Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Kings 1

NOW king David was old, and stricken in years , and they covered him with cloathes, but he gat no heat .

Being in the end of his seventieth Year.

Which is not strange in a person not onely of so great an age, but also who had been exercised with so many hardships in War, and with such tormenting cares, and fears, and sorrows, for his own sins (as divers of his Psalms witness) and for the sins and miseries of his Children and People. See Prov. 17. 22. Besides, this might be from the nature of his Disease, or Bodily Distemper.

Marginal references: Heb. entred into days.

2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin , and let her stand before the king , and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom , that my lord the king may get heat.

His Physicians.

Whose Natural heat is fresh and wholsom, and not impaired with bearing or breeding of Children. The same counsel doth Galen give for the cure of some cold and dry Distempers.

i. e. Minister unto him, or wait upon him, (as this Phrase is oft used) in his sickness, as occasion requires.

As his Wife or Concubine: for that she was so, may appear by divers arguments. First, Otherwise this had been a wicked counsel and course; which therefore neither his Servants durst have prescribed, nor would David have used, especially being now in a dying condition. And seeing this was easily prevented by his taking her for his Concubine, which then was esteemed allowable, it is absurd to think that he would not chuse the safer way. 2dly, That passage v. 4. but the king knew her not, implies that the King might have had carnal knowledge of her without sin or scandal. Thirdly, It appears from this Phrase of lying in his bosom, which is every where in Scripture mentioned as the priviledge of a Wife and Concubine, as Gen. 16. 5. Deut. 13. 6. 2 Sam. 12. 8. Mic. 7. 5. Fourthiy, This made Adonijah's crime in desiring her to Wife, so hainous in Solomon's account, because he wisely saw, that by Marrying the Kings Wife he designed to revive his pretence to the Kingdom, at least in case of Solomon's death; which pretence had been ridiculous, if she had been onely the Kings handmaid.

Marginal references: Heb. let them seek.; Heb. a damsel a virgin.; Heb. be a cherisher unto him.

3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel; and found Abishag a Shunammite , and brought her to the king.

Whose beauty might ingage his affections, and refresh his spirits, and invite him to those embraces which might communicate some of her Natural heat to him, as was designed.

Of the City of Shunem in Issachar, Ios. 19. 18. See 2 King. 4. 8.

4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministred unto him: but the king knew her not .

Which is mentioned to note the continuance and progress of the Kings malady, and the ground of Adonijah's Rebellion, and of his following request, chap. 2. 17.

5 ¶ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself , saying, I will be king : and he prepared him charets, and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him .

Upon notice of the desperateness of the Kings Disease, and the approach of his death.

See 2 Sam. 3. 4.

Entertained high thoughts and designs.

As the right of the Kingdom is mine, v. 6. so I will now take possession of it, lest Solomon attempt to deprive me of it.

As Absalom had done upon the like occasion, 2 Sam. 15. 1. such ill use did he make of that example, that he committed the same wickedness which he had done, and yet feared not the same disappointment and destruction which he brought upon himself.

Marginal references: Heb. reign.

6 And his father had not displeased him at any time , in saying, Why hast thou done so ? And he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom ▪

This is noted as David's great error, and the occasion of Adonijah's presumption.

He neither restrained him from, nor reproved him for, his miscarriages: which was a great sin against that plain Law, Levit. 19. 17. and severely punished in Eli, which David was not ignorant of, except Adonijah's errors were small or concealed from David.

This particle relates either, [illegible: 1+ letters]irst, To Absalom here following, who also was a goodly man. Or rather, Secondly, to what goes before, to signifie that this was a second ground of his confidence, because his great comeliness made him amiable in the peoples eyes, as his Fathers indulgence was the first.

i. e. Next after Absalom was born of his Mother: See 2 Sam. 3. 3, 4.

Marginal references: Heb. from his days.

7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Ze ruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah, helped him .

Either, because they thought the right of the Crown was his: or rather, from secret grudges, because they perceived themselves neglected by David, and possibly by Solomon too; and from carnal policy, that they might secure and advance their own Interest, which they saw to be in manifest danger.

Marginal references: Heb. his words were with Joab.; Heb. helped after Adonijah.

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David , were not with Adonijah.

His great and famous Commanders, and the Guards, and Soldiers under them.

Marginal references: Chap. 4. 18.; 2 Sam, [illegible: 1+ letters]3. 8.

9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen, and fat cattel , by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel , and called all his brethren the kings sons , and all the men of Judah the kings servants .

Partly, for a Sacrifice; and partly, for Feasts, that he might engage God to be on his side, and draw a multitude of people after him.

Or, the fountain of Rogel, or, of the Fuller: a place nigh to Ierusalem. See Ios. 15. 7. and 18. 16. 2 Sam. 17. 17.

Either, because he knew they envied, and were discontented with Solomon, and therefore would favour him, or that he might engage them so to do.

Except these here excepted, v. 10.

Marginal references: Or, the well Rogel.

10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men , and Solomon his brother he called not.

Because he knew they favoured Solomon his Competitor

11 ¶ Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon , saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not ?

Being prompted to it both by his Piety in fulfilling the will of God declared to him, and by him to David concerning Solomon's Succession, 2 Sam. 7. 13. 1 Chron. 22. 8, 9. and by his prudence, as knowing that Adonijah hated him for being the principal instrument of Solomon's advancement.

Who being retired and private in her appartment, was yet ignorant of what was done abroad: and, who was likely to be most zealous in the cause, and most prevalent with David.

So far is he from consenting to it, as thou mayest fear, or others think, that they have not yet acquainted him with it.

Marginal references: 2 Sam. 34.

12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon .

For he will never reckon himself safe till his Competitor and his Friends be taken out of the way.

13 Go, and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine hand maid , saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne ? Why then doth Adonijah reign ▪

i. e. Thou didst Swear; which David himself owneth, v. 30. which probably he did to satisfie Bathsheba's doubts and fears about it, and to oblige himself to a compliance with the Divine will declared about it. See chap. 2. 15. and 1 Chron. 28. 5.

So she calleth her self, to testify her reverence and subjection to him, not onely as her Husband, but as her King.

Another expression of the same thing, to signify David's sincerity and fervency in his Swearing, which adds to his obligation.

How comes this to pass? Or why do[illegible: 1+ letters]t thou suffer it?

Marginal references: 1 Chr. 22. 9.

17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne:

To whom thou art highly obliged, whose name thou justly fearest and honourest, and therefore thou wilt'st not pollute it by Perjury, but make Conscience of thy Oath.

18 And now behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now my lord the king, thou knowest it not .

This she adds, partly, lest she should seem to accuse the King of inconstancy and perfidiousness; and partly, to aggravate Adonijah's crime, from that gross neglect and contempt of the King, which did accompany it.

19 And he hath slain oxen, and fat cattel, and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

Who is not so presumptuous as Adonijah, usurping the Throne before his time, but carries himself modestly, and submissively, as thy Son, and Servant, and Subject.

20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee , that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit upon the throne of my lord the king after him .

The generality of the People are in suspence, whether Adonijah's practices be with thy consent or no, and wait for thy Sen[illegible: 1+ letters]ence, which they will readily embrace.

She speaks onely in general, as owning the Kings Prerogative to give the Crown to which of his Sons he pleased, if he had not restrained himself by his Oath to Solomon.

i. e. After thy death. Whereby she taxeth Adonijah's ambition, who usurped the Crown whilst his Father lived.

21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers , that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders .

i. e. Die as his Fathers did. See Gen. 47. 30.

We shall be punished with death as Malefactors, as guilty of practising against the right Heir of the Crown, and transferring the Kingdom to Solomon, and covering our ambitious designs with a pretence of Religion.

Marginal references: Heb. shall be sinners.

22 ¶ And lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in .

To discourse with the King; which made it fit for her to withdraw, as she did, v. 28.

24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said , Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

Is this done by thy consent, without which it seems strange that he durst attempt it?

26 But me, even me thy servant , and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon hath he not called.

Whom he knew to be acquainted with thy mind, and with the mind of God in this matter: and therefore his neglect of me herein gives me cause to suspect that this is done without thy privity: which now I come to know.

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant , who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

Who, having been an instrument in delivering Gods message to thee concerning thy Successor, might reasonably expect that if the king had changed his mind, or God had since made some revelation contrary to the former, thou wouldest have acquainted me with it, as being both a Prophet of the Lord, and one whom thou hast always found Faithful to thee, and to whom thou hast used to communicate thy secret counsels.

28 ¶ Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba: and she came into the kings presence, and stood before the king.

Who, upon Nathan's approach to the King had modestly withdrawn her self, either into another Room, or into another part of this Room, more remote from the Bed upon which David lay.

Marginal references: Heb. before the king.

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever .

i. e. For a long time, as that word is oft used, as Chap. 2. 33. Dan. 2. 4. Though I desire thy Oath may be kept, and the right of Succession confirmed to my Son, yet I am far from thirsting after thy death for his advancement, and should rather rejoyce, if it were possible for thee to live and enjoy thy Crown for ever.

33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord , and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule , and bring him down to Gihon .

i. e. My publick Officers, and my Guards.

As a token that the Royal Dignity is transferred upon Solomon, and that by my consent. Compare Gen. 41. 43. Esth. 6. 8.

A River near Ierusalem, on the West side, as may be gathered from 2 Chron. 32. 30. as En-rogel, where Adonijah was inaugurated, was on the East-side. This place David chose, either, as remore from Adonijah and his company, that so the people might go thither, and be there without fear of Tumults or Bloodshed; or to shew that Solomon was chosen King in opposition to Adonijah: or, because this was a place of great resort, and fit to receive and display that numerous company, which he knew would follow Solomon thither: or, that he might from thence return and make the more magnificent entrance into the City.

Marginal references: Heb. which belongeth to me.

34 And let Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet , and say, God save king Solomon.

As they used to do where there was any thing new, or doubtful, extraordinary in the Succession, as 1 Sam. 10. 1. and 16. 12, 13. 1 King. 19. 15, 16. 2 King. 9. 3. And this unction signified both the designation of the Persons to the Office, and the Gifts and Graces which were necessary for their Office, and which, they seeking them sincerely from God, might expect to receive.

To make the action more Solemn, and Glorious, and Publick.

35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead ; and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel, and over Judah .

My Deputy and Vice-King whilst I live, and absolutely King when I die. Or, if David and Solomon were Joint-Kings, it is no more than was afterwards frequent at Rome, where the Father and Son, or two other persons were not seldom Joint-Emperors.

And that by Divine direction.

This is added, partly, as being the most Eminent and Royal Tribe, it being frequent, together with the general distinction, to mention one of the most eminent particulars, as 1 King. 11. 1. Psal. 18. title. Mark 16. 7. and partly, lest the men of Iudah, who were in a special manner invited by Adonijah, v. 9. might think themselves exempted from his Jurisdiction.

Marginal references: Heb. commanded him. So Gr.

36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen : The LORD God of my lord the king say so too .

Which was both an approbation of the Kings Fact, and a profession of his Allegiance to the new King, and a Petition to God to ratify and confirm it.

The Lord stablish Solomon's Throne in spight of Adonijah, and all his other Enemies.

37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David .

Which Petition, albeit it might have offended an unworthy, vain-glorious and envious Father, he knew would be welcome to so pious and generous a Man as David was, and to one so kind and indulgent to his Children.

39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle , and anointed Solomon: and they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

For though he was not the High-Priest, he might do this office, especially having the direction of the Prophet Nathan, v. 34.

That which David had erected for the Ark, 2 Sam. 6. 17. in which Oyl was kept for divers Sacred uses: for Moses his Tabernacle was at Gibeon, 1 Chron. 16. 39. and 21. 29. which was too remote for the present occasion, which required all possible expedition.

Marginal references: Exod. 3[illegible: 1+ letters]. 25, 32.

40 And all the people came up after him , and the people piped with pipes, and rejoyced with great joy , so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

Which flocked thither in abundance, some out of curiosity to see so Solemn an action; others to do their Duty; and others in expectation of some advantage by their chearful attendance upon the new King.

Partly, because this would certainly prevent Civil Wars, under which they had so lately and so sorely groaned, and which they had reason to fear from Adonijah's pretence to the Crown, and the assistance he might have from the great and famous Lord General Ioab, and from Abiathar the High-Priest, and from others who were or might easily be engaged for him, if David had not ended the controversie in his life-time: and partly, because of the singular wisdom and vertue for which Solomon was even then famous. See chap. 2. 5, 9.

An Hyperbolical expression: yet even solid Bodies have been oft broken and rent by great sounds.

Marginal references: Or, flu[illegible: 1+ letters]es

41 ¶ And Adonijah, and all the guests that were with him, heard it, as they had made an end of eating : and when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city, being in an uproar?

For Nathan having given wise counsel, took all due care to expedite the execution of it, that it might not be spoiled by delays, as frequently happens.

42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came, and Adonijah said unto him, Come in, for thou art a valiant man , and bringest good tidings.

Who it seems was left at Ierusalem for a Spy, as he had formerly been under Absalom.

Or; a man of vertue or worth, as this Hebrew word is used, Prov. 12. 4. and therefore an happy man, and hast good news for thy self and us. Compare 2 Sam. 18. 27.

43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily , our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

Or, but, or, nay but; i. e. The matter is not as thou expectest, but quite contrary.

46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

i. e. Is put into actual possession of the Kingdom.

47 And moreover, the kings servants came to bless our lord king David , saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed .

To praise and thank him for his great and good care, in leaving them in the hands of so excellent a Successor, under whom they might expect Peace and all Prosperity; and to congratulate with him for Gods great Mercy to him, in giving him such a Son and Successor, and that his Eyes had now seen the actual accomplishment of Gods promise made to him concerning this thing.

Adoring God for this great Mercy, and thereby declaring his hearty approbation and consent to this action. Compare Gen. 47. 31.

49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah, were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way .

i. e. The way to his own House, lest they should be discovered and taken.

50 ¶ And Adonijah feared, because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar .

Either, that which was at Gibeon, as appears from 1 Chron. 16. 39. 2 Chron. 1. 3. and was made with four Horns, Exod. 38. 2. to which the Sacrifices were bound, Psal. 118. 27. Or rather, that which David had lately set up in the Threshing-floor of Araunah, which doubtless was made after the same form as that at Gibeon: For, First, This was next at hand. Secondly, The Altar onely is mentioned here, whereas in Ioab's case there is mention of the Tabernacle and Altar both, Chap. 2. 28, 29. which seems to be noted to distinguish the two Altars: for Adonijah being the Kings Son, he might safely go to Araunah's Altar, and the People would not be forward to seize upon him, or bring him to Justice: but Ioab truly thought it was not safe for him to venture himself there, and therefore he flieth to Gibeon, as a place more remote from Ierusalem. Hither he fled, either to implore Gods Mercy; or rather, to avoid Solomon's Rage; sapposing that his Reverence to that Sacred place would not permit him to pollute it with his Brothers blood; or that the consideration of Gods Grace and Mercy, which himself needed and begged of God, in pardoning his offences, and accepting the Sacrifices which he should offer there, would engage and dispose him to shew Mercy to his offending and now penitent Brother; or, that his Piety would not allow him violently to pluck him as it were out of the Arms of God, into which he had put himself. And for these or such like reasons the Altar was esteemed a kind of Sanctuary or place of Refuge, not onely among the Gentiles, but also among the Hebrews, though it be not called by that name, as may be gathered from Exod. 21. 14. 1 King. 2. 28.

51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day, that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

He owns Solomon as his King, and himself as his Servant and Subject; and being sensible of his great guilt, and of the jealousie which Kings have of their competitors, could not be satisfied without Solomon's Oath.

52 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man , there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth : but if wickedness shall be found in him , he shall die.

Heb. a man of strength or courage: for it requires great strength of mind, and resolution, to resist all temptations of vice, and to do vertuously.

Herein Solomon manifests his Clemency and Brotherly affection, and withal his prudence in sparing him, whom, being his Brother, and his eldest Brother too, it would have been invidious to have slain.

Not onely if he shall be guilty of some capital crime, but of any great wickedness or evil design. For as this pardon was Solomon's free act, so he might justly qualify it as he pleased.

Marginal references: Heb. a son of vertue, or valour.; 1 Sam. 14. 4[illegible: 1+ letters]. 2 Sam. 14. 11. Act. 27. 34.

53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar; and he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house .

Lead a private, or retired and quiet life, without noise and numerous attendants, and meddle not with the Affair[illegible: 1+ letters] of the Court and Kingdom.