1 Kings 2:2
_Flesh, to the tomb. Omnium idem exitus est, sed & idem domicilium. (Petronius) ---In life each follows his own course. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Flesh, to the tomb. Omnium idem exitus est, sed & idem domicilium. (Petronius) ---In life each follows his own course. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Charge, what he orders. --- Understand. Hebrew, "act prudently," (Menochius) or "with success," Greek interpreters (Calmet) and Chaldean. (Menochius) --- The observance of God's law, both in private and in public, will ensure to thee the title of a wise prince._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Truth and sincerity. (Calmet) --- This promise was made, 2 Kings vii. 16. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Joab. These instructions given by David to his son, with relation to Joab and Semei, proceeded not from any rancour of heart, or private pique; but from a zeal for justice: that crimes so public and heinous might not pass unpunished. (Challoner) --- David and Solomon esteemed themselves, in a manner... [ Continue Reading ]
_To hell. This word hell doth not signify the place or state of damnation; but the place and state of the dead. (Challoner) --- It would have been a great scandal if this murderer had died quietly in his old age. Joab had rendered great services to his uncle, for which he had been rewarded. He had b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Table, or of the meat, which had been served upon it; as was the custom at the court of Persia, Daniel i. 5. --- Brother. See 2 Kings xix. 31. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Curse. Saying, Go out, &c., 2 Kings xvi. 5. --- Camp. Hebrew Machanayim. (Haydock) --- Sword. He would revenge his private wrongs, but reserved the punishment of a notorious offender, till a time when passion would have no influence. Solomon was not bound by the personal oath of his father._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Man. Many have thought that Solomon was only 12 years old. (Eusebius, &c.) --- But the best chronologers suppose that he was about 20. God had blessed him with a happy disposition, which he adorned with various graces, chap. iii. 12., and Wisdom viii. 19._... [ Continue Reading ]
David. Thus died this perfect model of princes, and this great saint, whose only fault, of consequence, was occasioned by Bethsabee: (2 Kings xi. 4.) and this served to display his repentance. (St. Chrysostom, hom lxxvii.) --- He prefigured Jesus Christ in a wonderful manner; in his birth, at the sa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seven years. The odd six months are not mentioned, 2 Kings ii. 11. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sat, exercising the same authority, as he had done in his father's life-time, chap. i. 53. (Calmet) (St. Augustine, de C.[City of God?] xvii. 8.) (Salien, the year before Christ 1033.) --- The public assembly of Israel, convoked by David, had already sworn fidelity to him, 1 Paralipomenon xxviii. 1... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mine, according to the ordinary course of things. But I was willing to forego my claims, when I perceived that the Lord had made choice of my brother. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wife. Some think that Joab had instigated Adonias to make this petition, that his party might be strengthened. (Theodoret, q. 7.) But love might be his prompter. (Calmet) --- Bethsabee consented to further his petition, (Menochius) without suspecting any bad consequences. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_To her. Only fools will despise their parents, Proverbs xv. 20., Ecclesiasticus iii. 18., and Tobias iv. 3. The Persians would allow no one to sit in his mother's presence, without her leave; and Alexander would treat Sysigambis with the like respect. (Q. Curtius v.) --- Right hand. In the most hon... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy face, with confusion. He engages to grant her request, if it could be done with any propriety, (Calmet) as a son ought to do. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_The kingdom. It was a maxim in most of the oriental courts, that the things which had belonged to the king, should not be enjoyed by any but his successor. (Grotius) --- Hence Adonias might be suspected of ambitious projects, as his party was still formidable. (Calmet) --- The marriage seems also t... [ Continue Reading ]
_House. This generally denotes children, and Roboam was born this year. Some have considered his birth as miraculous, supposing that Solomon was not above 12 years old, ver. 9. (St. Jerome, Ep. ad Vital.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Banaias. The chief officers became executioners, on such occasions, Daniel ii. 24. The Romans employed soldiers; which makes Tertullian (Coron. xi.) dissuade Christians from entering the service._... [ Continue Reading ]
Priest. Sadoc had been anointed in his stead, probably by Nathan, in the general assembly, while David was present: they anointed....Sadoc to be high priest, 1 Paralipomenon xxix. 22. (Salien) --- But not, Solomon orders Abiathar to retire to his estate, in punishment of his conspiracy. (Calmet) ---... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joab. The Latin manuscripts, except one, and almost all the ancient editions of Sixtus, &c., read Solomon. "And a messenger came to Solomon that Joab," &c. --- Solomon. Hebrew, "Absalom." Septuagint vary. The difference is of little consequence. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Die, if my life must not be spared. (Haydock) --- He knew that the like precaution would not have been able to protect Adonias. It was not just that he, who had despised all that was sacred, should find an asylum at the altar itself._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Slew him, holding the altar; though some think that he was removed by force, like Athalia, 4 Kings xi. 15. Both actions were contrary to the reverence due to so holy a place, and perhaps inexcusable; (Calmet) unless the law had ordered it otherwise, Exodus xxi. 14. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abiathar. See ver. 26. Secular princes sometimes nominate, but they must obey, the pastor. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cedron, which led towards Bahurim. He was equally forbidden to go out by any other road; and was put to death for going to Geth. --- Head. Thou canst blame only thyself. Solomon might have put this man to death before: but he chose to pay so much deference to the oath of his father, as not to bring... [ Continue Reading ]
_Servants. Two in number; (Hebrew; Septuagint) perhaps originally from Geth; (Menochius) to the king of which place David had fled, 44 years before. (Abulensis, q. 44.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER II.... [ Continue Reading ]