1 Kings 2:26

_AND UNTO ABIATHAR THE PRIEST SAID THE KING, GET THEE TO ANATHOTH, UNTO THINE OWN FIELDS; FOR THOU ART WORTHY OF DEATH: BUT I WILL NOT AT THIS TIME PUT THEE TO DEATH, BECAUSE THOU BAREST THE ARK OF THE LORD GOD BEFORE DAVID MY FATHER, AND BECAUSE THOU HAST BEEN AFFLICTED IN ALL WHEREIN MY FATHER WAS AFFLICTED._ Unto Abiathar ... said the king. This functionary, as the counselor or accomplice of Adonijah, had deserved to share his fate. But partly from regard to his priestly dignity, and partly from his long association with the late king, Solomon pronounced on him the mitigated sentence of banishment to his country estate at Anathoth, about three miles distant from Jerusalem ('Anata), and thereby, as God's vicegerent in the theocratic kingdom, deprived him of his office and its emoluments, for opposing the declared will of God in the settlement of the succession (1 Ch

26-34 Solomon's words to Abiathar, and his silence, imply that some recent conspiracies had been entered into. Those that show kindness to God's people shall have it remembered to their advantage. For this reason Solomon spares Abiathar's life, but dismisses him from his offices. In case of such sins as the blood of beasts would atone for, the altar was a refuge, but not in Joab's case. Solomon looks upward to God as the Author of peace, and forward to eternity as the perfection of it. The Lord of peace himself gives us that peace which is everlasting....

For Anathoth and the allusions in this verse, see the margin reference....

EXPOSITION THE DEPOSITION OF ABIATHAR AND THE DEATH OF JOAB. 1 KINGS 2:26 AND UNTO ABIATHAR THE PRIEST [see note on 1 Kings 1:8. The historian now relates the end of Adonijah's confederates] SAID THE KING, GET THEE TO ANATHOTH [The Heb. is extremely curt and authoritative, corresponding well with the anger and determination of the speaker. Anathoth, the home of Abiathar, was also the residence of another high priest, Hilkiah (Jeremiah 1:1). It was in Benjamin, a priests' city, and had suburbs (Jer 21:1

AND UNTO ABIATHAR THE PRIEST SAID THE KING,.... Who was either at court, or he sent for him, and thus addressed him: GET THEE TO ANATHOTH; a city of the tribe of Benjamin, given to the priests, Joshua 21:18; of which place Abiathar might be originally, and whither he is bid to return: UNTO THINE OWN FIELDS; which belonged to him there, either by inheritance or purchase; and these he was to mind, and not perform the functions of his office, however as high priest, and at Jerusalem, and the tabernacle there, and still less appear at court, or meddle with state affairs, only to attend to his private domestic concerns: FOR THOU [ART] WORTHY OF DEATH; in joining with Adonijah in the lifetime of David, and setting him up as a king without his knowledge, and in opposition to Solomon, contrary to the will of God, and promise of David, of whi

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

ANATHOTH. Compare Joshua 21:18. FIELDS. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "estate". WORTHY OF DEATH. Hebrew idiom. "a man of death". doomed to death. Hebrew. _'ish._ App-14. LORD GOD. Adonai Jehovah. App-4. (2)....

Punishment of Abiathar (Not in Chronicles) 26. _Get thee_to _Anathoth_ This city was in the tribe of Benjamin, and has been identified by Robinson with _Anáta_at the distance of 1¼ hours N.N.E. of Jerusalem. It is mentioned as a priest's city with suburbs in Joshua 21:18; 1 Chronicles 6:60, and Jeremiah was sprung from -the priests that were in Anathoth" (Jeremiah 1:1). Here Abiathar must have had some ground, and to this Solomon banished him. We find that the cousin of Jeremiah, Hanameel, possessed land at Anathoth, which Jeremiah purchased (Jeremiah 32:6-12). _worthy of death_ Hebrew, a

AND UNTO ABIATHAR—SAID THE KING, GET THEE TO ANATHOTH, &C.— How far the high-priest Abiathar was concerned in the plot against Solomon, the sacred history does not particularly inform us: but such was the reverence paid to the sacerdotal character, that Solomon would have hardly dared to have deposed such a one, had not the constitution of the nation authorized him to do so. When Abiathar, by his conspiracy, had merited severe punishment, Solomon might lawfully take from him all the revenues of his place, as well as the liberty of officiating in it: but the sacerdotal office, which he received from God, and to which he was anointed, he could not alienate; and therefore we may observe, that after his deprivation, and even when Zadok was in possession of his place, he is nevertheless still mentioned under the style and title of _the priest;_ ch. 1 Kings 4:4. The truth is, there is a great