THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS -Year from the Creation, according to the English Bible, 2989. -Year before the Incarnation, 1015. -Year from the destruction of Troy, according to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, 170. -Year before the first Olympiad, 239. -Year before the building of Rome, 262. -Year o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:2. _LET THERE BE SOUGHT - A YOUNG VIRGIN_] This was the best remedy which in his state could be prescribed. His nearly exhausted frame would infallibly absorb from her young and healthy body an additional portion of animal heat, and consequently trim and revive the flame of animal li... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:4. _THE KING KNEW HER NOT._] The maxim of Bacon in his enigmatical cure is, "Take all you can from the medicine, but give nothing to it; if you give any thing, it increases the disease and hastens death." I have seen this abundantly verified; but it is a subject on which it would be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:5. _ADONIJAH THE SON OF HAGGITH_] Who this woman was we know not; Adonijah was evidently David's eldest son now living, and one of whom his father was particularly fond; see 1 Kings 1:6. _PREPARED HIM CHARIOTS AND HORSEMEN_] He copied the conduct of his brother Absalom in every resp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:7. _AND HE CONFERRED WITH JOAB_] Joab well knew, if _he made_ _the new king_, he would necessarily be continued in the command of the army, and so govern him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:8. _AND NATHAN_] Some suppose that he was the preceptor of Solomon.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:9. _SLEW SHEEP AND OVEN_] Making a royal feast, in reference to his inauguration. As he had Abiathar the _priest_ with him, no doubt these animals were offered _sacrificially_, and then the guests fed on the flesh of the victims. He had not only a splendid feast, but a great sacrific... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:11. _HAST THOU NOT HEARD THAT ADONIJAH THE SON OF HAGGITH_ _DOTH REIGN_] He was now considered as being legally appointed to the regal office, and no doubt was about to begin to perform its functions.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:12. _SAVE THINE OWN LIFE, AND THE LIFE OF THY SON_] Nathan took for granted that Adonijah would put both Bath-sheba and Solomon to death as state criminals, if he got established on the throne. O cursed lust of rule! a father will destroy his son, a son depose his father, and a broth... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:13. _GO AND GET THEE IN UNTO KING DAVID_] He knew that this woman had a sovereign influence over the king. If Bath-sheba was a source of pleasure to David, must she not also have been a source of pain to him? For could he ever forget the guilty manner in which he acquired her? _DIDS... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:20. _THAT THOU SHOULDEST TELL - WHO SHALL SIT ON THE THRONE_] This was a monarchy neither _hereditary_ nor _elective_; the king simply _named his successor_. This obtained less or more, anciently, in most countries.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:21. _SHALL BE COUNTED OFFENDERS._] When Adonijah and his party shall find that I and my son have had this promise from thee by oath, he will slay us both.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:28. _CALL ME BATH-SHEBA._] She had gone out when Nathan came in, and he retired when she was re-admitted. Each had a separate audience, but to Nathan the king did not express any will.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:33. _TAKE WITH YOU THE SERVANTS OF YOUR LORD_] By these we may understand the _kings guards_, the _guards_ of the _city_, the _Cherethites_ and _Pelethites_, who were under the command of Benaiah; and in short, all the disposable force that was at hand. _SOLOMON - TO RIDE UPON MINE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:34. _BLOW YE WITH THE TRUMPET_] After he has been anointed, make proclamation that he is king.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:36. _SIT UPON MY THRONE_] The matter of conducting a business of this kind seems to have been this: 1. The king elect was _placed on the mule of his predecessor_, and caused _to ride_ _abroad_ to one of the public wells, or to a river where there was the greatest concourse of people... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:37. _MAKE HIS THRONE GREATER THAN THE THRONE OF - DAVID._] A wish of this kind a _king_ will suffer in behalf of his _son_, but it is never in ordinary cases considered a _compliment_ to say, "I hope this child will make a better man than his father," because it seems to insinuate so... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _ZADOK - TOOK A HORN OF OIL_] _Pottery_ and _glass_ were little in use in those times; and _horns_ were frequently used to hold _oil_ and _wine_. The oil used here was the _holy anointing oil_, which was laid up in the tabernacle, and which was used for the anointing of both _priests_ and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:40. _THE PEOPLE PIPED WITH PIPES_] They danced, sang, and played on what instruments of music they possessed. _THE EARTH RENT_] We use a similar expression in precisely the same sense: They _rent the air_ with their cries.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:43. _JONATHAN ANSWERED_] He was properly a _messenger_ about the court; we have met with him and Ahimaaz before, 2 Samuel 15:36. He had now been an _observer_, if not a _spy_, on all that was doing, and relates the transactions to Adonijah, in the very order in which they took place.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:47. _MOREOVER, THE KING'S SERVANTS CAME_] The king himself was at this time confined to his own house, and probably to his bed, and could not possibly see these ceremonies; therefore his confidential servants came and told him. We know not how Jonathan, in so short a time, possessed... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:50. _ADONIJAH FEARED_] He knew he had usurped the kingdom, and had not his father's consent; and, as he finds now that Solomon is appointed by David, he knows well that the people will immediately respect that appointment, and that his case is hopeless; he therefore took sanctuary, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:52. _IF HE WILL SHOW HIMSELF A WORTHY MAN_] If, from henceforth, he behave well, show himself to be contented, and not endeavour to make partisans, or stir up insurrections among the people, he shall be safe; _but if wickedness be found in him _- if he act at all contrary to this - _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 1:53. _GO TO THINE HOUSE._] Intimating that he should have no place about the king's person, nor under the government. Adonijah must have seen that he stood continually on his good behaviour. _Friar Bacon's method of restoring and strengthening_ _the Natural Heat_ "I have read many v... [ Continue Reading ]