1Ki 1:1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
Now King David was old - He was probably now about sixty-nine years of age. He was thirty years old when he began to reign, reigned forty, and died in the seventieth year of his age, 2Sa_5:4, and 1Ki_2:11; and the transactions mentioned here are supposed to have taken place about a year before his death.
Stricken in years - He was thirty years old when he was made king in Hebron 2Sa_5:4; he reigned in Hebron seven years and six months 2Sa_2:11; 1Ch_3:4; and he reigned thirty-three years at Jerusalem 2Sa_5:5. The expression had here been used only of persons above eighty Gen_18:11; Gen_24:1; Jos_13:1; Jos_23:1 : but the Jews at this time were not long-lived. No Jewish monarch after David, excepting Solomon and Manasseh, exceeded sixty years.
Clothes - Probably “bed-clothes.” The king was evidently bed-ridden 1Ki_1:47.
But he gat no heat - having no natural heat in him. Sixty-nine was not an advanced age; but David had been exhausted with various fatigues, and especially by family afflictions, so that he was much older in constitution than he was in years. Besides he seems to have labored under some wasting maladies, to which there is frequent reference in the Psalms.
When king David had become so old that they could no longer warm him by covering him with clothes, his servants advised him to increase his vitality by lying with a young and robust virgin, and selected the beautiful Abishag of Shunem to perform this service. This circumstance, which is a trivial one in itself, is only mentioned on account of what follows - first, because it shows that David had become too weak from age, and too destitute of energy, to be able to carry on the government any longer; and, secondly, because Adonijah the pretender afterwards forfeited his life through asking for Abishag in marriage.
1Ki 1:2 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.
Let there be sought a young virgin - This was the remedy which in his state could be prescribed. His nearly exhausted frame would infallibly absorb from her young and healthy body an additional portion of heat.
let her lie in his bosom - which shows that it was proposed that he should marry her or at least that she should become his concubine wife, since this phrase is descriptive of a wife, Mic_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, 1Ki_2:17; Adonijah's crime in desiring her to wife, so heinous in Solomon's account, because he saw, that by marrying the king's wife he designed to revive his pretence to the kingdom.
1Ki 1:3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
they sought for a fair damsel - 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:
Abishag a Shunammite - a native of the city Shunem, a city in the tribe of Issachar, Jos_19:18;
1Ki 1:4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
cherished the king - enlivened his spirits by her amiable countenance, her graceful behavior, and tender care of him, and especially by bedding with him:
the king knew her not - as a man knows his wife; 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.
1Ki 1:5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
To run before him - That is, he assumed the same quasi-royal state as Absalom had done, when he contemplated rebellion 2Sa_15:1.
The narrative heightens considerably the picture drawn of the poor king’s weak and helpless condition, of which Adonijah was not ashamed to take advantage for his own aggrandizement. Adonijah was born while David reigned at Hebron, and was therefore now between thirty-three and forty years of age. He was David’s fourth son, but had probably become the eldest by the death of his three older brothers. He claimed the crown by right of primogeniture 1Ki_2:15, and secretly to his partisans announced his intention of assuming the sovereignty. It was well known to him that David intended to make Solomon his successor 1Ki_1:13.
Adonijah, though David’s fourth son (2Sa_3:4; 1Ch_3:2), was now the oldest alive; and his personal attractions and manners (1Sa_9:2) not only recommended him to the leading men about court, but made him the favorite of his father, who, though seeing him assume an equipage becoming only the heir-presumptive to the throne (2Sa_15:1), said nothing; and his silence was considered by many, as well as by Adonijah, to be equivalent to an expression of consent. The sinking health of the king prompted him to take a decisive step in furtherance of his ambitious designs.
1Ki 1:6 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.
Had not displeased him - His father had never checked or thwarted him all his life. Always humored 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 by chastising him; 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:
A very goodly man - of a comely countenance, tall and well proportioned, as his brother Absalom. Here, too, Adonijah resembled Absalom 2Sa_14:25. The Jews, like the other nations of antiquity, regarded the physical qualities of rulers as of great importance, and wished their kings to be remarkable for strength, stature, and beauty 1Sa_9:2. Adonijah’s personal advantages no doubt helped to draw the people to him.
why hast thou done so - never so much as asked a reason of his conduct, so far was he from reproving him for it:
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.
1Ki 1:7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
Joab - Joab’s defection on this occasion, after his faithful adherence to David during the troubles caused by Absalom 2 Sam. 18:2-17, may be accounted for by his fear that Solomon would be a “man of rest” 1Ch_22:9 and by his preference for the character of Adonijah. He may also have thought that Adonijah, as the eldest son 1Ki_1:5, had almost a right to succeed.
Abiathar - Abiathar’s defection is still more surprising than Joab’s. Hereto, David and he had been the firmest of friends. It has been conjectured that he had grown jealous of Zadok, and feared being supplanted by him.
he conferred with Joab and Abiathar - 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 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;
they took on his side - Either because they thought the right of the crown was his: or to secure and advance their own interest. 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 behavior towards him; and Abiathar, who saw plainly that the priesthood in Eli's family was declining, and that Zadok was the favorite priest with David, and in all probability would be with Solomon; all which might influence these two persons to join Adonijah. It seems God left them to themselves, to correct them for former miscarriages, with a rod of their own making.
1Ki 1:8 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.
Zadok - There is some difficulty in understanding how Zadok and Abiathar came to be both “priests” at this time, and in what relation they stood to one another. The best explanation seems to be that Abiathar was the real high priest, and officiated at the sanctuary containing the ark of the covenant in Zion, while Zadok performed the offices of chief priest at the tabernacle of Witness at Gibeon 1Ch_16:39.
Nathan - As privy to all David’s plans 1Ki_1:24, he had no doubt fully approved the order of succession which the king was known to intend.
Shimei and Rei - Shimei and Rei are perhaps David’s two brothers, Shimma and Raddai 1Ch_2:13-14. Shimei according to one scholar, 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, 1Ki_4:18.
Mighty men - his guards, the Cherethites and Pelethites. Probably the company of 600, originally formed during David’s early wanderings 1Sa_25:13; 1Sa_27:2, and afterward maintained as the most essential element of his standing army.
Benaiah — Distinguished for his bravery (1Sa_23:20), he had been appointed captain of the king’s bodyguard (2Sa_8:18; 2Sa_20:23; 1Ch_18:17), and was regarded by Joab as a rival.
1Ki 1:9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:
Slew sheep and oven - Making a royal feast, in reference to his inauguration. As he had Abiathar the priest with him, no doubt these animals were offered sacrificially, and then the guests fed on the flesh of the victims. He had not only a splendid feast, but a great sacrifice; and he gave by this a popular color to his pretensions, by affecting to receive his authority from God.
Slew sheep and oven - Adonijah commenced his usurpation, like Absalom (2Sa_15:2), with a solemn sacrificial meal, at which he was proclaimed king. To this meal Adonijah invited all his brethren except Solomon, and “all the men of Judah, the king's servants,” i.e., all the Judaeans who were in the king's service, i.e., were serving at court as being members of his own tribe, with the exception of Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, and the Gibborim. The fact that Solomon and the others mentioned were not included in the invitation, showed very clearly that Adonijah was informed of Solomon's election as successor to the throne, and was also aware of the feelings of Nathan and Benaiah.
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;
Enrogel — situated (Jos_15:7-10) east of Jerusalem, in a level place, just below the junction of the valley of Hinnom with that of Jehoshaphat. It is a very deep well.
1Ki 1:10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
1Ki 1:11 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?
The son of Haggith - This expression was well chosen to touch the pride of Bathsheba. “Adonijah; not thy son, but the son of thy rival, Haggith.”
Wherefore Nathan spake - He was now considered as being legally appointed to the regal office, and no doubt was about to begin to perform its functions.
1Ki 1:12 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.
Save thine own life, and the life of thy son - Nathan took for granted that Adonijah would put both Bathsheba and Solomon to death as state criminals, if he got established on the throne. It would have been in accordance with custom for Solomon to suffer death, if Adonijah had succeeded in his attempt. But to have executed his mother also would have been an unusual severity. This would likely 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,
1Ki 1:13 Go and get thee in unto king David, 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? why then doth Adonijah reign?
1Ki 1:14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
Confirm thy words - “Establish” them, by giving a second testimony. Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be made sure.
1Ki 1:15 And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.
1Ki 1:16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
Bathsheba bowed - like the woman of Tekoah 2Sa_14:4, with the humble prostration of a suppliant. Not only as being her husband, but her sovereign; and this behavior might intimate, that she had something to say to him, and more than to inquire of his health:
1Ki 1:17 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.
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: It is not recorded when or upon what occasion David sware to Bathsheba that Solomon should succeed him; but it is supposed, with some degree of probability, that it took place after Absalom's rebellion; and as God himself had settled the succession, he might very properly give her this assurance.
1Ki 1:18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:
now my lord, O king, thou knowest it not - 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 this: 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.
1Ki 1:19 And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle 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.
he hath slain oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep in abundance - Has made a grand entertainment, and is feasting and rejoicing.
1Ki 1:20 And thou, my lord, O king, 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.
1Ki 1:21 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.
Shall sleep - This euphemism for death, rare in the early Scriptures - being found only once in the Pentateuch (margin reference.), and once also in the historical books before Kings 2Sa_7:12 - becomes in Kings and Chronicles the ordinary mode of speech (see 1Ki_2:10; 1Ki_11:43, etc.; 2Ch_9:31; 2Ch_12:16, etc.). David uses the metaphor in one psalm Psa_13:3. In the later Scriptures it is, of course, common. (Jer_51:39; Dan_12:2; Mat_9:24; Joh_11:11; 1Co_11:30; 1Co_15:51; 1Th_4:14, etc.)
shall be counted offenders - or "sinners"; not as if she would be reckoned an adulteress, and her son as illegitimate; but as being traitors, making pretensions to the throne, she on the behalf of her son, and he for himself, as if he had no right to it.
1Ki 1:22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
1Ki 1:23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
And they told the king - Some that attended at the door, or were in the chamber:
1Ki 1:24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
Nathan said, my lord, O king - He addresses him as with great veneration and respect due to his office.
1Ki 1:25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
For he is gone down this day - From Jerusalem, which lay high, to the stone of Zoheleth, in Enrogel, which lay in the valley, 1Ki_1:9;
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 favor.
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;
God save King Adonijah - they proclaimed and saluted him as king, and drank his health, and wished him all prosperity
1Ki 1:26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
1Ki 1:27 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?
Is this thing done by my lord the king - With his knowledge and consent, and by his orders:
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:
1Ki 1:28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
Call me Bathsheba - She had gone out when Nathan came in, and he retired when she was re-admitted. Each had a separate audience, but to Nathan the king did not express any will.
1Ki 1:29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,
As the Lord liveth – this was the most common form of oath among the Israelites (Jdg_8:19; 1Sa_14:39; 1Sa_19:6). It was unique to David to attach a further clause to this oath - a clause of thankfulness for some special mercy 1Sa_25:34, or for God’s constant protection of him (here and in 2Sa_4:9).
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.
1Ki 1:30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
Even as I sware unto thee - And so owns and confirms the truth of what Nathan had suggested to Bathsheba, and she had asserted, 1Ki_1:13;
1Ki 1:31 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.
Bowed with her face to the earth - A lower and humbler obeisance than before 1Ki_1:16. Thereby expressing her veneration of him, and thankfulness to him for his favor to her and her son, in fulfilling his promise and oath:
1Ki 1:32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.
And King David said - The combination of the high priest, the prophet, and the captain of the bodyguard (the Cherethites and Pelethites, 1Ki_1:38), would show the people that the proceedings had the king’s sanction. The order of the names marks the position of the persons with respect to the matter in hand.
1Ki 1:33 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:
to ride upon mine own mule - Mules and horses seem to have been first employed by the Israelites in the reign of David, and the use of the former was at first confined to great personages 2Sa_13:29; 2Sa_18:9. The rabbis tell us that it was death to ride on the king’s mule without his permission; As David offered Solomon to ride on his own mule, this was full evidence that he had appointed him his successor.
Take with you the servants of your lord - By these we may understand the kings guards, the guards of the city, the Cherethites and Pelethites, who were under the command of Benaiah; and in short, all the disposable force that was at hand.
Gihon - A river near Jerusalem, on the west side. Adonijah was inaugurated on the east side. This place David chose, either, as remote from Adonijah and his company, that so the people might be there without fear of tumults or bloodshed; or, to show 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.
1Ki 1:34 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.
Anoint him - Inauguration into each of the three offices (those of prophet, priest, and king) typical of the Messiah or Anointed One, was by anointing with oil. Divine appointment had already instituted the rite in connection with the kingly office 2Sa_2:4; but after Solomon we have no express mention of the anointing of kings, except in the three cases of Jehu, Joash, and Jehoahaz 2Ki_9:6; 2Ki_11:12; 2Ki_23:30, who were all appointed irregularly. At the time of the captivity, kings, whose anointing has not been related in the historical books, still bear the title of “the anointed of the Lord.” Lam_4:20; Psa_89:38, Psa_89:51.
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.
1Ki 1:35 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.
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, 1Ki_1:9; and therefore had they not been named, might think he had no power over them.
Over Israel and over Judah - There is no anticipation here of the subsequent division of the kingdom; the antithesis between Judah and Israel already existed in the reign of David 2Sa_2:9; 2Sa_19:11.
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 death.
1Ki 1:36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
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.
1Ki 1:37 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.
1Ki 1:38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.
1Ki 1:39 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.
The tabernacle - Probably that which David had made for the ark of the covenant on Mount Zion 2Sa_6:17. That it was part of the regular furniture of the tabernacle appears from Exo_31:11; Exo_39:38.
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 1Ch_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, 2Sa_6:17; where the ark was.
Zadok took a horn of oil - Pottery and glass were little in use in those times; and horns were frequently used to hold oil and wine. The oil used here was the holy anointing oil, which was laid up in the tabernacle, and which was used for the anointing of both priests and kings.
1Ki 1:40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
The people piped with pipes - They danced, sang, and played on what instruments of music they possessed.
The earth rent - an hyperbolical expression, showing the great numbers gathered together on this occasion, and the sonorous acclamations they made. We use a similar expression in precisely the same sense: They rent the air with their cries.
1Ki 1:41 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?
when Joab heard the sound - 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.
1Ki 1:42 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.
behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came - Jonathan had acted in a similar capacity, as a carrier of intelligence, in the time of Absalom’s attempt 2Sa_15:36; 2Sa_17:17; but at that time, like his father, he was faithful to David, and “a valiant man,” “a virtuous man,” or “a man of worth.” (See 1Ki_1:52; Pro_12:4.)
1Ki 1:43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
Jonathan answered - He was properly a messenger about the court; he is seen elsewhere in Scripture with Ahimaaz, 2Sa_15:36.
1Ki 1:44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:
1Ki 1:45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.
Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, have anointed him - here the act of anointing is ascribed to them both, as in 1Ki_1:34;
1Ki 1:46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
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.
1Ki 1:47 And moreover the king's 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.
The king bowed himself - 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. The king worshipped God and prayed that it might be so.
Moreover, the king’s servants came - The king himself was at this time confined to his own house, and probably to his bed, and could not possibly see these ceremonies; therefore his confidential servants came and told him.
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:
1Ki 1:48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
blessed be the Lord God of Israel - 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.
1Ki 1:49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man 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, 1Ki_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 favor of Adonijah, it would have given Solomon and his friends a great deal of trouble; no doubt this panic was of God:
rose up, and went every man his way - 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.
1Ki 1:50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
On the horns of the altar - The altar to which Adonijah fled was probably in the “tabernacle” already referred to 1Ki_1:39.
Adonijah feared - He knew he had usurped the kingdom, and had not his father’s consent; and, as he finds now that Solomon is appointed by David, he knows well that the people will immediately respect that appointment, and that his case is hopeless; he therefore took sanctuary, and, fleeing to the tabernacle, laid hold on one of the horns of the altar, as if appealing to the protection of God against the violence of men. The altar was a privileged place, and it was deemed sacrilege to molest a man who had taken refuge there.
On the horns of the altar - either that which was at Gibeon, where the tabernacle now was; see 1Ki_3:4; or rather that which was nearest, the altar that David had built in the threshing floor of Araunah, 2Sa_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;
On the horns of the altar - most probably the altar of burnt offering which had been erected on Mount Zion, where Abiathar, one of his partisans, presided as high priest. The horns or projections at the four corners of the altar, to which the sacrifices were bound, and which were tipped with the blood of the victim, were symbols of grace and salvation to the sinner. Hence the altar was regarded as a sanctuary (Exo_21:14), but not to murderers, rebels, or deliberate perpetrators. Adonijah, having acted in opposition to the will of the reigning king, was guilty of rebellion, and stood self-condemned. Solomon spared his life on the express condition of his good behavior - living in strict privacy, leading a quiet, peaceable life, and meddling with the affairs of neither the court nor the kingdom.
On the horns of the altar - The altar was regarded from time immemorial and among all nations as a place of refuge for criminals deserving of death; but, according to Exo_21:14, in Israel it was only allowed to afford protection in cases of unintentional slaying, and for these special cities of refuge were afterwards provided (Num 35). In the horns of the altar, as symbols of power and strength, there was concentrated the true significance of the altar as a divine place, from which there emanated both life and health (see at Exo_27:19). By grasping the horns of the altar the culprit placed himself under the protection of the saving and helping grace of God, which wipes away sin, and thereby abolishes punishment. The question to what altar Adonijah fled, whether to the altar at the ark of the covenant in Zion, or to the one at the tabernacle at Gibeon, or to the one built by David on the threshing-floor of Araunah, cannot be determined with certainty. It was probably to the first of these, however, as nothing is said about a flight to Gibeon, and with regard to the altar of Araunah it is not certain that it was provided with horns like the altars of the two sanctuaries.
1Ki 1:51 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.
let King Solomon swear unto me this day - he owns Solomon to be king, and himself his subject and servant; this no doubt he did to conciliate his favor, nor did he think his life safe, unless Solomon promised with an oath, that he would not take it away.
1Ki 1:52 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.
There shalt not an hair - This was a proverbial expression, meaning “he shall suffer no hurt at all.” Solomon’s clemency in pardoning Adonijah is very remarkable. In the ancient Mideast not only were pretenders almost always punished with death, but it has often been the custom for each king upon his accession to put to death all his brothers as mere possible pretenders.
If he will show himself a worthy man - If, from henceforth, he behave well, show himself to be contented, and not endeavor to make partisans, or stir up insurrections among the people, he shall be safe; but if wickedness be found in him - if he act at all contrary to this - he shall die; his blood shall be upon him.
if wickedness shall be found in him - 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 behavior.
1Ki 1:53 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.
Go to thine house - Intimating that he should have no place about the king’s person, nor under the government. Adonijah must have seen that he stood continually on his good behavior.
he came and bowed himself to King Solomon - in a way of reverence and subjection, acknowledging him to be king, and himself his subject:
Go to thine house - 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.
