_A.M. 2989. B.C. 1015._ David declines in health, 1 Kings 1:1. Adonijah aspires to the kingdom, 1 Kings 1:5. Nathan and Bathsheba procure an order from David for the succession of Solomon, 1 Kings 1:11. The anointing of Solomon, and the people's joy, 1 Kings 1:32. The dispersion of Adonijah's party... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now King David was old_ Being in the end of his seventieth year. _They covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat_ Which is not strange, considering he was a person who had been exercised with so many hardships in war, and with such tormenting cares, and fears, and sorrows for his own sins, (as d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore his servants_ His physicians; _said, Let there be sought for the king a young virgin_ Whose natural heat is fresh and wholesome, and not impaired with bearing or breeding children. The same counsel is given by Galen for the cure of some cold and dry distempers. _Let her stand before the k... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king knew her not_ Did not enjoy her as his wife, but she remained still a virgin: which is mentioned to signify the continuance and progress of the king's malady.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then_ Upon notice of the desperateness of the king's disease, and the approach of his death; _Adonijah exalted himself_ Entertained high thoughts and designs; _saying, I will be king_ As the right of the kingdom is mine, (1 Kings 1:6,) so I will now take possession of it. _And he prepared him chari... [ Continue Reading ]
_His father had not displeased him at any time_ This is mentioned as David's great error, and the occasion of Adonijah's presumption. _In saying, Why hast thou done so?_ He had neither restrained him from, nor reproved him for his miscarriages, which David knew was a great sin. _He also was a very g... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mighty men were not with Adonijah_ That is, those named 2 Samuel 23., and the guards, who had served under David so long, and had done such mighty acts in his reign and under his conduct. Adonijah had no hope of drawing them to his party, and therefore did not confer with them as he did with Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba_ Who, being private and retired in her apartment, was ignorant of what was done abroad; and who was likely to be most zealous in the cause, and most prevalent with David. To her Nathan was induced to speak, both by his piety, that he might fulfil the will of God declare... [ Continue Reading ]
_Didst thou not, O king, swear unto thy handmaid?_ We do not read anywhere else of this oath: but, no doubt, David had solemnly sworn to her that he would make her son his successor, knowing that God himself had designed him to that honour. And it is probable that Adonijah was not an entire stranger... [ Continue Reading ]
_Solomon thy servant_ She speaks very submissively, and calls herself his handmaid, and her son his servant. _The eyes of all Israel are upon thee_ This she said that she might free him from all fear of such a rebellion as Absalom raised; the people not being yet joined to Adonijah, but continuing i... [ Continue Reading ]
_But me hath he not called_ Whom he knew to be acquainted with thy mind, and with the mind of God in this matter; and therefore his neglect of me herein gives me cause to suspect that this is done without thy knowledge. _Thou hast not showed it to thy servant_ Who, having been an instrument in deliv... [ Continue Reading ]
_King David said, Call Bath-sheba_ Who, upon Nathan's approach to the king, had modestly withdrawn. _That hath redeemed my soul out of all distress_ The words contain a grateful acknowledgment of the goodness of God to him, in bringing him safe through the many difficulties that had lain in his way,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let my lord King David live for ever_ Though I desire thy oath may be kept, and the right of succession confirmed to my son, yet I am far from thirsting after thy death, and should rather rejoice, if it were possible, for thee to live and enjoy thy crown for ever. There could be no higher expressio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take with you the servants of your lord_ His constant guards, the Cherethites and Pelethites, 1 Kings 1:38. _Cause Solomon to ride upon mine own mule_ As a token that the royal dignity is transferred upon him, and that by my consent. The rest of David's sons were wont to ride upon mules when they w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him_ That is, say the Jews, one of them poured out the oil, and the other anointed his head, drawing a circle round about it with oil, according to their maxim that their kings were anointed in the form of a crown, to denote their delegation to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then ye shall come up after him, that he may sit on my throne_ Ye shall attend upon him to Jerusalem, and give him actual possession of the throne. _For he shall be king in my stead_ My deputy and vice-king while I live, and absolutely king when I die. _Over Israel and over Judah_ The latter clause... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zadok took a horn of oil_ A vessel of oil, as the Arabic translates it; which vessel was made of an ox's horn, as Bochart observes; _out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon_ It rendered his unction more solemn, and his person more sacred, that he was anointed with holy oil taken out of the tabe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Also Solomon sitteth on the throne_ Being in actual possession of the kingdom, though his father be alive. For to sit upon the throne was proper to the king; and none else, on pain of death, might be placed there. _The king bowed himself upon the bed_ Adoring God for this great mercy, and thereby d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Adonijah feared_, &c. He fled to the altar for protection and safety, it being a privileged place; not, indeed, by the appointment of the law, but by the custom of all nations. _And caught hold on the horns of the altar_ With a resolution, it seems, of not stirring therefrom till Solomon had given... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Solomon said_, &c. Solomon did not swear unto him, as he desired, but only declared that he gave him a full pardon for what was past, on condition that he behaved himself as became a good subject for the time to come. _But if wickedness be found in him, he shall die_ That is, if he did any thin... [ Continue Reading ]