1 KINGS 1:1 The Reign of King Solomon. 1 Kings 1:1 describes the reign of David’s son Solomon. Solomon was a great king when he obeyed God and depended on God for wisdom, but his reign ended tragically as he began worshiping other gods. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for ... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:2 LET HER WAIT ON THE KING AND BE IN HIS SERVICE.... LIE IN YOUR ARMS. The Hebrew words used here imply that David could have had sexual relations with ABISHAG. The fact that he did not do so (KNEW HER NOT) probably led Adonijah to believe that the king was near death and c... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:5 ADONIJAH was David’s oldest surviving son. David had the right, with God’s guidance, to appoint his own successor. But Adonijah EXALTED HIMSELF by trying to make himself king. Apparently Adonijah was used to getting his way, for David had never held him accountable for an... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:7 The events of chs. 1 Kings 1:1 are related to tensions between Judah and Israel as already seen in the books of Samuel and soon to reappear in 1 Kings 12:1 (see 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16). It was the ROYAL OFFICIALS OF JUDAH who were invited to Adonijah’s feast, not th... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:13 DID YOU NOT... SWEAR? This oath is not mentioned anywhere else, and Nathan does not mention it to David when he later confronts him (vv. 1 Kings 1:24). Perhaps David had privately promised Bathsheba that her son SOLOMON would be the next king. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = documen... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:20 Bathsheba is concerned that, if David does not appoint Solomon as the next king, she and her son will be treated as rivals for the throne (COUNTED OFFENDERS). Their lives will be at risk. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:31 MAY MY LORD KING DAVID LIVE FOREVER! Bathsheba uses the conventional language for addressing a king (compare Daniel 3:9). She is reaffirming her loyalty to David. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:33 MY OWN MULE. Solomon’s ride on David’s mule marks him as David’s favored son. The mule itself may have been regarded as a symbol of kingship (see Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img;... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:38 CHERETHITES AND... PELETHITES. These are probably the “servants” of v. 1 Kings 1:33, apparently David’s own personal troops (see 2 Samuel 20:7, 2 Samuel 20:23). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = doc [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:39 The TENT might be the tabernacle, that is, “the tent of the LORD” (1 Kings 2:28). However, the text distinguishes between David’s tent in Jerusalem (the temporary location of the ark of the covenant) and the tabernacle in Gibeon. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsB... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:41 Adonijah’s GUESTS, who were in En-rogel (v. 1 Kings 1:9), were not able to directly observe Solomon’s anointing (vv. 1 Kings 1:38). However, they were close enough that they HEARD people celebrating. Therefore they TREMBLED AND ROSE (v. 1 Kings 1:49), knowing that siding... [ Continue Reading ]
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 1:50 HORNS OF THE ALTAR. Adonijah believes that the altar, as a holy place, will protect him from Solomon’s revenge. Many ancient Near Eastern cultures allowed people to seek asylum at shrines. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images... [ Continue Reading ]