1 Kings 2:4

_THAT THE LORD MAY CONTINUE HIS WORD WHICH HE SPAKE CONCERNING ME, SAYING, IF THY CHILDREN TAKE HEED TO THEIR WAY, TO WALK BEFORE ME IN TRUTH WITH ALL THEIR HEART AND WITH ALL THEIR SOUL, THERE SHALL NOT FAIL THEE (SAID HE) A MAN ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL._ There shall not fail thee ... a man on the throne of Israel - a reference to the promise made to David, of his sovereignty being vested perpetually in his lineage (2 Samuel 7:11), which was confirmed to Solomon afterward (see the notes at 1 Kings 9:5), and repeated with reference to its spiritual meaning long after (Jeremiah 33:17)....

1-4 David's charge to Solomon is, to keep the charge of the Lord. The authority of a dying father is much, but nothing to that of a living God. God promised David that the Messiah should come from his descendants, and that promise was absolute; but the promise, that there should not fail of them a man on the throne of Israel, was conditional; if he walks before God in sincerity, with zeal and resolution: in order hereunto, he must take heed to his way....

Verse 1 Kings 2:4. _THAT THE LORD MAY CONTINUE HIS WORD_] The prosperity which God has promised to grant to my family will depend on their faithfulness to the good they receive; if they live to God, they shall sit for ever on the throne of Israel. But alas! they did not; and God's justice cut off the entail made by his mercy....

THAT THE LORD MAY CONTINUE HIS WORD - The original promise given to David indirectly, through Nathan 2 Samuel 7:11, and apparently unconditional, afterward was made conditional upon continued obedience. (See the margin reference “f.”) David reminds Solomon of this, in order to impress upon him a powerful motive to continue faithful and obedient....

EXPOSITION THE LAST WORDS AND DEATH OF DAVID.—The death of David, and of course the charge which preceded it, did not follow immediately (as the casual reader might be tempted to suppose) on the events related in 1 Kings 1:1. We find from 1 Chronicles 23-29:23, that the aged king recovered sufficient strength to leave his sick room, to gather round him the princes of Israel (1 Chronicles 23:9), to make a number of fresh arrangements respecting the priests and Levites and the services of the sanctuary, and even to "stand up upon his feet" (1 Chronicles 28:2) and address a la

THAT THE LORD MAY CONTINUE HIS WORD WHICH HE SPAKE CONCERNING ME,.... his word of promise concerning the kingdom of David, and the succession of it, and confirm and establish it: SAYING, IF THY CHILDREN TAKE HEED TO THEIR WAY; they are directed to walk in, even the way of the Lord, and not turn to the right hand or the left: TO WALK BEFORE ME IN TRUTH: in the sincerity and integrity of their hearts, according to the word of truth, and under the influence of the spirit of truth: WITH ALL THEIR HEART, AND WITH ALL THEIR SOUL; in the most cordial manner, with the strongest affection and zeal; with all eagerness and earnestness; with their whole hearts engaged in every duty performed by them: then the Lord said, THERE SHALL NOT FAIL THEE A MAN ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL; one to succeed him in the throne; this, with respect to his throne, literally considered, was conditional; but, spiritual...

3. DAVID'S CHARGE TO SOLOMON AND DAVID'S END CHAPTER 2:1-11 _ 1. David's charge (1 Kings 2:1)_ 2. David's end (1 Kings 2:10) We call attention again to 1 Chronicles 28 and 29 where we find the record of the great assembly of all the princes of Israel and David's great address to them. He then made known to all Israel that the LORD had chosen Solomon to occupy the throne. He speaks there of the covenant promise, that his son should build the house of the LORD and His courts. He exhorted the people to keep the commandments and then spoke in tenderest words to young Solomon. “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind .

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

CONTINUE. establish. CHILDREN. sons. Compare 2 Samuel 7:8; 2 Samuel 7:11. SOUL. Hebrew. _nephesh_. App-13. FAIL. be cut off from....

_that the Lord may continue his word_ The verb is most commonly rendered -establish" and may be so translated here. Cf. 1 Samuel 1:23 where the same phrase occurs. The sense is of confirming and ratifying what has previously been promised. David is here looking forward to the generations that shall come after him, which fact the A. V. has endeavoured to make clear by the rendering -continue". The word, or promise, alluded to is found 2 Samuel 7:25-29. _saying, If thy children take heed to their way_ In the passage just mentioned where the promise is recorded there are none of these conditions specified; but we are sure that God's promise was not an unconditional one, and in his Psalms (Psalms 132:12)