1 Kings 1:1

THE

FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS,

commonly called,

THE THIRD BOOK OF THE KINGS

Ch. 1 Kings 1:1-4. David's Feeble Age (Not in Chronicles)

1. Now The Hebrew has only the conjunction usually rendered And. This sentence is not to be regarded as the commencement of a new history, but a continuation of what has been told in 2 Samuel. In Hebrew MSS. 1 and 2 Kings form but one book, as do also 1 and 2 Samuel,, 1 and 2 Chronicles. The division was first made in the LXX. which Jerome followed, and it was introduced in the printed Hebrew Bibles by Daniel Bomberg. The LXX. however treats these books as so closely connected with Samuel that the four books are all named alike (βασιλείων α. β. γ. δ.). They are so catalogued also in Origen's list of the Canonical Books (Euseb. H. E.vi. 25), and in Jerome's Prologus Galeatus. But we shall have occasion to point out some matters (e.g. the worship on the high places) which were viewed in a different light by the compiler of these later books from that in which they are regarded in the books of Samuel.

The two books fall naturally into three sections. (1) The reign of Solomon, 1 Kings 1-11. (2) The history of two kingdoms after their separation, till the overthrow of the northern kingdom, 1 Kings 12 - 2 Kings 17. (3) The history of the kingdom of Judah from the Assyrian to the Babylonish Captivity, 2 Kings 18-25.

king David was old The circumstances recorded in this passage must have happened when the feeble king had taken to his bed. By comparing 2 Samuel 5:4-5, with 1 Kings 2:11, we arrive very nearly at the age given by Josephus (Ant.vii. 15. 2) who says David was seventy years old when he died.

stricken in years Rendered literally on the margin -entered into days."

they covered him with clothes i.e. With bed-clothes; just as in 1 Samuel 19:13 where A.V. has -with a cloth." The word is however most frequently used of garments for wear.