II. The narrative in this chapter still continues much in the same graphic style and detail as in the previous chapter. During the interval between the two Chapter s we have in 1 Chronicles 28, 29 the record of a great assembly of the “princes of Israel” and the whole realm — a solemn farewell of Da... [ Continue Reading ]
I GO THE WAY OF ALL THE EARTH. — Comp. Joshua 23:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP THE CHARGE. — The main charge to Solomon is noble enough. He is to “show himself a man,” in spite of his youth; he is to take heed in all things to follow the Law of the Lord; he is to trust both in the general promise of God to obedience, and in the special promise made to the house of David ... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT JOAB... DID. — The charge as to Joab has a certain righteousness in it. David could not — probably since Joab’s knowledge of his great crime, he dared not — punish him as he deserved. There is a graphic vividness in the description of the blood of his victims, shed as “the blood of war in peace... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEW KINDNESS. — The charge of favour to the sons of Barzillai (see 2 Samuel 19:37) stands out in pleasant contrast. It has been noted that in Jeremiah 41:17 there is a reference to “the habitation of Chimham,” as being “by Bethlehem,” David’s own birthplace; as if David had given him inheritance th... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST WITH THEE SHIMEI. — The most ungenerous charge is the virtual withdrawal of the pardon, freely granted to Shimei long before (2 Samuel 19:18). It is, perhaps, partly dictated by policy; for the notice of Shimei (2 Samuel 16:5; 2 Samuel 19:17) shows that he was powerful, and that he assumed... [ Continue Reading ]
BURIED IN THE CITY OF DAVID — that is, evidently in Mount Sion. In Nehemiah 3:16 the “sepulchres of David” are noticed, and they are plainly alluded to in Ezekiel 43:7; Ezekiel 43:9. They became the regular tombs of the kings, with some exceptions particularly noticed. It was in token of special hon... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS KINGDOM WAS ESTABLISHED GREATLY. — From the notice in the closing verse of the chapter, that after the deaths of Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei, and the degradation of Abiathar, “the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon,” it would seem that, under the smooth surface of apparent loyalty, th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ADONIJAH... CAME. — The application of Adonijah to Bath-sheba, and the signs of honour paid to her by the king — of which there is no trace in her approach to the presence of David (1 Kings 1:15; 1 Kings 1:28; 1 Kings 1:31) — illustrate the universal custom of Eastern monarchies; by which, while... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU KNOWEST. — Adonijah’s words show craft, flattering Bath-sheba by extolling her influence, and making merit of his surrender to Solomon, in obedience to the Lord’s decree, of a kingdom which, in evident contradiction to fact, he asserts to have been destined to him by popular desire. The petitio... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHY DOST THOU ASK? — In Solomon’s answer there is a certain bitterness, venting itself in irony, which seems to argue the mingling with kingly dignity and policy of some passionate feeling, not unlike the bursts of passion in his father, as in the case of Nabal (1 Samuel 25:21). It certainly giv... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD DO SO TO ME, AND MORE ALSO. — See Ruth 1:17; 1 Samuel 3:17; 1 Samuel 14:44; 1 Samuel 20:13; 1 Samuel 25:22; 2 Samuel 11:14, &c. This well-known formula of imprecation — which the LXX. renders, “May God do these things to me and add these things also “ — was probably accompanied with some gesture... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE LORD LIVETH, WHICH HATH... — There is something characteristic in this adjuration, as compared with that of David in 1 Kings 1:29. In David we always see the living man, whose soul longs after God with a vivid personal devotion. Solomon is emphatically the king, sitting on the throne of David... [ Continue Reading ]
SENT BY THE HAND OF BENAIAH. — The chief of the body-guard is the chief of “the executioners” (see 1 Kings 1:38), apparently, in the case of great criminals, carrying out the sentence of condemnation with his own hand. (Comp. Judges 8:20.)... [ Continue Reading ]
ANATHOTH is noted, in Joshua 21:18; 1 Chronicles 6:60, as a city of the priests in the territory of Benjamin, but a few miles from Jerusalem, and is best known to us as the birthplace of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1; Jeremiah 32:7). It is notable that it is not Abiathar’s priestly character which protects... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE MIGHT FULFIL. — In these words is described, not the purpose, but the effect of Solomon’s action. The prophecy referred to is, of course, that of 1 Samuel 2:30; 1 Samuel 3:11, fulfilled by the degradation, in Abiathar’s person, of the house of Ithamar, and the exaltation, or restoration, in... [ Continue Reading ]
JOAB HAD TURNED. — It is strange that Joab should have been in no danger or anxiety immediately after the actual failure of the conspiracy; and it is also notable that, although the real motive for putting him to death was to punish his support of Adonijah, now renewed, yet Solomon’s words in pronou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING PUT. — Benaiah succeeds to Joab’s command over the host: but it is notable that in the Hebrew text of 1 Kings 4:2, there is no mention of any successor to his command over the body-guard.... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED FOR SHIMEI. — The command given to Shimei is in itself a reasonable precaution against treason, in one already powerful and of doubtful fidelity; and the reference to crossing the Kedron shows that it was designed to prevent his resorting to his native place, Bahurim. But it is difficult, in... [ Continue Reading ]
ACHISH SON OF MAACHAH. — In 1 Samuel 27:2 we read of Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath; but chronology makes it most unlikely that the same person should here be referred to. The name may have been hereditary.... [ Continue Reading ]