AN INTRIGUE FOR THE SUCCESSION This chapter relates Adonijah's attempt to obtain the succession, its defeat through the agency of Nathan, and the enthronement of Solomon. The history contained in it is omitted in 1 Ch, where, however, mention is made of Solomon's having been crowned not once only b... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW] better, 'and,' connecting this book with the history contained in the preceding.... [ Continue Reading ]
ADONIJAH] The fourth son of David (2 Samuel 3:4). Of his three elder brothers, two, Amnon and Absalom, were certainly by this time dead; and the indulgence with which Adonijah was treated by his father (1 Kings 1:6) makes it probable that he was the eldest surviving son.... [ Continue Reading ]
_His mother_ BARE HIM AFTER ABSALOM] RV 'he was born after Absalom'; Adonijah and Absalom were sons of different mothers (2 Samuel 3:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
JOAB] David's nephew, and at this time captain of the host or national militia (2 Samuel 8:16). His support of Adonijah was probably due to the latter's being the eldest surviving son of David, and to his active character. ABIATHAR] son of Ahimelech the priest of Nob, who had been put to death by Sa... [ Continue Reading ]
ZADOK] a descendant of Aaron's son Eleazar (1 Chronicles 6:4). It is not clear what were the relative positions of Abiathar and Zadok to one another. In 1 Chronicles 16:39; Zadok is stated to have ministered at the sanctuary at Gibeon, but in 2 Samuel 15:24 both Abiathar and Zadok are represented as... [ Continue Reading ]
SLEW SHEEP AND OXEN] probably a sacrificial feast is meant, whereby Adonijah intended to solemnise his succession: cp. 2 Samuel 15:12. THE STONE OF ZOHELETH.. ENROGEL] Enrogel is probably to be identified with the modern Bîr-eyûb, a well (not a spring) situated at the junction of the valley of Hinno... [ Continue Reading ]
DIDST NOT THOU.. SWEAR?] That this was true is acknowledged by David in 1 Kings 1:29; 1 Kings 1:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EYES OF ALL ISRAEL _are_ UPON THEE] Though the right of the firstborn to succeed was beginning to be recognised, the sovereign still possessed the power of nominating his successor.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIHON] probably the modern Virgin's Fountain, in the ravine of the Kidron, about half-a-miie from Enrogel (Bîr-eyûb).... [ Continue Reading ]
AMEN] an expression of assent or concurrence: cp. Numbers 5:22; Jeremiah 28:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHERETHITES] a bodyguard of foreign extraction, like the Swiss guards of the French kings or the Varangians of the Byzantine sovereigns. The Cherethites came from the S. of Philistia (1 Samuel 30:14), the name being generally supposed to be connected with Crete, and the PELETHITES were perhaps likew... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TABERNACLE] RV 'the Tent'; probably the tent erected by David to shelter the ark (2 Samuel 6:17). According to 1 Chronicles 16:39 the Tabernacle made by Moses was at Gibeon. For the anointing oil see Exodus 30:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
VALIANT] RV 'worthy.'... [ Continue Reading ]
SOLOMON SITTETH ON THE THRONE] similarly Jotham ruled during the lifetime of his father (2 Kings 15:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
BOWED HIMSELF] i.e. in worship: cp. Genesis 47:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HORNS OF THE ALTAR] The altar intended was probably one erected in or before the tent that sheltered the ark: see on 1 Kings 1:39 and cp. 1 Kings 2:29; 1 Kings 3:15. The horns were projections at the four corners (Exodus 27:2), to which the victim to be sacrificed may have been attached (Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
TO DAY] RM 'first of all.'... [ Continue Reading ]