1 Kings 2

— did to me.] Joab had always conducted himself with great insolence to David, especially under his heaviest affliction, 2 Sam. xix. 7, and lately had set up Adonijah to reign, while he was yet alive. Bp. Patrick. Also he had stabbed Absalom, contrary to David’s immediate orders. Dr. Chandler.

— put the blood of war upon his girdle] The plain meaning is, that he stained his clothes and armour with the blood of Abner and Amasa, his own countrymen and fellow-soldiers. Pyle.

of Egypt.] Solomon, having secured his kingdom at home by cutting off the heads of the opposing faction, now bethought himself to strengthen his interest abroad by foreign alliances. It may seem somewhat strange, that, from the time of Moses till this of Solomon, no mention is made, in all the history of the Jews, of the kings of Egypt, for which we must account, by concluding that their actions were unconnected with the history of the chosen people. All these kings bore the name of Pharaoh, which was rather a title of dignity, than a proper name, for they had each a proper name besides. Stackhouse. See note on Gen. xii. 15. — until he had made an end &c.] He first built “the house of the Lord,” and then the house for his wife to dwell in; see 1 Kings ix. 24; 2 Chron. viii. 11. Bp. Patrick.

mercy.] Solomon here affords an admirable example to those who make peritions to God, that they should in the first place thank Him for the great benefits they have received. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 2:2

2. Only the people sacrificed &c.] The only blemish in Solomon’s government for a long time was, that he indulged the people in their ancient, though now forbidden, custom of sacrificing upon such hills or high place as were near at hand, to which they were the rather inclined, from the unsettled condition of the tabernacle, and the continued want of a fixed temple. In this Solomon was the more blamable, because David had, during his reign, restrained the people from such practices. Pyle. 4. — went to Gibeon; — for that was the great high place.] Gibeon was the proper place of worship, and is called “the great high place,” because there the original tabernacle and altar, that were made in the wilderness, were kept. Solomon shewed a proper sense of religion in deeming it his first duty there to address himself to God in prayer and sacrifice, in acknowledgment of His kindness in placing him on his father’s throne. places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.

1 Kings 2:3

3. And keep the charge of the Lord thy God.] The best legacy that David leaves to his heir, is the care of piety. Himself had found the sweetness of a good conscience, and now he commends it to his successor. Here was the father of a king charging the king his son to keep the statutes of the King of kings: as one who knew

that greatness could neither exempt from obedience nor privilege sin; as one who knew that the least deviation from the greatest and highest career is more perceived, and therefore most dangerous. Thus he charges his son not to look for any prosperity, save only from well doing. That happiness is built upon sand, which is raised upon any foundation besides virtue. If Solomon, when old, had well remembered the counsels of David, he would not have so foully miscarried. Bp. Hall.

1 Kings 2:5

5.—thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah &c.] David has been censured for betraying a vindictive spirit in his dying advice to Solomon respecting Joab and Shimei; but his conduct appears to be perfectly justifiable. In regard to Joab, he does not advise Solomon absolutely and unconditionally to put him to death, but tells him to “do according to his wisdom;” he says to him, “Though you have now pardoned Joab through policy, as I was compelled to do myself by the exigency of the times, and the predominant influence of the sons of Zeruiah; yet should he offend again, act according to your discretion and then punish him, as a hoary-headed murderer, and a confirmed traitor, with death.” Dr. Hales.

The advice now given by David cannot be deemed inconsistent with true piety, or unworthy of a just and religious prince on his deathbed. It is true that forgiveness of enemies is a duty; but no man is obliged, by any law that we know of, so to forgive an enemy, continuing such, as not to take the proper methods to guard against the effects of his enmity, and to bring him to justice, if no other method will prove effectual. Much less is a prince obliged so to forgive an implacable enemy to his crown and government, and one who is likely to disturb the settlement of the crown in his successor, as not to advise his successor to be on his guard against him, and to punish

David’s charge concerning Shimei. His death. Before CHRIST 1015. c 2 Sam. 3. 27. d 2 Sam. 20. 10. e 2 Sam. 19. 31.

and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto c Abner the son of Ner, and unto d 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.

1 Kings 2:7

7. — shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai] David’s gratitude to Barzillai is very remarkable, which extended itself to his sons as well as to himself. Bp. Patrick.

8. — I am but a little child: &c.] Some persons have concluded from these words that Solomon was not more than twelve years of age when he mounted the throne; but this is wrongly inferred. Solomon calls himself a child, only in respect to his skill in the management of public affairs, as is signified in the last words, “I know not how to go out &c.” that is, how to govern so great a people, for want of experience. Thus Benjamin is called a child, Gen. xlv. 20; although he was then above thirty years old. Bp. Patrick. See also Jer. i. 6, and the note there. — to go out or come in.] This is a Hebraism frequent in the sacred writings, and seems here to refer to the condition of a young child, yet unable to walk firmly, and ignorant of every thing; such as Solomon professes himself to be, as ruler of so great a people. Heubigant. Before CHRIST 1014. Or, bounty.

1 Kings 2:9

9. Now therefore hold him not guiltless.] It has been asserted, that the advice here given to Solomon respecting Shimei was a breach of the oath which he formerly took respecting him. This however was by no means the case. When Abishai asked for permission to put Shimei to death, 2 Sam. xix. 23, “the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die; and the king swore unto him:” meaning, that he should not die on that day, as appears from the context: and when David here says, ver. 8, “I swore to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword,” he means, by the sword of Abishai, who wanted immediately to kill him. The oath therefore, in strictness, was nothing more than a respite from death that day, and did not preclude his

1 Kings 2:10

10. So David slept with his fathers.] David appears to have survived the coronation of Solomon half a year; for though he reigned seven years and six months over Judah, and thirty-three years over all Israel, yet his reign is reckoned only forty years, 2 Sam. v 4, 5; 1 Chron. xxix. 27. This interval he seems to have employed in the publick acts and regulations contained in the five last chapters of the first book of Chronicles. Dr. Hales.

— was buried in the city of David.] Was buried in that part of the city of Jerusalem which he himself had taken from the Jebusites, and called after his own name. The sepulchre of David was always held in great veneration by the Jews. It remained in St. Peter’s time, for so he tells the people, Acts ii. 29. St. Jerome relates, that he himself used frequently to go and pray at it. It is however somewhat unaccountable that the place of this prince’s sepulchre, which both the Chaldeans and the Romans, when they took Jerusalem, thought proper to spare, should now be so entirely lost, that modern travellers cannot find the least remains of it. Stackhouse, Calmet.

David, as Josephus says, was a most excellent person, Solomon succeedeth. Adonijah sweth for Abishag. Before CHRIST 1013.

1 Kings 2:12

12. Then sat Solomon &c.] The age of Solomon at his accession to the crown is not noticed in Scripture; but, that he was then twenty years of age, neither more nor less, may be collected from several incidental circumstances. Dr. Hales. 13. — Comest thou peaceably? She had some reason to distrust him, because she had been the means of his losing the kingdom. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 2:15

15. — the kingdom was mine.] He means, that the kingdom was his by right of primogeniture; and he pretends that the kingdom was also his by the inclination of the generality of the people towards him, as successor to David. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 2:18

18. — I will speak for thee unto the king.] It would seem that both Adonijah and Bath-sheba thought that, because David’s marriage with Abishag was not consummated, therefore she was not to be looked upon as his wife; for they could not be ignorant that it was unlawful for any one to marry his father’s wife. It appears also that Bath-sheba did not perceive the drift of Adonijah’s request. Dr. Wells. See the note on ver. 22. Adonijah is put to death. Before CHRIST 1014.

1 Kings 2:19

19.—for the king’s mother.] The title of “king’s mother” seems to have been a title of dignity in itself, like the title of queen dowager. Fragments to Calmet.

— she sat on his right hand.] The highest mark of dignity which the Eastern monarchs conferred on the person, whom they esteemed and favoured most, was placing him, on occasions of solemnity, at their right hand; the second in honour was next to the royal person, on the other side; and the rest of the court succeeded in the same order. Thus king Solomon caused a seat to be set for his mother, “and she sat on his right hand.” And when the sons of Zebedee had by mistake imagined the kingdom of our Saviour to be like one of this world, their petition was, “that they might sit, the one on His right hand, and the other on the left in His kingdom,” Matt. xx. 21. Abp. Secker.

1 Kings 2:22

22.— ask for him the kingdom also.] Solomon gently reprehends her ignorance; but his answer means, Do you call this a small petition? You might as well ask the kingdom for him. For the laws and constitution of the government made it illegal for any one, besides the king and his successors, to take to himself any of the royal widows, concubines, servants, or any thing else appropriated to the prince. Solomon therefore considered this as a new scheme on which Adonijah had been put by Joab, in order to carry on again his designs against himself and his government. Pyle.

1 Kings 2:26

26.— to Anathoth.] This was one of the cities of the priests, (Josh. xxi. 18,) distant, as Eusebius and St. Jerome say, only three miles from Jerusalem to the north. Dr. Wells.

— I will not at this time put thee to death.] Solomon seems only to reprieve him for the present, that he might

keep him on his good behaviour: and he is induced thus to spare him, because he had been faithful to David in the rebellion of Absalom, when he brought out the ark from Jerusalem to accompany him, (2 Sam. xv. 24,) and because he underwent all the hardships that David endured, during the whole time of his exile under Saul, 1 Sam. xxii. 20. Bp. Patrick. Or perhaps this was a younger Abiathar than he who fled to David under Saul’s persecution, and then the affliction here alluded to refers to the rebellion of Absalom. Dr. Wall.

He was “worthy of death” for being concerned in the rebellion with Adonijah, (chap. i.) and it was an instance of merciful kindness in Solomon to change his punishment into banishment; and this shews the respect he had for the priest of God. Bp. Wilson.

1 Kings 2:28

28.— caught hold on the horns of the altar.] It is declared at Exod. xxi. 14, that if a man committed a presumptuous murder, he should be taken even from the altar and put to death. It is therefore a question how Joab could think to find shelter there, being a wilful murderer. The Jews conjecture, that he hoped thereby to save his estate, which would have been otherwise forfeited; others, that he hoped to obtain burial by this means. Bp. Patrick. Perhaps he hoped to obtain a pardon, as Abiathar had done, by consecrating himself to God and His service, which he did by this solemn ceremony. Dr. Lightfoot.

Joab now takes sanctuary in the tabernacle of God, and places all his hopes of defence in the horns of the altar. If he had formerly sought for counsel from the tabernacle, he would not now have needed to fly to it for refuge. If his devotions had not been wanting to that altar, he would not have needed it for a

Joab is slain. Shimei is confined to Jerusalem. Before CHRIST 1014. n 2 Sem. 3. 27. o 2 Sam. 30. 10. naiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.

1 Kings 2:31

31. — Do as he hath said.] “Kill him at the very altar where he resolves to die;” after which he would not deny him burial suitable to his quality. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 2:34

34. So Benaiah — slew him.] The honest simplicity of those times knew not of any infamy in the execution of justice. Benaiah, who was the great marshal under Solomon, thinks not his hands defiled by that fatal stroke. In this one act Solomon has approved himself both a good magistrate and a good son, fulfilling at once the will of a father, and the charge of God; concluding, upon this just execution, that “upon David, and upon his seed, there shall be peace for ever from the Lord,” and inferring, that without this there could have been no peace. Bp. Hall.

— in his own house in the wilderness.] He was probably buried in some ground belonging to his own house: they called by the name of “the wilderness” Vol. I.

those parts of the country which were thinly inhabited. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 2:43

43. Why then hast thou not kept the oath] If this act of Shimei’s was small, yet the circumstances were deadly: the commands of sovereign authority make the slightest duties weighty. If his journey was harmless, yet his disobedience was far otherwise. It is not for subjects to poise the prince’s charge in the scale of their weak constructions. But besides the command, here was a mutual adjuration. Shimei swore that he would not go: Solomon swore his death if he went. If Shimei was false in offending, Solomon will be just in punishing. Now therefore the tongue that cursed the Lord’s anointed receives its requital. Vengeance against rebels may sleep, but it cannot die; a sure, if late, judgment attends those who dare lift up the hand or tongue against the sacred persons of God’s vicegerents. How much less will the God of heaven suffer, unrevenged, the insolencies and blasphemies against His own sacred majesty! Bp. Hall.