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1 Kings Chapter
One
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 1
This
chapter gives an account of the infirmities of David in his old age
and the
method used to relieve him under them
1 Kings 1:1; of the
preparation his son Adonijah made to usurp the throne
1 Kings 1:5; of
Bathsheba's address to the king upon it
in favour of her son Solomon
on which
she was put by
Nathan the prophet
and seconded in it by him
1 Kings 1:11; when
the king with an oath confirmed the succession of Solomon in the kingdom
and ordered
Nathan the prophet
and Zadok the priest
to anoint him
which was accordingly
done with great ceremony
to the satisfaction of the king and his servants
1 Kings 1:28; the
news of which being brought to Adonijah and his friends
struck them with
terror
and on which they dispersed
1 Kings 1:41; and
upon the promise of Adonijah
that he would behave well to Solomon
he was
pardoned and dismissed
having fled and lain hold on the horns of the altar
1 Kings 1:51.
1 Kings 1:1 Now
King David was old
advanced in years; and they put covers on him
but he could
not get warm.
YLT
1And king David [is] old
entering into days
and they cover him with garments
and he hath no heat
Now King David was old
and
stricken in years
.... Was seventy years of age; for he was thirty years of age
when he began to reign
and he reigned forty years
2 Samuel 5:4; this
was just the age of man
Psalm 90:10;
and they covered him with clothes; not wearing apparel
but
bed clothes; he seems to have been bedridden and paralytic:
but he got no heat; by them; having no natural heat in him
clothes could not communicate any to him
only keep the cold from him
see Haggai 1:6; there
are many persons at the age he was
that are lively
healthful
and robust
comparatively speaking at least; but David's strength was impaired
and his
natural force abated by his many wars
fatigues by night and day in campaigns
and the many sorrows and afflictions he met with from his family and his
friends
as well as enemies; which exhausted his natural moisture
weakened his
nerves
and drank up his spirits
and brought upon him the infirmities of a
decrepit old age very soon.
1 Kings 1:2 2 Therefore his servants
said to him
“Let a young woman
a virgin
be sought for our lord the king
and
let her stand before the king
and let her care for him; and let her lie in
your bosom
that our lord the king may be warm.”
YLT
2and his servants say to
him
`Let them seek for my lord the king a young woman
a virgin
and she hath
stood before the king
and is to him a companion
and hath lain in thy bosom
and my lord the king hath heat.'
Wherefore his servants
said unto him
.... His physicians; so Joseph's physicians are called his servants
Genesis 50:2;
let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin; not only a
young woman
but a virgin
that has more natural heat than women that have bore
children have
which is abated thereby:
and let her stand before the king: minister to him
serve
him with whatsoever he should want to eat or drink; and so by being in his
presence
and taking things at her hand
she might be the more ingratiated into
his affections:
and let her cherish him; as the husband the wife
so she her husband
as doubtless David was; and that by giving him cordials to
cheer his spirits
and everything that was convenient for him
and particularly
by lying with him. Kimchi interprets the word of her being profitable to him
in which sense the word is used
Job 22:2; that is
by warming him; Ben Gersom understands it of her being made mistress of his
treasures
according to the sense of the word in Isaiah 22:15; that
she might have the command of his purse
and provide anything proper for him
without being taken notice of or obstructed; but the Targum is better
"and
let her be near him
'
lie
close unto him
and even in his bosom
as in the next clause:
and let her lie in his bosom; which shows that it was
proposed that he should marry her
at least that she should become his
concubine wife
since this phrase is descriptive of a wife
Micah 7:5; nor can
it be thought his physicians would advise
or he agree to have a young woman
admitted to his bed
without marriage; and if this had not been the case
it
would not have answered the design of Adonijah in requesting her in marriage
after his father's death
which was to make way to ascend the throne when
opportunity should offer; nor would his request have been so much resented by
Solomon as it was
1 Kings 2:17;
that my lord the king may get heat: and somewhat similar to
this
Galen
that great physician
prescribed in like casesF4Vid.
Poli Synopsin in loc. .
1 Kings 1:3 3 So they sought for a
lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel
and found Abishag
the Shunammite
and brought her to the king.
YLT
3And they seek a fair young
woman in all the border of Israel
and find Abishag the Shunammite
and bring
her in to the king
So they sought for a fair
damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel
.... Not only a damsel
but a beautiful one
that she might be the more acceptable to the king; who
otherwise
if deformed and ugly
would not have endured her in his sight
or
received at her hands
and much less suffered her to lie in his bosom:
and found Abishag a Shunammite; a native of the city
Shunem
a city in the tribe of Issachar
Joshua 19:18;
and brought her to the king; for his approbation of
her
and to make her his concubine wife
as he did.
1 Kings 1:4 4 The young woman was
very lovely; and she cared for the king
and served him; but the king did not
know her.
YLT
4and the young woman [is]
very very fair
and she is to the king a companion
and serveth him
and the
king hath not known her.
And the damsel was
very fair
.... And so very agreeable to the king to be in his presence
and
wait upon him
and take things of her hand
as well as lie with him:
and cherished the king; enlivened his spirits by
her amiable countenance
her graceful behaviour
and tender care of him
and
especially by bedding with him:
and ministered to him; serving him with her own
hands whatever he took for his sustenance:
but the king knew her not; as a man knows his wife;
which shows that she was his wife
and that it would not have been criminal in
him had he known her; but this is observed
not to point at the chastity of
David
but his feebleness
and loss of desire after women
and that the damsel
remained a virgin; and that was the ground of Adonijah's request
and his hope
of succeeding.
1 Kings 1:5 5 Then Adonijah the son of
Haggith exalted himself
saying
“I will be king”; and he prepared for himself
chariots and horsemen
and fifty men to run before him.
YLT
5And Adonijah son of Haggith
is lifting himself up
saying
`I do reign;' and he prepareth for himself a
chariot and horsemen
and fifty men running before him
Then Adonijah the son of
Haggith exalted himself
.... This was his mother's name
2 Samuel 3:4; his
father David being old and infirm
and not like to live long
notable to oppose
him; and he being the eldest son
and a comely person
was inspired with
ambition to set up for king:
saying
I will be king; though he knew that
Solomon was appointed of God
and promised by David
and expected by the people
to be king
yet he was resolved to set up himself for king
and try if he could
not get himself to the throne; on this he was bent and determined:
and he prepared him chariots and horsemen
and fifty men to run
before him; just as Absalom had done
when he had the same thing in view
to
make him respectable among the people
see 2 Samuel 15:1.
1 Kings 1:6 6 (And his father had not
rebuked him at any time by saying
“Why have you done so?” He was also
very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.)
YLT
6and his father hath not
grieved him [all] his days
saying
`Wherefore thus hast thou done?' and he
also [is] of a very good form
and [his mother] bare him after Absalom.
And his father had not
displeased him at any time
.... Always humoured him in everything
let
him have his own way and will
and granted him what he desired
and never
corrected him for his faults
or made him ashamed
as the Targum
by telling
him of them
and chastising him for them; this was not to the credit of David
being guilty of the same sin with Eli; and on this Adonijah presumed much
that
he would not contradict and countermand in this as he had not in other things
before:
in saying
why hast thou done so? never so much as asked a
reason of his conduct
so far was he from reproving him for it:
and he also was a very goodly man; of a comely
countenance
tall and well proportioned
as his brother Absalom
and which was
another thing on which he built his hopes of succeeding in his enterprise; for
in those times
as in later times
and other nations
a comely aspect and
personable appearance recommended a man to the choice of the people for a
supreme magistrate; see Gill on 1 Samuel 9:2;
and his mother bare him after Absalom; not that the
same woman bore him as did Absalom; for Absalom's mother was Maachah
this
man's Haggith; but she bore him after Absalom's mother had bore him
so that he
was next son; and now Amnon
Chileab
or Daniel
and Absalom
being all dead
he was the eldest son living
and upon this he founded his claim to the throne
and his hope of succeeding.
1 Kings 1:7 7 Then he conferred with
Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest
and they followed and
helped Adonijah.
YLT
7And his words are with Joab
son of Zeruiah
and with Abiathar the priest
and they help after Adonijah;
And he conferred with Joab
the son of Zeruiah
and with Abiathar the priest
.... About getting the
kingdom into his hands: and they were very proper persons to consult with
who
if gained to his interest
might be of great service
the one being the general
of the army
and so had a great interest in the soldiery
with whom he could
make way for him
and defend him
and the other was the high priest
who might
be thought to have a great share in the affections of the people
and whose
office it was to anoint the king; and he might the rather apply to them
knowing them to be
on some accounts
discontented persons:
and they following Adonijah
helped him; they took on
his side; Joab knowing David's hatred of him on account of his murder of Abner
and Amasa
and especially for his slaying his son Absalom
and his insolent
behaviour towards him
and perhaps he might fear
or had an him of what he had
charged Solomon with concerning him; and Abiathar
who saw plainly that the
priesthood in Eli's family was declining
and that Zadok was the favourite
priest with David
and in all probability would be with Solomon; all which
might influence these two persons to join Adonijah
and who
by so doing
greatly encouraged him
and many others to flock to him
which much helped and
served his cause.
1 Kings 1:8 8 But Zadok the priest
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
Nathan the prophet
Shimei
Rei
and the mighty men
who belonged to David were not with Adonijah.
YLT
8and Zadok the priest
and
Benaiah son of Jehoiada
and Nathan the prophet
and Shimei
and Rei
and the
mighty ones whom David hath
have not been with Adonijah.
But Zadok the priest
.... Who bid
fair to be the high priest on Solomon's coming to the throne as he was:
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; who was near David's
person
and over his bodyguards
the Cherethites and Pelethites:
and Nathan the prophet; a very great intimate of
David's
and his seer
whom he consulted on all occasions:
and Shimei; who
according to Abarbinel
was Shimei the son of Gera
who had
cursed David
and was afraid of entering into the conspiracy
lest he should be
involved in trouble again: though some think this may be that Shimei
one of
Solomon's twelve officers
as after constituted
1 Kings 4:18;
and Rei; whom the same writer takes to be Hushai the Archite
David's
friend:
and the mighty men which belonged to David; that were
about his person
his guards
the Cherethites and Pelethites:
were not with Adonijah; they did not join him
and indeed were not invited by him.
1 Kings 1:9 9 And Adonijah sacrificed
sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth
which is by
En Rogel; he also invited all his brothers
the king’s sons
and all the men of
Judah
the king’s servants.
YLT
9And Adonijah sacrificeth
sheep and oxen and fatlings near the stone of Zoheleth
that [is] by En-Rogel
and calleth all his brethren
sons of the king
and for all the men of Judah
servants of the king;
And Adonijah slew sheep
and oxen and fat cattle
.... To make a feast of for those that were of his party
which
was numerous
and some of them persons of the first rank
and therefore a large
and elegant entertainment was provided for them:
by the stone of Zoheleth
which is by Enrogel; or the
fullers' fountain
as the Targum
where the fullers washed their clothes
using
their feet in doing it
from whence it had its name; and which they laid upon
this stone for the water to drain out of them
"Zoheleth" signifying
a slow motion of waters
or on which they beat them to get out the spots; the
Targum calls it the stone of a watchtower
on which they could stand and look
to a great distance; or
as Jarchi and Ben Gersom suggest
it was a large
smooth stone
which young men used to come to
and cast to and fro to try and
exercise their strength; it was
as JosephusF5Antiqu. l. 7. c. 14.
sect. 4. says
in or near the king's gardens:
and called all his brethren the king's sons: which David
by his wives and concubines had in Hebron and Jerusalem; who were all younger
than he
and so had not the pretension he had
and who might be displeased at
the appointment of Solomon as well as he; see 1 Chronicles 3:4;
and all the men of Judah the king's servants; excepting
those in 1 Kings 1:8.
1 Kings 1:10 10 But he did not invite
Nathan the prophet
Benaiah
the mighty men
or Solomon his brother.
YLT
10and Nathan the prophet
and
Benaiah
and the mighty ones
and Solomon his brother
he hath not called.
But Nathan the prophet
and Benaiah
and the mighty men
and Solomon his brother
he called not. Did not invite
them to this feast; not Nathan
who he might know had prophesied of Solomon's
succession in the throne
and therefore it could not be thought he would be
drawn over to him; nor "Benaiah and the mighty men"; David's
bodyguards
over whom this officer was; and still less Solomon
his competitor
and rival.
1 Kings 1:11 11 So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba
the mother of Solomon
saying
“Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of
Haggith has become king
and David our lord does not know it?
YLT
11And Nathan speaketh unto
Bath-Sheba
mother of Solomon
saying
`Hast thou not heard that Adonijah son
of Haggith hath reigned
and our lord David hath not known?
Wherefore Nathan spake
unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon
.... Who not only had an
interest in the king
being his wife
and an easy access to him
but had a
special concern in this affair
as it affected her son
to whom the succession
of the kingdom was designed and promised:
saying
hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth
reign? has usurped the throne
and is proclaimed king by a party
who
at least have drank his health as such; has taken the title
and is about to
exercise the power of a king; this Bathsheba might not have heard of
and which
he expresses in this manner to quicken her to make an immediate application to
the king:
and David our Lord knoweth it not; being so
infirm
and in his bed
and nobody about him to inform him of it; it was done
without his knowledge
and far from being with his consent and approbation.
1 Kings 1:12 12 Come
please
let me now
give you advice
that you may save your own life and the life of your son
Solomon.
YLT
12and now
come
let me
counsel thee
I pray thee
and deliver thy life
and the life of thy son
Solomon;
Now therefore come
let
me
I pray thee
give thee counsel
.... How to conduct in
this affair
which she being a woman
and no doubt surprised and confounded at
this relation
might be at a loss what to do; wherefore Nathan
being a wise
man
and a faithful friend
offers to give the best advice he could
and
desires her attention to it: says he
that thou mayest save thine own life
and the life of thy son
Solomon; which would be the usurper's first care to take away
that he
might have no rival
and none to disturb him in his government; which step has
been often taken by usurpers to secure themselves
see Judges 9:5.
1 Kings 1:13 13 Go immediately to King
David and say to him
‘Did you not
my lord
O king
swear to your maidservant
saying
“Assuredly your son Solomon shall reign after me
and he shall sit on
my throne“? Why then has Adonijah become king?’
YLT
13go and enter in unto king
David
and thou hast said unto him
Hast thou not
my lord
O king
sworn to
thy handmaid
saying
Surely Solomon thy son doth reign after me
and he doth
sit on my throne? and wherefore hath Adonijah reigned?
Go and get thee in unto
King David
.... That is
go into the chamber where the king lay
at once
without any ceremony:
and say unto him
didst not thou
my lord
O king
swear unto
thine handmaid
saying
assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me
and he
shall sit upon my throne? though no mention is elsewhere made of such an oath
there
undoubtedly was one
of which Nathan had knowledge
either from David or
Bathsheba
or from them both
or might be present himself at the making of it;
for not only Bathsheba affirms it
1 Kings 1:17; but
David owns it and confirms it
1 Kings 1:30;
why then doth Adonijah reign? surely it cannot be with
the king's knowledge and consent
so manifestly contrary to his promise and
oath.
1 Kings 1:14 14 Then
while you are still
talking there with the king
I also will come in after you and confirm your
words.”
YLT
14Lo
thou are yet speaking
there with the king
and I come in after thee
and have completed thy words.'
Behold
while thou yet
talkest there with the king
.... Before
or by the time she could
deliver the above words to him
or such as she should think fit to use
to
awaken the king to a concern for the interest of her and her son:
I will also come in after thee; directly into the king's
chamber:
and confirm thy words; as he could very well
do
if he was present as a witness of the oath he had made to her
as well as
he could confirm the truth of Adonijah's usurpation; nay
could plead the will
and promises of God he had formerly notified to him: or
"fill up thy
words"F6מלאתי "complebo"
Pagninus
Montanus
Vatablus; "explebo"
Ar.
make up what might be
wanting in her address to him
in her account of things
or in the arguments
used by her; he means
that he would second her in her motion in favour of Solomon
and press the king to take some steps for the security of the succession to
him. Nathan knew it was the will of God that Solomon should succeed in the
kingdom
he had promised it by him
see 2 Samuel 7:12; yet
as a wise and good man
he thought it right to make use of all proper means to
attain the end.
1 Kings 1:15 15 So Bathsheba went into the
chamber to the king. (Now the king was very old
and Abishag the Shunammite was
serving the king.)
YLT
15And Bath-Sheba cometh in
unto the king
to the inner chamber
and the king [is] very aged
and Abishag
the Shunammite is serving the king:
And Bathsheba went in unto
the king into the chamber
.... Where he lay
being bedridden; she took
Nathan's advice
and directly went to the king's apartment:
and the king was very old: and decrepit
borne down
with the infirmities of old age
though but seventy years of age:
and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king; she was then
waiting upon the king
and serving him with what was necessary and proper for
him; and perhaps there was no other in the chamber at that time.
1 Kings 1:16 16 And Bathsheba bowed and
did homage to the king. Then the king said
“What is your wish?”
YLT
16and Bath-Sheba boweth and
doth obeisance to the king
and the king saith
`What -- to thee?'
And Bathsheba bowed
and
did obeisance to the king
.... Not only as being her husband
but her
sovereign; and this behaviour might intimate
that she had something to say to
him
and more than to inquire of his health:
and the king said
wouldest thou? what hast thou to say to
me? or to ask of me? what is thy will and pleasure
or thine errand to me?
1 Kings 1:17 17 Then she said to him
“My
lord
you swore by the Lord
your God to your maidservant
saying
‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall
reign after me
and he shall sit on my throne.’
YLT
17And she saith to him
`My
lord
thou hast sworn by Jehovah thy God to thy handmaid: Surely Solomon thy son
doth reign after me
and he doth sit on my throne;
And she said unto him
my
lord
thou swarest by the Lord thy God unto thine handmaid
.... Which was
a very solemn oath
and binding
and which she puts David in mind of
knowing
that so conscientious a man as he was would religiously observe it:
saying
assuredly
Solomon thy son shall reign after me
and shall sit upon my throne; be his
successor in it
and established on it.
1 Kings 1:18 18 So now
look! Adonijah has
become king; and now
my lord the king
you do not know about it.
YLT
18and now
lo
Adonijah hath
reigned
and now
my lord
O king
thou hast not known;
And now
behold
Adonijah
reigneth
.... Has set up himself as king
and is by some saluted as such;
but lest it should be thought by David that she suggested by this that he was
guilty of the breach of his oath
or on any account to be blamed
she adds:
and now my lord
O king
thou knowest it not; which as it
acquitted him from all blame
so it made the sin of Adonijah the more heinous
that he should do this without consulting his father about it; and was not only
neglect of him as a father
and an act of disrespect and disobedience to him as
such
but even of high treason
to assume the throne in his father's lifetime
without his consent.
1 Kings 1:19 19 He has sacrificed oxen and
fattened cattle and sheep in abundance
and has invited all the sons of the
king
Abiathar the priest
and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon your
servant he has not invited.
YLT
19and he sacrificeth ox
and
fatling
and sheep in abundance
and calleth for all the sons of the king
and
for Abiathar the priest
and for Joab head of the host -- and for Solomon thy
servant he hath not called.
And he hath slain oxen
and fat cattle
and sheep in abundance
.... Has made a grand
entertainment
and is feasting and rejoicing; which was another instance of
irreverence and disrespect to his aged father
labouring under the infirmities
of old age
and on his dying bed
and he carousing
and showing all the tokens
of pleasure in the view of his death
and wishing for it:
and hath called all the sons of the king; invited them
to his entertainment
in order to gain them to his interest:
and Abiathar the priest
and Joab the captain of the host; two persons
though of eminent rank
she knew David had no respect for
and therefore it
would not be pleasing to him to hear that they were invited
had this affair
been more acceptable than it was; Bathsheba
considering the shortness of the
time she had to think
and the flurry she must be in
very artfully threw
together the most material things that might work upon the mind of David in her
favour:
but Solomon thy servant hath he not called; which made it
a plain case that it was not a feast of a peace offering
nor a common friendly
entertainment
but a feast made on account of his accession to the throne; and
that he looked upon Solomon as his rival
and bore an ill will to him on that
account
and bad a design upon him.
1 Kings 1:20 20 And as for you
my lord
O
king
the eyes of all Israel are on you
that you should tell them who
will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
YLT
20And thou
my lord
O king
the eyes of all Israel [are] on thee
to declare to them who doth sit on the
throne of my lord the king after him;
And thou
my lord
O king
.... As for
thee
or what concerns thee
or is incumbent on thee
will appear from the
expectations of the people:
the eyes of all Israel are upon thee
that thou shouldest
tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him; this she
said
to dissipate any fears that might possess his mind on hearing what
Adonijah had done
that the people in general had assented to it
and
encouraged him to it; whereas the body of the people were waiting to hear what
was the will and determination of David: for they not only considered him as
having a power to name a successor
as was afterwards done by Rehoboam
but as
one that had the mind of God revealed to him who should be his successor
to
which they should pay a regard.
1 Kings 1:21 21 Otherwise it will happen
when my lord the king rests with his fathers
that I and my son Solomon will be
counted as offenders.”
YLT
21and it hath been
when my
lord the king lieth with his fathers
that I have been
I and my son Solomon --
[reckoned] sinners.'
Otherwise it shall come to
pass
when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers
.... That is
shall die
and be buried in the sepulchre of his ancestors
where he shall lie
till he awakes in the morning of the resurrection:
that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders; or
"sinners"F7הטאים
"peccatores"
V. L. Pagninus
Montanus
&c. ; not as if she would
be reckoned an adulteress
and her son as illegitimate
as some think
and so
be branded and treated as such; but as being traitors
making pretensions to
the throne
she on the behalf of her son
and he for himself
when he had no
right to it
being the younger son
and not declared successor by his father.
1 Kings 1:22 22 And just then
while she
was still talking with the king
Nathan the prophet also came in.
YLT
22And lo
she is yet speaking
with the king
and Nathan the prophet hath come in;
And
lo
while she yet
talked with the king
.... Just as she was concluding her speech to him:
Nathan the prophet also came in; as he promised he would;
perhaps was at the chamber door all the while Bathsheba was speaking
and when
he perceived she was just finishing
he entered in without ceremony
as he had
used to do
being the king's seer and counsellor
and a prophet
who had
admittance to the king at any time.
1 Kings 1:23 23 So they told the king
saying
“Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king
he
bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
YLT
23and they declare to the
king
saying
`Lo
Nathan the prophet;' and he cometh in before the king
and
boweth himself to the king
on his face to the earth.
And they told the king
.... Some that
attended at the door
or were in the chamber:
saying
behold
Nathan the prophet; or he is in the room
which the king through his infirmities might not be sensible of:
and when he was come in before the king; nearer to
him
and as to be properly in his presence:
he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground; showing him
the same reverence
though in bed
as if on his throne.
1 Kings 1:24 24 And Nathan said
“My lord
O king
have you said
‘Adonijah shall reign after me
and he shall sit on my
throne’?
YLT
24And Nathan saith
`My lord
O king
thou hast said
Adonijah doth reign after me
and he doth sit on my
throne;
And Nathan said
my lord
O king
.... He addresses him as with great veneration and respect due to
his office
so as if he knew noticing of Bathsheba's application to him; and
therefore begins and tells his story
as if the king had never heard anything
relative to it:
hast thou said
Adonijah shall reign after me
and he shall sit
upon my throne? surely it can never be
because of the notice which he himself
had given him from the Lord
that one to be born should succeed him
plainly
pointing to Solomon; and also because of the oath which he had sworn
to which
Nathan was privy
that Solomon should reign after him; and yet if he had not
given such orders
it was exceeding strange that Adonijah should presume to do
what he had done.
1 Kings 1:25 25 For he has gone down
today
and has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance
and
has invited all the king’s sons
and the commanders of the army
and Abiathar
the priest; and look! They are eating and drinking before him; and they say
‘Long
live King Adonijah!’
YLT
25for he hath gone down
to-day
and doth sacrifice ox
and fatling
and sheep
in abundance
and
calleth for all the sons of the king
and for the heads of the host
and for
Abiathar the priest
and lo
they are eating and drinking before him
and they
say
Let king Adonijah live!
For he is gone down this
day
.... From Jerusalem
which lay high
to the stone of Zoheleth
in
Enrogel
which lay in the valley
1 Kings 1:9;
and hath slain oxen
and fat cattle
and sheep in abundance; not by way of
sacrifice
but for a feast
on account of his coming to the kingdom:
and hath called all the king's sons; invited them to the
entertainment:
and the captains of the host; or army; not only Joab
it seems
the general of it
but the captains of thousands and hundreds under
him
being desirous of engaging the militia in his favour
and which was not an
impolitic step:
and Abiathar the priest; to consult with by Urim
and Thummim
and to anoint him
and use his interest with the populace for him
who might be supposed a man of influence
being the high priest of the nation:
and
behold
they eat and drink before him; they were now
at it
at this time
they were not only invited
but they accepted the
invitation
and came; which is afore than what was before related:
and say
God save King Adonijah; they proclaimed and
saluted him as king
and drank his health
and wished him all prosperity; and
so the Targum
"may
King Adonijah prosper!'
1 Kings 1:26 26 But he has not invited
me—me your servant—nor Zadok the priest
nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
nor
your servant Solomon.
YLT
26`And for me -- me
thy
servant
and for Zadok the priest
and for Benaiah
son of Jehoiada
and for
Solomon thy servant
he hath not called;
But me
even me thy
servant
.... Meaning himself
Nathan the prophet
who was David's servant
his seer
and counsellor:
and Zadok the priest; for whom David had a
great respect:
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; who was captain of his
bodyguards; here Nathan observes more than Bathsheba had
and supplies what she
had omitted
and so filled up her words
as in 1 Kings 1:14;
and thy servant Solomon
hath he not called; which showed
his ill intention.
1 Kings 1:27 27 Has this thing been done
by my lord the king
and you have not told your servant who should sit on the
throne of my lord the king after him?”
YLT
27if from my lord the king
this thing hath been
then thou hast not caused thy servant to know who doth
sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.'
Is this thing done by my
lord the king
.... With his knowledge and consent
and by his orders:
and thou hast not showed it unto thy servant; meaning
himself
who had brought him a message from the Lord
signifying that Solomon
should succeed him; and therefore if that had been countermanded
it seemed
strange that he should not have acquainted him with it: or "to thy
servants"
as the Arabic version; for the word has a plural ending
though
pointed as singular; and so it may mean not only himself
but the rest of
David's faithful servants that were about him at court
as Kimchi observes:
who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him? if he had
altered his mind
or had had any direction from the Lord to make any change
he
wondered at it that he should neither acquaint him
nor any of his trusty
friends
with it.
1 Kings 1:28 28 Then King David answered
and said
“Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence and
stood before the king.
YLT
28And king David answereth
and saith
`Call for me for Bath-Sheba;' and she cometh in before the king
and
standeth before the king.
Then King David answered
and said
.... Observing that Nathan confirmed the account that Bathsheba
had given
and that it must be a matter of fact that Adonijah had usurped the
throne
gave orders to those about him
saying
call me Bathsheba; who either went out of the room when Nathan
entered it
or however removed to some distant part of it
out of the sight of
David:
and she came into the king's presence
and stood before the king; came to the
side or foot of his bed
hearkening to what he had to say to her.
1 Kings 1:29 29 And the king took an oath
and said
“As the Lord
lives
who has redeemed my life from every distress
YLT
29And the king sweareth and
saith
`Jehovah liveth
who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity;
And the king sware
.... To his
former oath
he added another for greater confirmation:
and said
as the Lord liveth; which was the proper
form of an oath
which ought to be taken by the living God; and as what would
lay him under the greater obligation to observe it
he adds
that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress; saved his
life when in the most imminent danger; delivered him out of the hand of
Goliath
and from the Philistines and other enemies
in his wars with them; and
from Saul and his persecuting rage and fury
and from the rebellion of his son
Absalom
and the insurrection of Sheba.
1 Kings 1:30 30 just as I swore to you by
the Lord
God of Israel
saying
‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me
and
he shall sit on my throne in my place
’ so I certainly will do this day.”
YLT
30surely as I sware to thee
by Jehovah
God of Israel
saying
Surely Solomon thy son doth reign after me
and he doth sit on my throne in my stead; surely so I do this day.'
Even as I sware unto thee
by the Lord God of Israel
.... And so owns and confirms the truth of
what Nathan had suggested to Bathsheba
and she had asserted
1 Kings 1:13;
saying
assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me
and he
shall sit upon my throne in my stead; this was the substance
of the oath:
even so will I certainly do this day; perform this
oath
and set Solomon on the throne.
1 Kings 1:31 31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her
face to the earth
and paid homage to the king
and said
“Let my lord King
David live forever!”
YLT
31And Bath-Sheba boweth --
face to the earth -- and doth obeisance to the king
and saith
`Let my lord
king David
live to the age.'
Then Bathsheba bowed with her
face to the earth
and did reverence to the king
.... Thereby expressing
her veneration of him
and thankfulness to him for his favour to her and her
son
in fulfilling his promise and oath:
and said
let my lord King David live for ever; which though
a common form of salutation of kings
not only in Israel
but in other nations
is not to be considered as a mere compliment
but as expressing the real
desires and affection of her heart to the king; signifying hereby that her
solicitations on the behalf of her son did not arise from any desire of the
king's death; she heartily wished him health to live long and easy; and all her
request was
that Solomon her son might succeed him
whenever it pleased God to
remove him; or seeing he was now a dying man as it were
her prayer was that
his soul might live for ever in happiness in the world to come; so Kimchi
interprets it.
1 Kings 1:32 32 And King David said
“Call
to me Zadok the priest
Nathan the prophet
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.”
So they came before the king.
YLT
32And king David saith
`Call
for me for Zadok the priest
and for Nathan the prophet
and for Benaiah son of
Jehoiada;' and they come in before the king.
And King David said
call
me Zadok the priest
.... Not Abiathar the high priest
for he had joined Adonijah;
and besides Zadok was David's favourite priest
and for him the high priesthood
was designed
as it was in a little time translated to him:
and Nathan the prophet; who very probably went
out of the room when Bathsheba was called in: and
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; the captain of his
guards:
and they came before the king; who it is very likely
sat up in his bed
and they stood around him.
1 Kings 1:33 33 The king also said to
them
“Take with you the servants of your lord
and have Solomon my son ride on
my own mule
and take him down to Gihon.
YLT
33And the king saith to them
`Take with you the servants of your lord
and ye have caused Solomon my son to
ride on mine own mule
and caused him to go down unto Gihon
And the king said unto
them
take ye the servants of your lord
.... Meaning his own
servants
his bodyguards
the Cherethites and Pelethites
as appears from 1 Kings 1:38; the
JewsF1Bemidbar Rabba
sect. 6. fol. 186. 3. from hence gather
that
a king is superior to an high priest
since David calls himself the lord of
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet:
and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule; for it seems
on such a creature David used to ride
as did his sons; horses not being so
common in Judea as they were afterwards. Some of the JewsF2Vid.
Bartenoram in Misn. Celaim
c. 8. sect. 1. say it was not lawful to ride upon a
mule
and that this case of David is to be excepted; for they pretend that this
was a peculiar mule; and if the instance of his son urged
they reply
an
argument from what kings and their sons used to do is of no force. Now this was
one way of testifying that it was his will that Solomon should reign in his
stead; for no private person might ride upon the beast the king was wont to
ride on; this is now one of the Jewish canonsF3Misn. Sanhedrin
c.
2. sect. 5.
"no
one may ride on the king's horse
nor sit on his throne
nor use his sceptre:'
and bring him down to Gihon; a fountain near
Jerusalem
on the west side of it
which flowed from Mount Gihon
2 Chronicles 32:30;
the same with Siloah according to the Targum
of which mention is made
John 9:7. The
reason for this order is not easily given; whether it was to denote the
peaceableness and gentleness of Solomon's government
the waters of Shiloah
moving softly
Isaiah 8:6
or the
spread
constancy
firmness
and perpetuity of it
as the Jews sayF4T.
Bab. Horayot
fol. 12. 1.
since the water of a fountain is ever running; or
because there might be a concourse of people there
and so he would be anointed
and proclaimed king in a public manner
and be attended to the city with great
pomp and solemnity.
1 Kings 1:34 34 There let Zadok the priest
and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel; and blow the horn
and say
‘Long live King Solomon!’
YLT
34and anointed him there hath
Zadok the priest -- and Nathan the prophet -- for king over Israel
and ye have
blown with a trumpet
and said
Let king Solomon live;
And let Zadok the priest
and Nathan the prophet
anoint him there king over Israel
.... For it
might be done by either of them
as the unctions of Saul and David show:
and blow ye the trumpet
and say
God save King Solomon; the blowing
of the trumpet was to make it public; the proclamation of him as king was to be
made by the sound of it
and the acclamation of the people was to express their
concurrence with it
their loyal affection to the new king
and their hearty
wishes for his health
prosperity
and long life.
1 Kings 1:35 35 Then you shall come up
after him
and he shall come and sit on my throne
and he shall be king in my
place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”
YLT
35and ye have come up after
him
and he hath come in and hath sat on my throne
and he doth reign in my
stead
and him I have appointed to be leader over Israel
and over Judah.'
Then ye shall come up
after him
.... When anointed
proclaimed
and cheered
then he was to mount
the mule
and ride before them as their king
at the head of them; they
following after
in token of their subjection to him:
that he may come and sit upon my throne; at Jerusalem
in the king's palace
and there exercise his kingly power he would now be
invested with:
for he shall be king in my stead; even during David's
life
as well as after his decease:
and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel
and over Judah; that is
over
all the twelve tribes of Israel Judah may be particularly mentioned
though
included in Israel
because Adonijah had invited the men of Judah to his feast
and party
1 Kings 1:9; and
therefore had they not been named
might think he had no power over them.
1 Kings 1:36 36 Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada answered the king and said
“Amen! May the Lord God of my lord
the king say so too.
YLT
36And Benaiah son of Jehoiada
answereth the king
and saith
`Amen! so doth Jehovah
God of my lord the king
say;
And Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada answered the king
.... In the name of the rest:
and said
Amen; they all assented to it
and expressed
their satisfaction in it:
the Lord God of my lord the king say so too; let it
appear
by the prosperity and success that shall by divine Providence attend
the new king
that this is according to the will of God.
1 Kings 1:37 37 As the Lord has been with
my lord the king
even so may He be with Solomon
and make his throne greater
than the throne of my lord King David.”
YLT
37as Jehovah hath been with
my lord the king
so is He with Solomon
and doth make his throne greater than
the throne of my lord king David.'
As the Lord hath been with
my lord the king
even so be he with Solomon
.... To guide and direct
him
protect and defend him
succeed and prosper him the Targum is
"as
the Word of the Lord has been the help of my lord the king
so let him be for
the help of Solomon:'
and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David: which he knew
would not displease David
who not only had an affectionate regard for Solomon
his son
but wished heartily the prosperity of the kingdom of Israel; and the
wish on all accounts was grateful to him
though to an envious and ambitious
prince it might have been disagreeable.
1 Kings 1:38 38 So Zadok the priest
Nathan the prophet
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
the Cherethites
and the
Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule
and took him to
Gihon.
YLT
38And Zadok the priest goeth
down
and Nathan the prophet
and Benaiah son of Jehoiada
and the Cherethite
and the Pelethite
and they cause Solomon to ride on the mule of king David
and cause him to go unto Gihon
So Zadok the priest
and
Nathan the prophet
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
.... The three
men that David sent for on this occasion:
and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; not the
sanhedrim
as Ben Gersom
but David's guards
over whom Benaiah was: these
went down; from Jerusalem;
and caused Solomon to ride upon King David's mule; as he had
ordered:
and brought him to Gihon; or Siloah
as the
Targum; hence the Jews sayF5T. Bab. Ceritot
fol. 5. 2.
they do
not anoint a king but at a fountain; but this is the only instance of it.
1 Kings 1:39 39 Then Zadok the priest took
a horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the horn
and all the people said
“Long live King Solomon!”
YLT
39and Zadok the priest taketh
the horn of oil out of the tent
and anointeth Solomon
and they blow with a
trumpet
and all the people say
`Let king Solomon live.'
And Zadok the priest took
an horn of oil out of the tabernacle
.... Not out of the
tabernacle of Moses
for that was at Gibeon; see 1 Chronicles 21:29;
and if the oil had been there
it would have been too far to have fetched it
since haste was now required; but this was taken out of the tabernacle David
had built for the ark
2 Samuel 6:17;
where the ark was
and before which the pot of oil was; so Jarchi; but Kimchi
indeed says
that though it was at this time at Gibeon
Zadok went thither
or
sent thither to fetch it; and though it is said
the pot of oil was set before
the ark
this was when the ark was in the tabernacle; but when they took it out
from thence at the war with the Philistines
that and the pot of manna were
left in the tabernacle; and they took nothing but the ark; but if they brought
the pot afterwards
and put it before the ark in Jerusalem
then it may be
understood of the tabernacle David pitched for it; but that he disapproves of.
Here Zadok is only said to take the oil
and anoint with it; which he did
either as the deputy of the high priest
or he was made use of because the high
priest was on the side of Adonijah:
and anointed Solomon; whether it was by
pouring it on his head
as Saul was anointed
1 Samuel 10:1; or
as
the Jews sayF6T. Bab. Ceritot
fol. 5. 2.
by putting it round
about his head in the form of a crown
and then between his eyebrows
is not
very material; and they also sayF7Ibid.
that it is not usual to
anoint the son of a king that has been anointed; and that the reason of the
anointing of Solomon was
because of the sedition of his brother Adonijah
and
to confirm the kingdom to him; this anointing was an emblem of the gifts
graces
and virtues
necessary to qualify a king for the discharge of his
office:
and they blew the trumpet; and proclaimed him king:
and all the people said
God save King Solomon; wished him
long life and happiness
and gave him a general huzza or shouting.
1 Kings 1:40 40 And all the people went up
after him; and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy
so
that the earth seemed to split with their sound.
YLT
40And all the people come up
after him
and the people are piping with pipes
and rejoicing -- great joy
and the earth rendeth with their voice.
And all the people came up
after him
.... Following him from the fountain to the city
with their loud
acclamations:
and the people piped with pipes; which were hollow
instruments
and full of holes which they blew with their mouths
and upon with
their fingers; Jarchi says they were and very probably:
and rejoiced with great joy; which they expressed by
such loud shouts:
so that the earth rent with the sound thereof; an
hyperbolical expression
showing the great numbers gathered together on this
occasion
and the sonorous acclamations they made.
1 Kings 1:41 41 Now Adonijah and all the
guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. And
when Joab heard the sound of the horn
he said
“Why is the city in such
a noisy uproar?”
YLT
41And Adonijah heareth
and
all those called
who [are] with him
and they have finished to eat
and Joab
heareth the noise of the trumpet
and saith
`Wherefore [is] the noise of the
city roaring?'
And Adonijah and all the
guests that were with him
.... Or that were
"called"F8קראים
"invitati"
V. L. Pagninus
Montanus
&c. ; that is
invited to
the entertainment he had made:
heard it
as they had made an end of eating; the shouting
of the people
which reached their ears just as they had finished their meal
and before they had risen from the table
where they had been a long while; for
when Nathan went in to David
they were then eating and drinking
1 Kings 1:25; and
when he had finished his speech to David
Bathsheba was called in
and the
kingdom promised to her son with an oath
three persons of the first rank were
sent for
and had their orders and instructions
for the immediate execution of
which they made preparation
and had Solomon down to Gihon
and there anointed
him king
and brought him up to Jerusalem again; all which were done before
Adonijah and his guests rose from table:
and when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet
he said
wherefore is
this noise of the city being in an uproar? the city is in a tumult
by the noise that is made
what should be the meaning of it? he speaks as one
surprised
and in great concern
being general of the army
whose care should
be to preserve the peace of the city
and prevent mutiny and disorder.
1 Kings 1:42 42 While he was still
speaking
there came Jonathan
the son of Abiathar the priest. And Adonijah
said to him
“Come in
for you are a prominent man
and bring good
news.”
YLT
42He is yet speaking
and lo
Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest hath come in
and Adonijah saith
`Come in
for a man of valour thou [art]
and thou bearest good tidings.'
And while he yet spake
behold
Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came
.... Whom his
father had left in the city
to observe what passed there
and give him notice
of it:
and Adonijah said unto him
come in
for thou art a valiant
man
and bringest good tidings; which seems to be not a very wise speech
as if there was a connection between being valiant
and bringing good news
or
that the one had any influence upon the other; though perhaps it means no more
than a good man
"a man of virtue"F9איש
חיל "vir virtutis"
Montanus
Vatablus.
as it may be rendered; one that fears sin
as the Targum
and so would report
nothing but what was true
and therefore might be depended on; see 2 Samuel 18:27; the
same phrase is rendered "a worthy man"
1 Kings 1:52.
1 Kings 1:43 43 Then Jonathan answered and
said to Adonijah
“No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
YLT
43And Jonathan answereth and
saith to Adonijah
`Verily our lord king David hath caused Solomon to reign
And Jonathan answered and
said to Adonijah
verily
.... Or
"nay
but"F11אבל
"nequaquam"
V. L. Junius & Tremellius
Piscator. it is not so as
you imagine; it is not good tidings
but bad tidings to thee I bring:
our lord King David hath made Solomon king; of which he
gives the following account in proof of it.
1 Kings 1:44 44 The king has sent with him
Zadok the priest
Nathan the prophet
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
the
Cherethites
and the Pelethites; and they have made him ride on the king’s
mule.
YLT
44and the king sendeth with
him Zadok the priest
and Nathan the prophet
and Benaiah son of Jehoiada
and
the Cherethite
and the Pelethite
and they cause him to ride on the king's
mule
And the king hath sent
with him
.... To the fountain of Gihon:
Zadok the priest
and Nathan the prophet
and Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada
and the Cherethites
and the Pelethites; over whom the
latter was captain:
and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule; by his order
and direction.
1 Kings 1:45 45 So Zadok the priest and
Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have gone up from
there rejoicing
so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise
that you have heard.
YLT
45and they anoint him --
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet -- for king in Gihon
and are come up
thence rejoicing
and the city is moved; it [is] the noise that ye have heard.
And Zadok the priest
and
Nathan the prophet
have anointed him king in Gihon
.... Or at
Gihon; that is
Siloah
according to the Targum; here the act of anointing is
ascribed to them both
as in 1 Kings 1:34; Zadok
very probably applied the oil to him
and Nathan might be some way or other
assisting in it; however he was here present
not only as approving of it
but
declaring it as a prophet
that it was according to the will of God
as well as
of the king:
and they are come up from thence rejoicing; with a
multitude of people along with them:
so that the city rang again; with the blowing of
trumpets
the sound of pipings
and the shouts of the people:
this is the noise which ye have heard; which had so
alarmed them.
1 Kings 1:46 46 Also Solomon sits on the
throne of the kingdom.
YLT
46`And also Solomon hath sat
on the throne of the kingdom
And also Solomon sitteth
on the throne of the kingdom. Where he was placed to exercise his regal
power when returned to Jerusalem
as a further token and confirmation of his
being really and actually king.
1 Kings 1:47 47 And moreover the king’s
servants have gone to bless our lord King David
saying
‘May God make the name
of Solomon better than your name
and may He make his throne greater than your
throne.’ Then the king bowed himself on the bed.
YLT
47and also the servants of
the king have come into bless our lord king David
saying
Thy God doth make
the name of Solomon better than thy name
and his throne greater than thy
throne; and the king boweth himself on the bed
And moreover the king's
servants came to bless our lord the king
.... To give him thanks
for the wise and good provision he had made before his death for the welfare of
the kingdom
by making Solomon his son king in his stead
and to congratulate
him upon it; which showed that they highly approved of it
and were ready to
swear allegiance to Solomon
and therefore Adonijah had nothing to hope for
from them:
saying
God make the name of Solomon better than thy name; that is
may
he be more famous
and his name be more celebrated in the world than his was
or be more respectable and valued among his people Israel:
and make his throne greater than thy throne; see 1 Kings 1:37;
and the king bowed himself upon the bed; signifying
not only his approbation of what was done
but also of their prayers and
wishes; as well as he bowed himself to give thanks to God that he had lived to
see this work done
as follows.
1 Kings 1:48 48 Also the king said thus
‘Blessed be the Lord
God of Israel
who has given one to sit on my throne this day
while my
eyes see it!’”
YLT
48and also thus hath the king
said
Blessed [is] Jehovah
God of Israel
who hath given to-day [one] sitting
on my throne
and mine eyes seeing.'
And also thus said the
king
.... Being in a proper posture for an address to God:
blessed be the Lord God of Israel
which hath given one
to sit on my throne this day
mine eyes seeing it; he ascribes
this whole affair to God
and his kind providence
though all things were done
according to his own orders; and gives thanks to him
who had directed him to
take such steps as these were
and that the business was finished without any
obstruction
and to the great joy and satisfaction of the people; and that
there was such a prospect of Solomon's having a happy and peaceable reign.
1 Kings 1:49 49 So all the guests who were
with Adonijah were afraid
and arose
and each one went his way.
YLT
49And they tremble
and rise
-- all those called who [are] for Adonijah -- and go
each on his way;
And all the guests that were
with Adonijah were afraid
.... Though many of them
were military men
the general of the army
and the captains thereof
1 Kings 1:19; yet
they were struck with a panic
their courage failed them
they had no spirit
left in them
their hearts became as weak as water; had they exerted themselves
according to their character
betaken themselves to arms
and put themselves at
the head of their troops in favour of Adonijah
it would have given Solomon and
his friends a great deal of trouble; no doubt this panic was of God:
and rose up
and went every man his way; or to his
house
as the Arabic version; on hearing what Jonathan reported
they
immediately rose up from table in great haste
and made the best of their way
to their houses
that it might not be known that they had been with Adonijah.
1 Kings 1:50 50 Now Adonijah was afraid of
Solomon; so he arose
and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
YLT
50and Adonijah feareth
because of Solomon
and riseth
and goeth
and layeth hold on the horns of the
altar.
And Adonijah feared
because of Solomon
.... Lest he should seize him as an usurper and traitor
and put
him to death:
and arose
and went
and caught hold on the horns of the altar; either that
which was at Gibeon
where the tabernacle now was; see 1 Kings 3:4; so
Jarchi; or rather that which was nearest
the altar that David had built in the
threshingfloor of Araunah
2 Samuel 24:25; the
altar was a sort of asylum
or refuge
for such who had committed any crime
worthy of death; not by divine appointment
but by custom
it being supposed
that none would presume to defile with blood that which was sacred to the Lord;
or shed the blood of men where the blood of beasts was poured; or use severity
and strict justice
but mercy
where sacrifices were offered to atone for sin
and mercy was shown on account of them; these were notions
and this a custom
which obtained very early
and even among the Jews; see Exodus 21:14; as
well as among Gentiles; with whom it was usual
as to flee to the statues of
their emperors
and to the temples of their deities
so likewise to their
altars; this was customary among the Molossians
Samothracians
Crotoniatae
and Messenians; and particularly the altar of Jupiter Servator was an asylum
or place of refuge
to the IthaciansF12Alexander ab Alex. Genial.
Dier. l. 3. c. 20. . Cornelius NeposF13Vit. Pausan l. 4. c. 4. has
given us an instance of one that fled to a temple of Neptune
and sat upon the
altar for his security
as here Adonijah laid hold on the horns of this
that
none might force him from it.
1 Kings 1:51 51 And it was told Solomon
saying
“Indeed Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; for look
he has taken hold
of the horns of the altar
saying
‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he
will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”
YLT
51And it is declared to
Solomon
saying
`Lo
Adonijah feareth king Solomon
and lo
he hath laid hold
on the horns of the altar
saying
Let king Solomon swear to me as to-day -- he
doth not put to death his servant by the sword.'
And it was told Solomon
.... By some
of his courtiers:
saying
behold
Adonijah feareth King Solomon; lest he
should take away his life:
for
lo
he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar; which was the
last resort of the guilty when they despaired of mercy otherwise:
saying
let King Solomon swear unto me this day that he will not
slay his servant with the sword; he owns Solomon to be king
and himself his
subject and servant; this no doubt he did to conciliate his favour
nor did he
think his life safe
unless Solomon promised with an oath
that he would not
take it away.
1 Kings 1:52 52 Then Solomon said
“If he
proves himself a worthy man
not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but
if wickedness is found in him
he shall die.”
YLT
52And Solomon saith
`If he
becometh a virtuous man -- there doth not fall of his hair to the earth
and if
evil is found in him -- then he hath died.'
And Solomon said
if he
will show himself a worthy man
.... Will behave himself well as a good
subject
and be careful not to offend for the future
or appear to be one that
fears sin
as the Targum; particularly the crimes of sedition
rebellion
and
treason:
there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth; not the least
harm should be done him:
but if wickedness shall be found in him
he shall die; that is
if
any crime worthy of death be committed by him
or any overt act of treason
and
the like
he should surely be put to death
and find no mercy
notwithstanding
the present general pardon. This was very wisely done by Solomon
to begin his
reign without shedding blood even of delinquents; and especially of his
brother
and his elder brother too; and by granting his life for the future on
his good behaviour.
1 Kings 1:53 53 So King Solomon sent them
to bring him down from the altar. And he came and fell down before King
Solomon; and Solomon said to him
“Go to your house.”
YLT
53And king Solomon sendeth
and they bring him down from off the altar
and he cometh in and boweth himself
to king Solomon
and Solomon saith to him
`Go to thy house.'
So King Solomon sent
and
they brought down Adonijah from the altar
.... It being built upon
an hill
as both that at Gibeon
and in Araunah's threshing floor
were:
and he came and bowed himself to King Solomon; in a way of
reverence and subjection
acknowledging him to be king
and himself his
subject:
and Solomon said to him
go to thine house; in peace;
signifying that he pardoned him
and he might go home
and enjoy his family and
substance; and by this intimating that he should only regard the affairs of his
family
and not trouble himself with those of the kingdom and state
Abarbinel
fancies
that because Solomon said
that if he showed himself to be a worthy
man
or a man of fortitude and valour
that Adonijah thought that his meaning
was
that he should go before him as a man of war
and minister to him; which
made him so ready to come and stand before him; in which he was mistaken
Solomon meant no such thing; nor would he take him into his court and service
but sent him home to his own house.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》