for in the East the widows of the late king become the wives of his successor, and to marry, or seek to marry, such a widow is equivalent to putting forward a claim to the throne. Cf. God's message to David (2 Samuel 12:8) -I gave thee … thy master's wives into thy bosom," and also the threatening in the verses which follow that passage. See too 1 Kings 20:7; 2 Kings 24:15. Peter Martyr in his comment on this verse gives, as an illustration of the proud aspirations which are sometimes fostered by marriage with a royal widow, the case of Admiral Seymour, who married Catharine Parr, the widow of H

II. ADONIJAH'S SECOND CONSPIRACY AGAINST SOLOMON 2:13-35 At the collapse of his first conspiracy, Solomon had magnanimously spared the life of Adonijah. The traitor was spared on condition that he _show himself a worthy man_ and not get involved in any political intrigue again. Adonijah should have learned his lesson. But apparently he never relinquished his claim to the throne, nor overlooked any possibility of undermining his brother. The present paragraph describes (1) the subtle plot devised by Adonijah (1 Kings 2:13-18); (2) the innocent petition made on his behalf by Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:19-21); and (3) the stern punishment meted out by Solomon (1 Kings 2:22-25). A. THE PLOT DEVISED