1Ki 2:1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
The events related in 1 Chr. 28–29 had occurred in the interval which separates 1 Kings 1 and 2.
David charged Solomon his son — The charge recorded here was given to Solomon just before his death and is different from the farewell address delivered in public some time before (1Ch_28:2-9). It is introduced with great solemnity.
David charged Solomon his son — David's charge to Solomon is, to keep the charge of the Lord. The authority of a dying father is much, but nothing to that of a living God. God promised David that the Messiah should come from his descendants, and that promise was absolute; but the promise, that there should not fail of them a man on the throne of Israel, was conditional; if he walks before God in sincerity, with zeal and resolution: in order hereunto, he must take heed to his way. This is afterwards more fully expanded, to keep the ordinances, commandments, rights, and testimonies of Jehovah. These four words were applied to the different precepts of the law, the first three of which are connected together in Gen_26:5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws. Deu_5:29 Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their sons forever! Deu_8:11 Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command you today, and served to individualize the rich and manifold substance of the demands of the Lord to His people as laid down in the Torah.
1Ki 2:2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
David appears to have in his thoughts the divine address to Joshua. Without following it exactly, he reproduces several of its leading expressions and sentiments. Solomon’s youth clearly constituted one of the chief difficulties of his position. If he was about nineteen or twenty, and known to be of a pacific disposition 1Ch_22:9, then to have to rule over the warlike and turbulent Hebrew nation, with a strong party opposed to him, and brothers of full age ready to lead it, was evidently a most difficult task. Hence, he is exhorted, though in years a boy, to show himself in Spirit “a man.”
I go the way of all the earth – David is dying. All the inhabitants of the earth must come to the dust. In life, some follow one occupation, some another; but all must, sooner or later, come to the grave. Death is no respecter of persons; he visits the palace of the king as well as the cottage of the peasant. This same phrase is used by Joshua, from whom David seems to have borrowed it.
Show thyself a man - in wisdom and understanding, and in fortitude of mind, though so young a man.
be thou strong, show thyself a man — This counsel is similar to the apostolic direction (1Co_16:13) and refers to the fortitude or strength of mind that was required to discharge the onerous functions of king.
1Ki 2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
Keep the charge of the Lord - The “statutes” have been explained to be the positive ordinances of the Law; the “commandments” the moral precepts, not to steal, etc.; the “judgments” the laws belonging to civil government; and the “testimonies” the laws directing the commemoration of certain events.
keep the charge of the Lord thy God - Which may in general respect his whole walk and conversation, and his obedience to the law and will of God; and in particular his just government of Israel committed to his charge:
Walk in his ways – In the ways of the Lord. Not in man’s ways, nor in the ways of a wicked, perishing world.
to keep his statutes and his judgments - his laws, ceremonial, moral, and judicial:
keep the charge of the Lord thy God — that is, the divine law in all its ceremonial as well as moral requirements. But particular reference was intended to its political institutions, as it was only by strictly maintaining the conduct that became the Hebrew monarch (Deu_17:10-20), that he would secure the blessing of peace and prosperity to his reign (
his testimonies - as the above laws, which testify of his mind, and declare what he would have done and observed:
as it is written in the law of Moses - which a king of Israel was obliged to write a copy of, keep by him, and read it, and rule according to it, Deu_17:18 And it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write a copy of this law in a book from before the priests the Levites.
1Ki 2:4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
That the Lord may continue his word - The original promise given to David indirectly, through Nathan 2Sa_7:11-17, and apparently unconditional, afterward was made conditional upon continued obedience. David reminds Solomon of this, in order to impress upon him a powerful motive to continue faithful and obedient.
That the Lord may continue his word - The prosperity which God has promised to grant to my family will depend on their faithfulness to the good they receive; if they live to God, they shall sit for ever on the throne of Israel.
with all their heart, and with all their soul - with the strongest affection and zeal; with all eagerness and earnestness; with their whole hearts engaged in every duty performed by them:
there shall not fail thee a man on the throne of Israel - one to succeed him in the throne; this, with respect to his throne, literally considered, was conditional; but, spiritually considered, was absolute, and had its fulfillment in the Messiah, whose throne is forever; Luk_1:32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David. Jer_33:17 For so says the LORD, David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,
1Ki 2:5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me - Joab had murdered both of them out of jealousy in a treacherous and malicious manner; and thereby he had not only grievously displeased David and bidden defiance to his royal authority, but by the murder of Abner had exposed the king to the suspicion in the eyes of the people of having instigated the crime.
Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me - In his directions with respect to certain important persons, David, anxious for the security of his young successor’s kingdom, allows old animosities to revive, and is willing to avenge himself indirectly, though he had been withheld by certain scruples from taking vengeance in his own person. Joab’s chief offence against David, besides his two murders, was no doubt his killing Absalom 2Sa_18:14. Another serious crime was his support of the treasonable attempt of Adonijah 1Ki_1:7. But besides these flagrant crimes, he seems to have offended David by a number of little acts. He was a constant thorn in his side. He treated him with scant respect, taking important steps without his orders 2Sa_3:26, remonstrating with him roughly and rudely 2Sa_2:24-25, almost betraying his secrets 2Sa_11:19-21, and, where he disliked the orders given him, disobeying them 1Ch_21:6. David allowed his ascendancy, but he chafed against it. These dying counsels concerning Joab and Shimei, did not come from personal anger, but for the security of Solomon's throne.
Put the blood of war upon his girdle - He stabbed them while he pretended to embrace them, so that their blood gushed out on his girdle, and fell into his shoes.
shed the blood of war in peace - when they were at peace with him, as if they had been in open war; and even under a pretence of friendship to them, asking of their peace and welfare, as if he meant nothing less than to behave peaceably towards them.
1Ki 2:6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
Let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace - It would have been an insult to justice not to have taken the life of Joab. David was culpable in delaying it so long; but probably the circumstances of his government would not admit of his doing it sooner. According to the law of God, Joab, having murdered Abner and Amasa, should die. And had not David commanded Solomon to perform this act of justice, he could not have died in the approbation of his Maker.
let not his hoary head go down to the grave in peace - that is, let him not die a natural, but a violent death; and let not his grey hairs be any argument for sparing him, or any reason for delaying the taking of him off, because he would in course die quickly; for he must be now an old man, as old as David, or perhaps older; since he had been his general forty years, even all the time of his reign.
Do therefore according to thy wisdom - Which though young began to appear in him, even in the life of his father; he therefore exhorts him to use the wisdom he had, and take the first and fittest opportunity to cut him off for his former murders and late treason, as a dangerous man to his government and the peace of it:
1Ki 2:7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
show kindness to the sons of Barzillai - If the demands of justice required that Joab should be punished, the duty of gratitude was no less holy to the dying king. According to 2Sa_19:38, Barzillai had allowed only one son to follow the king to his court.
1Ki 2:8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
I sware unto him by the Lord, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword - but this oath was not binding upon his successor, and especially should he commit a new crime.
thou hast with thee Shimei — Though David promised him a pardon, which being enforced by the presence of a thousand followers, could not have been well refused, he warned his son against Shimei as a turbulent and dangerous character. It must not be supposed that in these dying instructions David was evincing a fierce, vindictive spirit. He is rather to be considered as acting in the character of a king and magistrate, in noticing crimes which he had not been in a condition to punish, and pointing out persons of whom Solomon would be under a necessity to rid himself as dangerous to the state.
1Ki 2:9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
Hold him not guiltless - Do not treat him as an innocent man. Punish him as in thy wisdom thou deemest best. Not capitally at once; but so that he may be likely to give thee in course of time a just occasion to slay him. So, at least, Solomon seems to have understood the charge. (1Ki_2:36-46.)
his hoary head bring thou down to the grave - spare him not on account of his age, but put him to death whensoever he shall be found guilty, let him not die a natural death.
for thou art a wise man — Solomon had given early indications of wisdom before his miraculous endowment with the heavenly gift (1Ki_3:11), and his own sagacity would dictate the course that should be followed in any new offense that Shimei might commit.
1Ki 2:10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
Was buried in the city of David - And Solomon, says Josephus, deposited immense treasures with him, in the grave, where they continued unmolested for thirteen hundred years, till Hyrcanus, the high priest, being besieged by Antiochus, opened the sepulcher, and took thence three thousand talents, part of which he gave to Antiochus, to raise the siege. It is added that, many years afterwards, Herod the Great ransacked this tomb and got considerable riches. Little credit is due to this account, though we know that was customary in ancient times to deposit with the more illustrious dead, gold, silver, and precious stones. That the tomb of David existed in the days of the apostles, we learn from Act_2:29, where St. Peter, addressing the Jews, says, Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David; that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day.
buried in the city of David - not at Bethlehem, in the sepulchre of Jesse, who was a private man; but being a king, in his own city, the hold of Zion he took from the Jebusite, and which afterwards was called by his name, 2Sa_5:7, in Jerusalem; and his sepulchre remained unto the times of the apostles, upwards of a thousand years.
David slept with his fathers - Died as his ancestors before him did; for, he was not buried with them; and therefore cannot be understood of his lying with them in the grave, but in the state of the dead.
1Ki 2:11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
Forty years - In all forty years and six months. 2Sa_5:5, and 1Ch_3:4. The Jewish writers almost universally omit the fractions of a year. The six months over are omitted, 2Sa_5:5; this part of his reign was over Judah only:
1Ki 2:12 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.
his kingdom was established greatly - all submitting to it, and none opposing it. The “establishment” of the kingdom here intended is its universal acceptance both by the tribe of Judah and the other Israelites.
1Ki 2:13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.
Adonijah came to Bathsheba — Her question to him betrays an apprehension which his recent conduct might well warrant; but his pious acknowledgment of the divine will seemed apparently to indicate so entire an acquiescence in the settlement of the succession, that she perceived not the deep cunning and evil design that was concealed under his request and readily undertook to promote his wishes.
1Ki 2:14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.
1Ki 2:15 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.
Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine - It certainly was his by the right of primogeniture, and it was his by the voice of the people, and the consent of the high priest. But there was a right paramount to all these, the right of God; it was his kingdom; the kings were his lieutenants, and he had a right to give the crown to whomsoever he pleased, and he was pleased to give it to Solomon.
that all Israel set their faces on me - which was not true; for, as Bathsheba says, the body of the people were in suspense, their eyes being on David, waiting to hear whom he would declare his successor; and when Solomon was declared and anointed, vast numbers attended him; unless Adonijah thought that the high priest, and general of the army, with the captains, represented the whole people; however this he observes by way of preface, to show how unhappy he was, being disappointed, and to move the compassion of Bathsheba, that she might be the more easily prevailed upon to seek to obtain so small a favor as he was about to ask:
1Ki 2:16 And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.
1Ki 2:17 And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.
That he give me Abishag to wife - which was contrary to the law of God, Lev_18:8 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife. It is your father's nakedness. which surely Adonijah must have been ignorant of, and Bathsheba likewise; or the one would never have made such a request, nor the other have undertaken to try to obtain it; but perhaps they did not take her to be David's wife, or the marriage to be consummated, because he knew her not: but yet not being returned to her father's house, and being at the dispose of Solomon, prove that she must be a concubine wife, and which became the property of the next heir and successor.
1Ki 2:18 And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.
1Ki 2:19 Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.
the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her - upon her entrance into the presence chamber, in honor to her as a parent, he rose up from his throne, and made his obeisance to her, as a dutiful son:
caused a seat to be set for the king's mother - We have here a proof of the high dignity of the Queen-mother, the esteem in which he held her, that he provided a seat for her and permitted her to sit at his right hand. The seat at the right hand of the king was the place of honour among the Israelites (Psa_110:1),
1Ki 2:20 Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
1Ki 2:21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
1Ki 2:22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
Ask for him the kingdom also - Bathsheba had not seen anything dangerous or suspicious in Adonijah’s request. Solomon, on the contrary, takes alarm at once. To ask for Abishag was to ask for the kingdom. To the eastern mind a monarch was so sacred, that whatever was brought near to him was thenceforth separate from common use. This sacred and separate character attached especially to the Royal harem. The inmates either remained widows for the rest of their lives, or became the wives of the deceased king’s successor. Public opinion so closely connected the title to the crown and the possession of the deceased monarch’s wives, that to have granted Adonijah’s request would have been the strongest encouragement to his pretensions. Solomon, seeing this, assumes that Adonijah cherishes a guilty purpose, that there has been a fresh plot, that Abiathar and Joab - Adonijah’s counselors in the former conspiracy 1Ki_1:7 - are privy to it, and that the severest measures are necessary to crush the new treason.
even for him, and for Abiathar and for Joab - she might as well ask for them as for him; whose interest it was, and therefore desirous it might be that he should be king, that so the one might be continued in the office of high priest, and the other as general of the army; who, Solomon knew, bore him no good will, but were secretly his enemies.
1Ki 2:23 Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
Against his own life - Adonijah had forfeited his life by his former conduct, and his pardon had been merely conditional 1Ki_1:52.
May God do so to me, and more also — the common form of introducing a solemn oath.
1Ki 2:24 Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
Who has made me a house - The phrase “making a house” means “continuing the posterity” of a person, and, in the case of a royal person, “maintaining his descendants upon the throne.”
Now therefore, as the Lord liveth - Which is another oath; and one may easily perceive hereby in what a temper and disposition Solomon was, how warm, earnest, and vehement, how resolute against the petition, and how determined he was to punish Adonijah and his confederates:
Adonijah shall be put to death this day - both for his former conspiracy, he only having had a reprieve, and which was to continue on his good behavior, 1Ki_1:51, and for his fresh attempt in forming treasonable schemes to ascend the throne if possible; wherefore, being a dangerous man, and no longer to be trusted, Solomon was determined to dispatch him at once, and being established in his kingdom, he had nothing to fear from those in the conspiracy with him.
1Ki 2:25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
And King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah - Orders to execute him, and proper persons to do it; perhaps some of the Cherethites and Pelethites under him, to assist at least in it:
he fell upon him, that he died - Benaiah rushed in upon him with his men, and thrust his sword into him, and killed him.
1Ki 2:26 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.
And unto Abiathar the priest said the king - Who was either at court, or he sent for him, and thus addressed him:
unto Abiathar the priest said the king — This functionary, as the counselor or accomplice of Adonijah, had deserved to share his fate. But partly from regard to his priestly dignity, and partly from his long associations with the late king, Solomon pronounced on him the mitigated sentence of banishment to his country estate at Anathoth, and thereby, as God’s vicegerent, deprived him of his office and its emoluments. The sacred writer notices the remarkable fulfillment, Abiathar’s degradation from the high priesthood of the doom denounced against the house of Eli (1Sa_2:30).
get thee to Anathoth - a city of the tribe of Benjamin, given to the priests, Jos_21:18; of which place Abiathar might be originally, and whither he is bid to return:
unto thine own fields - which belonged to him there, either by inheritance or purchase; and these he was to mind, and not perform the functions of his office, however as high priest, and at Jerusalem, and the tabernacle there, and still less appear at court, or meddle with state affairs, only to attend to his private domestic concerns:
for thou art worthy of death - in joining with Adonijah in the lifetime of David, and setting him up as a king without his knowledge, and in opposition to Solomon, contrary to the will of God, and promise of David, of which he, being high priest, cannot be thought to be ignorant, and for his late confederacy with Adonijah, of which Solomon had knowledge:
I will not at this time put thee to death - he does not give him a full pardon, only a respite; suggesting, that should he be guilty of any overt act, he would be put to death another time, though not now:
thou barest the ark of the Lord God before David my father - when he fled from Absalom, 2Sa_15:24.
thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted - shared with him in all his afflictions under the persecutions of Saul, from the time he slew the priests at Nob, and at the rebellion of Absalom; in each of which he accompanied him, and suffered and sympathized with him.
1Ki 2:27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
That he might fulfil the word of the LORD - We need not understand this as stating that the fulfillment of the old prophecy was Solomon’s motive, or even one of his motives. The reference is to the overruling providence of God, which thus brought about the fulfillment of the prophecy. The deposition of Abiathar involved the rejection of the house of Ithamar 1Ch_24:3, to which Eli belonged, and the reestablishment of the high priesthood in the line of Eleazar.
So Solomon thrust out Abiathar - God had told Eli that the priesthood should depart from his house; Abiathar was the last of the descendants of Ithamar, of which family was Eli the high priest. Zadok, who was made priest in the stead of Abiathar, was of the family of Eliezer; and by this change the priesthood reverted to its ancient channel. Abiathar deserved this degradation; he supported Adonijah in his unnatural assumption of the royal dignity, even during the life of his father. This was the head and front of his offending.
1Ki 2:28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
Tidings came to Joab - He heard that Adonijah had been slain and Abiathar banished, and possibly he had heard of David’s dying charge to Solomon. Fearing therefore for his personal safety, he takes refuge at the tabernacle, as claiming Divine protection, and desiring to have his case decided by God alone; or perhaps a spark of remorse is now kindled; and, knowing that he must die, he wishes to die in the house of God, as it were under the shadow, that he might receive the mercy of the Almighty.
for Joab had turned after Adonijah - publicly appeared at his feast, when he was saluted king by him, and others.
though he turned not after Absalom - did not join with him in his rebellion, but faithfully adhered to David; and yet both in his lifetime, and after his death, acted the traitorous part in favor of Adonijah.
Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord - which was at Gibeon, 2Ch_1:3; it was four to five miles from Jerusalem to the north. Some commentators say he fled to the tent of Jehovah (not to the tabernacle, but to the holy tent upon Zion) to seek protection at the altar (1Ki_1:50). Joab's fleeing hither showed guilt, and that he was in the conspiracy of Adonijah, and was conscious he deserved to die, and now expected it, since Adonijah was put to death; while he remained reprieved or pardoned, he thought himself safe, but now in danger, and therefore fled for it:
Then tidings came to Joab — The execution of these sentences respectively on Adonijah and Abiathar prepared Joab for his fate. Death, due to his great crimes, would long ago have been inflicted, had not his power and popularity with the army been too formidable for the old king. He now fled to the altar, which, though a recognized asylum, afforded no sanctuary to the rebel and murderer (Exo_21:14). And, as he refused to leave it, he seems to have cherished some faint hope that a religious scruple would have been felt at the thought of violating the sanctity of the place by bloodshed. Benaiah, not liking to assume any responsibility, referred the matter to Solomon, who determined that the law should take its course.
1Ki 2:29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
1Ki 2:30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.
thus saith the king, come forth - meaning, out of the tabernacle; which plainly shows that his orders were not to slay him in it:
Nay; but I will die here - The altars were so sacred among all the people, that, in general, even the vilest wretch found safety, if he once reached the altar. This led to many abuses, and the perversion of public justice; and at last it became a maxim that the guilty should be punished, should they even have taken refuge at the altars. God decreed that the presumptuous murderer who had taken refuge at the altar should be dragged thence, and put to death; Exo_21:14.
nay, but I will die here - since he must die, he chose to die there; but what was his reason for it is not so clear; perhaps he thought, or at least hoped, he should not die at all; either that, by gaining time, Solomon might be prevailed upon to pardon him; or however that he would not defile that sacred place with his blood.
1Ki 2:31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.
fall upon him, and bury him - Let him die where he is, slay him upon the spot, and then bury him; not by the altar, but in his own sepulchre, as later related, that in, give orders to bury him there. It was only a murderer to whom the tabernacle was to be no protection. Hence, the reference to the “innocent blood.”
1Ki 2:32 And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head - By way of retaliation, blood for blood:
who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he - later named; for though they had been in open rebellion against David, yet had submitted, and were reconciled and received into favor; and even their open crimes were not so bad, Solomon judged, as his secret treacherous murders of innocent persons in cool blood; they were men of more honor and integrity than he was, not so cruel and barbarous, though guilty in other respects:
slew them with the sword, my father not knowing thereof - this is observed to remove all suspicion, and which doubtless had been entertained by some, that David had an hand in their death; and that Joab did what he did with his knowledge and consent, and by his advice and order; they having been both concerned in rebellion against him, the one under Ishbosheth, and the other under Absalom:
1Ki 2:33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.
Upon the head of his seed - Not only upon Joab, but upon his posterity as long as there would be any; signifying, that Joab's death would not be a sufficient satisfaction, but the punishment of his murders would be continued to his offspring: 2Sa_3:28-29 And afterward David heard, and said, My kingdom and I are guiltless before the LORD forever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner. Let it whirl about the head of Joab, and on all his father's house. And let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls on the sword, or who lacks bread. Nothing further is heard of Joab’s descendants in the history.
upon David shall there be peace for ever from the Lord - such traitors and murderers being removed, peace and happiness might be expected and believed would attend the family and kingdom of David; whether this be considered as a prayer, or a prophecy, it will have its full accomplishment only in the kingdom of the Messiah the son of David, of the increase of whose government, and the peace thereof, there shall be no end, Isa_9:6-7 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. There is no end of the increase of His government and peace on the throne of David, and on His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
1Ki 2:34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
Benaiah went up and slew him - It appears he slew him at the altar. Joab must have been both old and infirm at this time, and now he bleeds for Abner, he bleeds for Amasa. Retribution overtook Joab on the very scene (Gibeon) of the most treacherous of his murders, if it was at that altar in which he sought refuge. It was at the “great stone which is in Gibeon” that Joab killed Amasa 2Sa_20:8-10.
he was buried in his own house - not in his dwelling house strictly taken, but in a garden or field adjoining to it. Perhaps a family vault, at his property in the wilderness of Judah. His interment was included in the king’s order. Compare to Deuteronomy 21: 22-23 And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and if he is put to death and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree. But you shall surely bury him that day (for he that is hanged is accursed of God), so that your land may not be defiled, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.
Wilderness - Places which have but few houses and inhabitants, even pasture land, are often so called in scripture. He was buried privately, like a criminal, not pompously, like a general.
1Ki 2:35 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.
Zadok the priest did he put in the room of Abiathar - The high priesthood had been for some time in a certain sense divided between Zadok and Abiathar. Henceforth, Zadok became sole high priest. Whereby that office was restored to its ancient line, the family or Eleazar, having been in the line of Ithamar for many years; and the prediction of the destruction of Eli's house, made eighty years ago, began to be fulfilled, 1Sa_2:31.
the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host - Advanced him from being captain of his bodyguards to be general of the army:
1Ki 2:36 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.
Build thee an house in Jerusalem - Thus he gave him the whole city for a prison, and this certainly could have reduced him to no hardships. The object, apparently, was to keep Shimei under the immediate eye of the government. Shimei’s old home, Bahurim, lay east of Jerusalem, on the road to Jericho, 2Sa_17:18, and could only be reached by crossing the Kedron valley. Perhaps Solomon assumes that if he quits the city, it will be in this direction 1Ki_2:37.
and go not from thence anywhere - This Solomon ordered, to prevent this man going about in the country sowing and stirring up sedition; and that he might be under his eye and notice, that should he commit any evil, and give him an opportunity of punishing him, he might do it as his father had directed him; Shimei submitted to this confinement for three years, when, violating his oath, he was arrested and put to death by Solomon for perjury, aggravated by his former crime of high treason against David [1Ki_2:42-44].
and go not from thence anywhere - In due time punishment was inflicted upon him; every ringleader of opposition to Solomon's kingdom crushed, and others be intimidated by their examples. Solomon's throne by the death of this man was established in peace, and became a type of the Redeemer's kingdom of peace and righteousness.
1Ki 2:37 For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.
1Ki 2:38 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
the saying is good - It was an act of goodness in the king, and what was good, grateful, and acceptable to him;
as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do - and he not only promised, but swore to it, which Solomon obliged him to.
1Ki 2:39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.
Achish the son of Maachah king of Gath - A king, but subject and tributary, to Solomon. Permitted to enjoy the title and honor of a king, but not the full power; whence it was, that Achish could not keep these servants though they had fled to him for protection; but suffered Shimei to take them away from his royal city.
Achish the son of Maachah king of Gath - if this Achish was the same that was David's friend, who sheltered him when persecuted by, Saul, he must be an old man; for that was between forty or fifty years ago; and as he seems to be, since he is called the son of Maoch, 1Sa_27:2; which may be thought to be the same with Maachah here.
1Ki 2:40 And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.
Shimei went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants - And demand them; through the passion he was in with his servants, and his hurry to get them home, and the covetous disposition which prevailed on him, he might forget, or be tempted to neglect, the prohibition he was under not to go out of Jerusalem; or he might think Solomon had forgot it; or that he could come and go secretly without his knowledge; or if he should know of it, he might hope he would never punish him with death for so small a fault; however, so it was ordered by the providence of God leaving him to his own lust that he might suffer just punishment for cursing David:
1Ki 2:41 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
1Ki 2:42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
Did I not make thee to swear - which, though not before mentioned, was no doubt done, nor did Shimei deny it: The Septuagint 1Ki_2:37 has a clause stating that Solomon “made Shimei swear” on the day when he commanded him to reside at Jerusalem.
thou saidst unto me the word that I have heard is good - not only he promised to obey it, and that with an oath, but declared it was agreeable and acceptable to him, and therefore the offence was a very aggravated one.
1Ki 2:43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?
Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord - Which was made by him, and in his presence, and in which he was appealed to, and so by not keeping it was guilty of perjury:
the commandment that I have charged thee with - and so guilty of disobedience to him as his sovereign; for which two reasons he ought to die.
If Shimei had wished to remain faithful to his oath, he might have informed the king of the flight of his slaves, have entreated the king that they might be brought back, and have awaited the king's decision; but he had no right thus lightly to break the promise given on oath. By the breach of his oath he had forfeited his life.
1Ki 2:44 The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
The king said moreover to Shimei - Not as another reason for his putting him to death, but to remind him of his former sins, and to observe to him the providence of God in suffering him to fall into others, that justice might take place upon him for them also:
thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to - which conscience must bear witness to, and accuse him of, not only of the words and actions themselves uttered and done by him, but of the malice and wickedness from whence they sprung:
the Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head - the punishment of it; which though not directly inflicted for that, yet in providence was brought about as a just retaliation for it.
1Ki 2:45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.
King Solomon shall be blessed - With a long and peaceable reign, and large dominions, notwithstanding all the attempts to make him unhappy:
the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever - the kingdom of David over Judah for a long time, in his natural line; and spiritually forever in his son the Messiah; and that in the presence of the Lord, he observing, ordering, and succeeding all things to that purpose.
1Ki 2:46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
And the kingdom was established - He had neither foes within nor without. His own subjects were affectionately bound to him, and the surrounding nations did not think proper to make him their enemy.
And the kingdom was established - Now, by the death of Shimei, all the leaders of the rival factions had been cut off. Adonijah the usurper, and Joab the general of the army, who took on his side, being both put to death; and Abiathar the high priest deposed, who was in the same conspiracy; and Shimei, a dangerous and troublesome man, dispatched, there remained none to give any disturbance; so that he now sat easy and quiet on his throne, and things with respect to the civil government were on a firm and settled foundation.
