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1 Kings Chapter One

 

1 Kings 1 Outlines

Adonijah Presumes to Be King (v.1~27)

David Proclaims Solomon King (v.28~53)

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