NOW KING DAVID. — “Now” is the simple illative conjunction “and,” found at the beginning of all the historical books (Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, &c.). It marks the general conception of the unity of the whole history, but implies nothing of special connection of time or authors... [ Continue Reading ]
A SHUNAMMITE. — Shunem is in the territory of Issachar (Joshua 19:18), and in the plain of Jezreel (1 Samuel 28:4), near Mount Gilboa. As Eusebius, describing its position carefully, calls it “Sulem,” and as this variation of name is confirmed by its ready identification with the modern village of _... [ Continue Reading ]
ADONIJAH (_my Lord is Jehovah_), David’s fourth son, born in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:4), at least thirty-three years before. From the words of Solomon in 1 Kings 2:22, we may gather that he claimed the throne as being now the eldest son. Hence it is probable that Chileab (or Daniel, see 2 Samuel 3:3; 1 C... [ Continue Reading ]
JOAB. — The books of Samuel have brought out clearly the career and character of Joab, as being (in some degree like Abner) a professed soldier, raised to a formidable and half-independent power by the incessant wars of Saul and David. He stands out in consistent portraiture throughout, as a bold, h... [ Continue Reading ]
ZADOK THE PRIEST (son of Ahitub) was the representative of the family of Eleazar, elder son of Aaron, as Abiathar of the family of Ithamar, the younger son (1 Chronicles 24:3). As a “young man of valour,” under “Jehoiada, leader of the Aaronites,” he joined David at Hebron with 3,700 men (1 Chronicl... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STONE OF ZOHELETH. — The meaning is uncertain. The derivation seems to be from a root, meaning to “crawl,” or “steal on.” Some interpreters render, the “stone of the serpents;” the Targums make it “the rolling stone;” other authorities “the stone of the conduit,” which would suit well its positi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE NATHAN. — The initiative taken by Nathan is especially natural, since he had been the medium both of the prophecy to David of the son who should build the Lord’s house (2 Samuel 7:12), and also of the blessing on Solomon, embodied in the name Jedidiah (“beloved of Jehovah,” 2 Samuel 12:25)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LIFE OF... SOLOMON. — The usurpation of Adonijah would, as a matter of course, be sealed by the blood of his rival Solomon. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 21:4.) Bath-sheba herself need hardly have been sacrificed; but her position of favour with David would excite jealousy, and Solomon, being still young,... [ Continue Reading ]
DIDST NOT THOU... SWEAR. — Of this oath we have no mention elsewhere. It may have belonged to the time of Solomon’s birth (2 Samuel 12:24). In 1 Chronicles 22:6, we find a designation of Solomon for succession, apparently earlier than this time — it being clearly understood (see 1 Kings 1:20), accor... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE THOU YET TALKEST. — The whole history seems to indicate a growth of royal state and Oriental reverence for the king’s person since the defeat of Absalom, contrasted with the comparative simplicity of intercourse with him in earlier days, and preparatory to the still greater development of maje... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL SLEEP WITH HIS FATHERS. — Here this phrase, so constantly used in the record of the death of the kings, occurs in these books for the first time. (It is also found in the message of promise by Nathan. 2 Samuel 7:12, relating to the succession of the son who should build the Temple.) We find co... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU SAID. — The question here and in 1 Kings 1:27 is, of course, merely intended to draw out denial; but it is singularly true to nature that it does so by the assumption (natural in court language) that nothing of such a kind could be even conceived as done without the king’s will. There is s... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD SAVE KING ADONIJAH. — Literally (as in 1 Samuel 10:24; 2 Samuel 16:16, &c.). “May the king live;” like the “Let the king live for ever” of 1 Kings 1:31, and of Nehemiah 2:3; Daniel 2:4; Daniel 3:9, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE LORD LIVETH, THAT HATH REDEEMED MY SOUL. — A characteristic adjuration of David, found also in 2 Samuel 4:9; but now peculiarly appropriate in the old man, who was so near the haven of rest, after all the storms of life. “O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer,” is the climax of his address to G... [ Continue Reading ]
CALL ME ZADOK. — This sudden flash of the old energy in David, and the clear, terse directions which he gives for carrying out all the necessary parts of the inauguration of Solomon’s royalty, striking enough in themselves, are still more striking in contrast with the timidity and despondency with w... [ Continue Reading ]
GIHON (“breaking forth”) is clearly a place in the valley, under the walls of Jerusalem, mentioned as having a watercourse, or torrent, diverted by Heżekiah in his preparation of the city for siege (2 Chronicles 32:30), and as forming one end of a new wall “up to the fish gate,” built by Manasseh; b... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOINT HIM... king. — It is notable that of this solemn inauguration of royalty, marked emphatically as a religious consecration by the common phrase “the Lord’s anointed” — then especially in use (1 Samuel 16:6; 1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Samuel 26:9; 2 Samuel 1:14; 2 Samuel 19:21), though found also occasio... [ Continue Reading ]
OVER ISRAEL AND OVER JUDAH. — The phrase clearly refers to the distinction, already tending to become a division, between Israel and Judah in relation to the monarchy. In the case of David himself, it may be observed that the record of his accession to royalty over Israel contains the notice of “a l... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHERETHITES, AND THE PELETHITES. — See 2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 15:28; 2 Samuel 20:7; 2 Samuel 20:23. The body-guard-perhaps of foreign troops — “the executioners and runners” (as some render them) to carry out the King’s commands.... [ Continue Reading ]
AN HORN OF OIL OUT OF THE TABERNACLE. — The sacred oil, the making of which is described in Exodus 30:22, was to be used for anointing the Tabernacle itself, and the altars and vessels as well as the priests. It was this oil, no doubt, which was used in this case. The Tabernacle proper was still at... [ Continue Reading ]
PIPED WITH PIPES. — The Greek Version has “danced in dances,” by a slight variation of reading. The graphic description of the acclamation of the people indicates something more than conventional loyalty. The attempt of Adonijah relied on the support only of the great men, and perhaps the army, but... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JOAB HEARD. — It is one of the many life- like touches of the narrative that it is the old warrior Joab who, amidst the revelry of his companions, notices the sound of the trumpet, and the acclamation following. Adonijah affects to disregard it.... [ Continue Reading ]
JONATHAN THE SON OF ABIATHAR. — See 2 Samuel 15:27; 2 Samuel 17:17, where he is named, with Ahimaaz, as a swift runner, fit to be a messenger. It is curious that a similar greeting to his companion Ahimaaz is used by David in 2 Samuel 18:27 — possibly as a kind of omen of good fortune.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALSO SOLOMON SITTETH. — Jonathan’s announcement here takes up the narrative of events after 1 Kings 1:40. The public enthronement in the palace (ordered by David in 1 Kings 1:35) follows the anointing and acceptance by the acclamations of the people, as an integral part of the inauguration of ro... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING BOWED HIMSELF, that is, in worship (comp. Genesis 47:31), at once joining in the prayer of his servants, and thanking God for the fulfilment of His promise.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE GUESTS. — Nothing is more striking than the sudden and humiliating collapse of the attempt of Adonijah, strongly supported as it was by Joab and Abiathar, in contrast with the formidable character of the rebellion of Absalom. This is another indication that the royal power had been great... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HORNS OF THE ALTAR. — The horns were projections from the altar, to which (see Psalms 118:27) the victims were fastened, and on which the blood was sprinkled (Exodus 29:12). To take hold of them was, of course, to claim the right of sanctuary — a right, however, which the Law, ruled as usual by... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE SHALL NOT A HAIR OF HIM FALL. — Solomon’s pardon, though according to Oriental ideas, an act of extraordinary grace, was yet characteristically cautious and conditional, to be withdrawn accordingly on the first symptom of any renewal of Adonijah’s pretensions.... [ Continue Reading ]