1 Kings 2:23

_THEN KING SOLOMON SWARE BY THE LORD, SAYING, GOD DO SO TO ME, AND MORE ALSO, IF ADONIJAH HAVE NOT SPOKEN THIS WORD AGAINST HIS OWN LIFE._ God do so to me, and more also. The common form of introducing a solemn oath. ADONIJAH ... SPOKEN THIS WORD AGAINST HIS OWN LIFE. Whether there was a treasonable design concealed under this request or not, the act, according to Eastern notions, was criminal, and of dangerous consequence to the state. There is no ground of censure upon Solomon for cruelty or precipitation in this instance. He had pardoned Adonijah's former conspiracy; but this new attempt was rebellion against the viceroy appointed by the Divine King, and called for condign punishment. The office of executioner was, among the Hebrews, as in other ancient countries of the East, performed unceremoniously and privately-often without any previous warning-by the captain of the guard, or on...

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....

AGAINST HIS OWN LIFE - Adonijah had forfeited his life by his former conduct, and his pardon had been merely conditional 1 Kings 1:52....

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....

THEN KING SOLOMON SWARE BY THE LORD,.... To prevent his mother pressing him to have her petition granted: SAYING, GOD DO SO TO ME, AND MORE ALSO; lay such and such evils upon me, and more than I care to express: IF ADONIJAH HAVE NOT SPOKEN THIS WORD AGAINST HIS OWN LIFE; to his own prejudice, and even to the loss of his life; in which Solomon suggests it would issue, being a fresh overt act of treason; he knew, from what Bathsheba said, that this was his petition, and that he had spoken of this to her, and put her upon making it for him; and who no doubt related to Solomon the whole of the conversation that passed between them, and to which he seems to have some respect in his answer....

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

LIFE. soul. Hebrew. _nephesh_. App-13....

_God do so to me, and more also_ This is a very idiomatic rendering for the Hebrew, which is literally -Thus shall God do to me, and thus shall He add." The expression occurs again in 1Ki 19:2, 1 Kings 20:10, and in 2 Kings 6:31 as well as several times in the books of Samuel, and in Ruth 1:17....

C. THE PUNISHMENT ORDERED BY SOLOMON 2:22-25 TRANSLATION (22) And King Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why are you asking for Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well ask the kingdom for himbecause he is my older brothereven for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah. (23) Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, Thus may God do to me and even more if Adonijah has not spoken this thing against his life. (24) And now as the LORD lives who has established me, and caused me to sit upon the throne of my father David, and who has made for me a house as He promised, Today Adonijah shall be put to death. (25) And King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him and he died. COMMENTS While Bathsheba may have been gullible concerning Adonijah's request, Solomon was not. He exploded with anger when he hear...