1 Kings 2

1 Kings 2:1

SHould die] Words of dying men make deepest impressions, Genesis 49:1. Deuteronomy 33:1. Joshua 23:2. Joh. 19. 26, 27. 2 Peter 1:14.

his son] Designed to succeed him in the kingdom.

1 Kings 2:2

way of all the earth] Of all men living on earth, Joshua 23:14. For it is appointed unto men once to ie, Hebrews 9:27.

strong] Heb. be a man; Of a valiant minde.

a man] Though thou be young in yeers, Chap. 3. 7. 1 Chronicles 22:5.

1 Kings 2:3

And keep] So Joshua 1:7. Faithfulnesse to God makes valiant.

charge] That which God hath given in charge to be kept.

his wayes] That course of life which he hath prescribed.

statutes] Rites and ceremonies enjoyned.

commandments] Contained in the morall law.

judgements] For governing the state.

testimonies] Which were signes of the covenant betwixt God and them. Notwithstanding this distinction, these are in scripture promiscuously used.

written] Deuteronomy 17:18-19.

prosper in all that thou doest] Deuteronomy 29:9. Joshua 1:7. Or, do wisely.

1 Kings 2:4

continue] Perform.

word] Promise.

not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel] 2 Samuel 7:12. Heb. be cut off from thee from the throne. One after another shall succeed.

Israel] Including Judah too.

1 Kings 2:5

to me] By breaking the agreement which David made with Abner, 2 Samuel 3:26. and with Amasa, 2 Samuel 19:11. Joabs murthering those two might have tended to Davids dishonour.

shed] Heb. put.

of war in peace] Doing hostile actions to confederates in tim of peace.

the blood of war] A bloody sword used in war.

upon his girdle] Into the scabbard that was on his belt.

in his shoes] While he embraced them he kil’d them, so as their blood ran into his shoes. His insolency is further set out by these phrases, in that he carried a bloody sword, and walked with blood in his shoes, as if he had done a worthy deed.

1 Kings 2:6

according thy wisdom] Wisely observing him: he is of a stirring spirit, so as thou mayest some time or other, take just advantage against him.

hoar head] He was now old, having been a Generall all Davids time, 2 Samuel 2:13.

in peace] By a naturall death without revenge, but cut him off by the sword of justice. See vers. 9. See also Genesis 42:38.

1 Kings 2:7

sons of Barzillai] As Barzillai desired, and David promised, 2 Sam. 19. 37, 38.

so they came] They brought all store of provision to David, 2 Sam. 17. 28, 29. and 19. 32.

ecause of Absalom] Heb. from the face of Absalom.

1 Kings 2:8

Shimei the son of Gera] 2 Samuel 16:5.

grievous] Heb. strong.

I will not put thee to death] Heb. If I put thee to death. A form of imprecation, wherein the penalty is understood. Genesis 14:23. 2 Samuel 19:23.

1 Kings 2:9

guiltlesse] Though I for my time pardoned him, thou mayest take some occasion of punishing him.

with blood] By the sword of justice.

1 Kings 2:10

David slept with his fathers] Died. Death is a kinde of sleep, Acts 2:29. and Acts 13:36. Deuteronomy 31:16. See Chap. 1. v. 21.

city of David] Called Zion, which David wonne, and built: wherein also he dwelt, Sam. 5. 7, 9. Here was the usuall royall burying place, where the successours of David that were of any good note and name, were buried.

1 Kings 2:11

reigned over Israel] 2 Samuel 5:4. 1 Chron. 29. 26, 27.

1 Kings 2:12

Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father] 2 Chron. 29. 23.

greatly] None now durst hisse against him.

1 Kings 2:13

mother of Solomon] Mothers may prevail much with their children.

peaceably?] Hebr. Is peace thy coming? and he said, Peace. 1 Samuel 16:4. His former practice made her still suspect him.

1 Kings 2:14

I have somewhat] Heb. a word of me to thee. A request to make to thee, v. 16.

1 Kings 2:15

mine] By birth-right.

set their faces] Expected, and that with a desire.

from the Lord] By Gods appointment, 2 Chron. 22. 10. and 28. 5.

1 Kings 2:16

deny me not] Heb. turn not away my face.

1 Kings 2:17

unto Solomon] Without his consent he durst not attempt such a matter.

not say thee nay] Heb. not turn away thy face. See vers. 16. 20. 2 Chronicles 6:42. Psalms 122:10.

to wife] See v. 22.

1 Kings 2:18

I will] Being too forward to gratifie him.

1 Kings 2:19

owed himself] To testifie his reverend respect to his mother: as she had done to David, Chap. 1. v. 16.

throne] See Chap. 10. v. 18.

right hand] The highest place next to the king, who sat in the midst, 2 Chronicles 18:18. Nehe. 8. 4. Psalms 45:9. and Psalms 110:1. Matthew 20:21.

1 Kings 2:20

small] Being ignorant of the importance of the thing, and dangerous consequences that might have followed thereupon.

say me not nay] Heb. turn not away my face. For men use to turn their faces from them, whose request they dislike.

I will not say thee nay] Supposing it had been just, and safe, and but small, as she said.

1 Kings 2:22

Abishag] She had been as his fathers wife, and lain in his bosom. This was one thing which incensed Solomon.

the kingdom also] It might have been a means for Adonijah to have gained many of the people, if Abishag (much admired for beauty, and seemly behaviour in ministring to David, and so honoured, as to be Davids bed-fellow) if she had been his wife.

elder brother] This may give him a shew of title.

and for Abiathar] Hereby is implyed, that Adonijah, Abiathar, and Joab, were all as one, all intending and plotting the same thing.

1 Kings 2:23

and more also] Heb. and so adde; A form of imprecation, whereby most severe vengeance is wished for, if the things sworn be not performed. See the notes on Ruth 1:17.

against his own life] Heb. soul. To take it away. So v. 24.

1 Kings 2:24

established me] In my kingdom. See v. 12.

made me an house] A fair and royall family, 1 Samuel 2:35. and 1 Samuel 25:28. 2 Samuel 7:27. Exodus 1:21.

promised] 2 Samuel 7:12-13.

1 Kings 2:25

by the hand] Gave a charge and power to Benaiah to slay Adonijah.

fell upon him] This was of old the custome in cases of apparent treasons, and other capitall crimes, as 2 Samuel 1:15. and 2 Samuel 4:12.

1 Kings 2:26

to Anathoth] Joshua 21:18. There live a private life, and meddle no more with the priests office.

worthy of death] Heb. a man of death. Because he conspired with Adonijah, Chap. 1. 4. and 2. 22.

barest the ark of the Lord God before David my father] 1 Chronicles 15:11-12. 2 Sam. 25. 24, 29.

been afflicted] Hebrew, thou hast afflicted thy self; Hast had a part and share in all my fathers troubles, by thine own voluntary following of him, 1 Samuel 22:23. and 23. 6, 9. and 30. 7. 2 Samuel 15:24. Solomons piety to God and his father David moves him to spare Abiathar; to God, in that he was his priest; to David, in that he was an ancient follower of him, above fourty yeers, 1 Samuel 22:23.

1 Kings 2:27

fulfill the word of the Lord] 1 Sam. 2. 31, 35.

of Eli] Abiathar was the fourth from Eli: for he was the son of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, (1 Samuel 22:20.) the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, 1 Samuel 14.

in Shiloh A city in the tribe of Ephaim, where the tabernacle was for many yeers, and where the tribes were wont to assemble together in Joshua’s and the Judges times, Joshua 18:1. Judges 21:19. 1 Samuel 4:3-4.

1 Kings 2:28

tidings] Of what befell Adonijah and Abiathar: For Joab lived not at the court.

to Joab] In some copies, to Solomon: but corruptly.

turned] Traiterously, Chap. 1. v. 7.

not after Absalom] Vulg. Lat. after Solomon. So the LXX, and Josephus, but all corruptly.

fled, &c.] See Chap. 1. v. 50.

1 Kings 2:29

and behold] The speech of them that told Solomon what Joab did.

fall upon him] See v. 25.

1 Kings 2:30

Come forth] Though it be not expressed in the kings speech, yet he might say, or at least intend as much, to keep the altar (if it might be) from being polluted. See Exodus 21:14.

die here] Or in hope that they would not slay him there: or in a superstitious conceit of the place, that it might be some advantage to his soul.

1 Kings 2:31

fall upon him] Slay him by the altar: for better blood be there shed (which was but a ceremony) then murther and treason not punished, which is a morall matter.

bury him] For the honour of his place (2 Kings 9:34.) and for his former service.

take away] The reason why he was slain, Numbers 35:33.

innocent] The blood of Abner and Amasa, whom Joab unjustly slew.

house] Posterity.

1 Kings 2:32

his blood] The blood which he shed: the vengeanc thereof shall fall on his head: even upon himself. See v. 37.

more righteous] In that cause, being unjustly slain.

not knowing] Before they were slain, 2 Samuel 3:26; 2 Samuel 3:37.

Aber the son of Ner] 2 Samuel 3:27.

Amasa the son of Jether] 2 Samuel 20:10.

1 Kings 2:33

Their blood] The vengeance of their blood, v. 32.

his seed] His posterity. 2 Samuel 3:29.

peace] All manner of blessings, in that by executing judgement on the murtherer, the guilt is taken from the magistrate.

1 Kings 2:34

wildernesse] A place not so populous as other countries, Matthew 3:1. Acts 8:26.

1 Kings 2:35

Zadok] Who by lineall descent came from Phinehas, to whom the covenant of priesthood for ever was confirmed, Num. 25. 11, 12, 13. Se Zadoks pedigree, 1 Chron. 6. 3, &c. See his solemn inauguration, 1 Chron. 29. 22.

1 Kings 2:36

Shimei] Of whom his father had given him a charge, v. 8.

in Jerusalem] That he might be the more in the Kings eye, and kept within compasse.

1 Kings 2:37

Kidron] A river betwixt Jerusalem and Bahurim, which was Shimeis inheritance (see 2 Samuel 16:5.) whereunto he could not go but over that river, 2 Samuel 15:23. 1 Kings 23:6. John 18:1.

own head] Heb. Knowing thou shalt know that dying thou shalt die. None but thy self shall be accounted guilty of thy death: thou art the cause thereof, Joshua 2:19. Matthew 27:25.

1 Kings 2:38

good] Just and equall, (2 Kings 20:19.) he being conscious to the wrong he had done to David, could not but acknowledge his confinement to be meet in it self, and lesse then his desert.

so will, &c.] And bound himself thereto by oath, vers. 42.

1 Kings 2:39

Gath] See the notes on 1 Samuel 5:8. There was then peace betwixt the Israelites and Philistines: So as one might freely passe to the other.

1 Kings 2:40

Shimei] His covetous minde made him venture his life.

1 Kings 2:41

told Solomon] Kings have more eyes then their own.

1 Kings 2:43

not kept] This was cause enough to take away his life.

1 Kings 2:44

moreover] The king declareth the true and just ground of his proceeding against Shimei, from the beginning to the end.

the Lord] Solomon puts him in minde of Gods just dealing with him, to justifie himself therein.

thy wickednesse] The punishment of thy wickednesse.

1 Kings 2:45

established] Execution of justice establisheth a kingdom. Psalms 106:30.

1 Kings 2:46

kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon] 2 Chro. 1. 1. The contrary faction being destroyed.