Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Kings 2:26

26 ¶ And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth unto thine own fields , for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the LORD God before David my father , and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted .

A City of the Priests, Iosh. 21. 18. to lead a private life there.

Either that part of the Suburbs which fell to his share: or, other Land which he had purchased there. See Ier. 32. 7.

He doth not fully Pardon him, but onely forbears him, and reserves to himself a liberty of Punishing him afterwards, if he saw occasion; which he doth to keep him in awe, that he might not dare to raise or foment Discontents or Tumults among the People, which otherwise he might be prone to do.

When he thought fit to carry it out with him; as 2 Sam. 15. 24, 29. 1 Chron. 15. 11, 12. when he as High-priest was to attend upon it. Thus Solomon sheweth his respect to his Sacred Function.

Here he mixeth Mercy with Justice, and requires Abiathar's former kindness to David; hereby reaching Princes, that they should not Write Injuries in Marble, and Benefits in Sand or Water, as they have been too oft observed to do.

Marginal references: Heb. a man of death.; 1 Sam. 22. 20.