1 Kings 2

seeds of different kinds together, &c. (See Drusius and Grotius upon Numb. xix. 2. and Masius upon Josh. xxiv. 25.) Commandments wero moral duties, which had a manifest reason; as, not to steal, &c. Judgments were the laws belonging to civil government, in things between one man and another: such as arc mentioned Exod. xxi. and the following chapters. And testimonies were such laws as preserved the remembrance of some great tilings; and testified to them the loving-kindness of the Lord; as, the sabbath, the passover, and all the rest of the feasts. As it is written in the lata of Moses.’] Which their kings were bound not only to read, but to write a copy of it with their own hands, for.their own use: that they might learn to fear the Lord, &c. (Deut. xvii. 18, 19.) That tliou mayest j>rosper in alt that thou doest, and ivhithersoever thou turnest thyself J] Or, that thou mayest do ivisely, &c. as it is in the margin. For there is no policy like true religion and piety. mitted any new offence worthy of death, not pardon him as he had done. Ver.’lO.‘So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city ofDavidJ] The. author beforeme’ntioned is a little too conceited in his interpretation of the ftrst part of these words: which W will have to signify, not that David died (which is the common import of this phrase), but that his soul rested in the other world, with those just and good men that had been before him. But he observes well enough, that the latter part of this verse informs us he was not buried in the sepulchre of his father, (as Saul was, 2 Sam. xxi. 12, &c.) for that was in Beth-lehem: but, he being a great king, was buried in the chief city of the kingdom; which he himself had founded, and where was the throne of the house of David, (Psal.cxxii. 5.) He tells also, out of Josephus’s Antiquities, (seelib.vii. cap. 12.) that there w r as a great vault over his sepulchre, in which was hid an immense treasure: unto which nobody knew the; way, but those that understood the artifice wherewith it was built. Out of this vault they took, in the time of Antiochus, so much money as made him withdrawhis army from them. Which Procopius Gazaeus also mentions. And Herod took out of it a great many talents for the building of the temple: but in following times there was no man to be found to. whom the secret was communicated, how to open it; so that no more money was taken out from that time. What credit is to be given to this I shall not determine, but suspect its truth; « out David’s order: and, secondly, in this new attempt to pretend to the kingdom, by advising him to beg Abishag for his wife. Solomon did not punish him for the former, because he had pardoned Adonijah:.and therefore would not be severe against his adherents. But he renewing his traitorous designs, he thought fit to cut them both off: and Joab thought he deserved no less, as appears by his flying to the altar. Which was an acknowledgment that he was guilty of that crime which Solomon charged upon him, in being one of the wicked counsellors of Adonijah, and therefore deserved to die. Thus he.

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77iat the Lord may confirm his word, which he spake concerning me, saying. If thy children take heed to tlieir ways, to ivalk before me in truth with all their heart, and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man upon the throne of Israel.] To engage him to keep the charge of. the Lord, he represents unto him the gracious promise which God had made him, to perpetuate the kingdom in his family without interruption, (2 Sara. vii. 15,16. Psal. exxxii. 12.) provided his children sincerely and heartily served God, in faithful obedience to his commands.

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Moreover, thou knowest also what Joab the so?i of Zeruiah did unto me. After he had given him this general charge, he proceeded to direct him to do some particular pieces of justice and kindness. And, first of all, bids him remember how Joab had used him: how insolently, for instance, he had treated him in his great affliction, and threatened a hew rebellion, (2 Sam. xix. 7.) and lately had set up Adonijah to reign, while he was yet alive. Or this may refer to what follows.. And what he did to the two captains of the host of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew.] For this was a great dishonour to David, who had given Abner safe conduct; and passed his word to Amasa that he should be commander-in-chief of all his forces:, and therefore he might say it was done to himself But it is an idle conceit of the Jews, in Jalkut, and in other books, which refer these words, what he did to me, unto his shewing the letter which David wrote him concerning Uriah, unto the great.commanders in the army, (2 Sam. xi. 15.) and thereby exposed the king as a murderer of oue of his best subjects. D. Kimchi mentions this upon this place. And shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that teas about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.] This Avas a high aggravation of his - crime, that he did not only shed that blood in peace (speaking to them in a friendly manner when he shed it), but after he had done he was not at all ashamed of it, but appeared with their blood upon his belt, and in his shoes: as if he thought it a glory to him, that he had slain them in a battle with them.

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Do thou therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace. It was. jaotjsafe to give any countenance to so bold a man as Joab, who was of great authority among the soldiers: in a new kingdom, and a young man being king. Therefore, if there was a fair occasion, and ho could do it prudently, he advises Solomon to cut him off. For David had not remitted his former crimes (nor could ho by the law), but only deferred the punishment of a man who was very powerful, and very serviceable in his wars. Though Abarbinel is of opinion he was not cut off for those old crimes: but the new one in following Adonijah could not be forgiven; because he had deserved so ill before on other accounts. But some move a doubt how Solomon, being but a youth, could cutoff Joab; which David durst not do, when he most flourished. Which will easily be resolved, if it be considered that now it was a time of peace, when Joab was less necessary: and Solomon’s reputation grew continually, (ver. 12.) and so he was more respected than Joab; who now declined in his interest, by reason of his age.

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But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that cat at thy table. As Mephibosheth had done: who, it is likely, was now dead, for otherwise he would not have forgotten him. David’s gratitude here is very remarkable; which extended itself to all the sons of Barzillai: who only desired him to he kind to.Chimham, (2, Sam. xix. 37.) For so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.] That is, such kindness they shewed to David, inviting him to Barzillai’s house, who sustained him in his great, distress, (2 Sam. xix. 32.)

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And, behold, thou hast with thee Shhnei the son of Gera, a Benjamite. Theso words, thou hast with thee, are understood by Abarbinel as if David had said, I see that thou art very familiar with Shimei; whom thou lovest and’advisest withal. But, that he might not trust him, he remembers him how bitterly he w r as cursed by him in his distress: and therefore might do as much by Solomon, if he should fall into the like trouble. And he thinks Solomon, being young, might the more easily be drawn in to hearken to such a crafty mail’s counsel; because he did not follow Adonijah: for he takes him to be the Shimei mentioned in the foregoing chapter, (ver. 8.) But the plain sense of his having Shimei with him, is, that he was in his power, being one of his subjects. Which cursed me ivith a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim.] See 2 Sam. xvi. 5 — 7. But he came down to me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the Lord, saying, Iwilfnot put thee to death with thesword.] See 2 Sam. xix. 18, 19, &c.

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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 down nnto the grave ivith blood. His intention was not, as Abarbinel glosses, that he should put him to death for his cursing him: but he admonishes Solomon not to trust him, nor follow his advice; but if (saith he) he do to thee as he did to rae, that is, any ways offend thee, do not forgive him as I did. But bring down, his hoar head, &c. that is, though he be an old man, let not that move thee to clemency towards him; but punish him according to his deserts. And David knew his humour so well, that tic did not doubt he would give Solomon occasion - to cut him off, and that he was so wise as not to spare him. In short, he did not bid him cut him off for cursing him; but only that he should cautiously observe him: and if he com-

1 Kings 2:11

And the flays that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty-three years reigned he in Jerusalem. The very same account is given in 1 Chron. xxix. 27. But in 2 Sam. v. 5. it is said he reigned seven years and six months in Hebron, (and the same is said before, chap. ii. ver. 11.) which, with the three and thirty years in Jerusalem, make forty years and a half. To solve this difficulty (as some of the Jews esteem it) they have devised this conceit: that David had a leprosy six months, to punish him for his adultery with Bath-sheba: all which time he being as a dead man, it is not accounted to his reign. But they did not consider that the six months was part of his reign in Hebron, before he committed that adultery in Jerusalem. Which shews that this is a frivolous fancy; and the true account of this matter is, that the Scripture is wont to reckon only complete years (as Kirachi observes upon that place of Samuel), and therefore omits the, six months, being but a part of the year. (Seevi. 38.) Yer. 12. Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his.kingdom was established greatly.] This Abarbincl thinks may refer to the second solemn investiture of Solomon by all the estates of the realm. Who confirmed that, which had been done by a few (though by David’s order) at Gihon, (1 Chron. xxix. 22, 23.)

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And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Contest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably. She had some reason to distrust him: because by her means he had lost the kingdom.

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He said moreover, I have something to say unto thee. And she said, Say on. He did not pretend to come to make her a visit; but about some business. •

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And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom teas mine. By right of primogeniture. And that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign.] The kingdom, he pretends, was his by the inclination of the generality of the people to him, as David’s successor. Howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and become my 6rother’s: for it teas his from the Lord.] Lest she should imagine he meant any harm, or was inwardly disgusted at his being disappointed of the kingdom, he calls Solomon his brother; and entitles God to the change: and therefore would not have her think he affected another change; which would be to oppose the Lord. Ver. 1G. And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said,‘Say on.] In the Hebrew the words are, turn not away my face: which signify, that he should be very much ashamed if she did not grant his petition.

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And lie said, Speak, I pray thee, to Solomon, the king (for he will not say thee nay), that he give me Abishag? the Shunammite to wife. Both he and she surely were not ignorant, that it was unlawful for any tnan to marry hisfather’s wife: but they thought/because David knew her. not, the marriage was not completed.

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Bath-sheba said, Well, I tvill speak for thee to the king.* For she did not understand the drift of this desire: but was only forward to do courtesies to a ^man, fallen from very great hopes.

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Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon,. to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and boived himself unto her. For the high-honour to which he was advanced, did not make him forget -the. honour due to a parent: unto whom he was also mnclt indebted for his preferment to the kingdom. And sat down in his throne, and caused a seat to be setfor the king’s mother.] In the Hebrew it is, a throne to be set for her: it being a seat in the form of a. throne, though, not so glorious as the king’s. And she sat on his right hand.] Whichwas the most honourable place, next to himself,(Psal. xlv. 9. ex. 1.)

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Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee;,! I pray thee, say menot nay. It is likely it was the first petition she had made to him;* and, as she thought,.would cost him nothing: which made her call it, a small petition. And the king said, Ask on, my mother; for- 1 will not say>, thee nay.] If the thing were fit, and safe to be granted.

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And she said, Let AbishagAhe Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to tvife. %. n

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And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thott ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also. He gently reprehends her ignorance: for it is as if hejiad said, Do you call this a small petition? You had as good ask the kingdom for him. (For he is my elder brother).] And hath* that pretence to the kingdom: unto which he would add this; Even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son ofZeruiah.] Who were all in this plot. So the Hebrew words, in the opinion of Lud. deDieu, are. better rendered by the Chaldee paraphrast, than by any other interpreter, Was not he, and Abiathar, and Joab, in this counsel? The LXX. more plainly, With him are Abiathar the priest, atidfoab the chief commander of the army: that is, they are his accomplices, and have laid their heads together to givet him this counsel..

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Now therefore, as the Lord liveth, which hath Established me in the throne of my father, and hath made -me d house. That is, a royal family. As he promised.] In 2 Sam. vii. 12, 13. > Adonijah shall be put to death this day.] He repeats the 6ath, to signify it w r as his unalterable resolution he should riot live; but* be put to death, without delay: which in such cases is very dangerous.-’

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And king Solomon sent by x the hand of Benaiah the sonofJehoiada; and he fell tiponhim that he died. For / such executions were there done not by mean persons, but by men of eminence: who at the king’s command cut off 6ffcnders. (See Judg. viii.20.) * Ver.- 26. And unto Abiathar the priest the king said, Get ihee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields.] This was a city of the priests, (Josh. xxi. 28.) where he commanded him to lead a private life, either in that part of the suburbs which fell to his share, or in some land which he had purchased, ks Jeremiah afterward did, (Jcr. xxxii. 6 — S.) ’ For thou art worthy of death: but at this time I ivill not put thee to death.] He seems now only to reprieve him, that he might keep him upon his good behaviour: for if hereafter he gave just cause, he might put him to death, as well as now put him out of his office. Because thou barest the ark of the Lord God before David my father.] He was faithful to him in the rebellion of Absalom: when he brought the ark from Jerusalem to accompany him, (2 Sam. xv. 24. 29.) And because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my fa t her teas afflicted.] Underwent all the hardships that David Inured, all the time of hiscxile unddr Saul, (1 Sam. xxii. 20,21, &c r ) t *

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So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest ntito the Lord; that he might fulfil the word of (he Lord, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in ■ShilohJ.* Which might partly move Solomon to deprive him. (See 1 Sam.ii. 31, Sec.)

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Then iidings came to Joab. That Adonijah was put to death, and Abiathar banished. (For Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he had not turned after Absalom J.] The reason of which, Abarbinel thinks, was, because Solomon was very young, and not fit, he thought, to manage public affairs: and his mother also had a blot upon her. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord.] Which was at Gibeon. (Sec the foregoing chapter, ver. 51.) This makes it appear that Joab had a hand in the counsel beforementioned, (ver. 22.) as Solomon suspected. And caught hold on the horns of the altar.] Which w r ere four, at each corner thereof: in height, as the Jews say, five hand-breadths; that is, a common cubit. Here he thought to Save himself, according to the custom of all nations, who fled to their altars, when they were guilty of any great crime, and were in great danger. But Jewish doctors say, Joab was mistaken in two things. First, in fancying there was security from thence for a wilful murderer: and, secondly, in that he looked for Safety by taking hold of the horns of the altar, whereas the refuge of the altar (as Kimchi saith) was on the top of it only. But I look upon this as frivolous; Rasi’s opinion is better: that as God appointed them cities of refuge whither the manslayer should flee w T hen they came into the land of Canaan, (Exod. xxi. 13.) so, while they were in the wilderness, the camp of the Levites served for that purpose. And the following words (ver. 14.) declaring, that if a man-committed a presumptuous murder, he should be taken from the altar and put to death; it not only confirms what he saith, but intimatesy that even in the land of Canaan the altar continued a refuge for those that fled to it. But then this question arises, why Joab (who, as the Jews fancy, w T as president of the great Sanhedrin, and understood the law) should think to find shelter here, being a wilful murderer? To which the Jews answer, that he hoped hereby to save his estate, which otherways would have been forfeited. So they say in the Gemara Sanhedrin, cap. 6. n. 7. He hoped to be condemned by the judgment of the Sanhedrin, and then his goods would go to his heirs: whereas if he was cut off by the king they would fall to him. (See Cocceius there, Annot. 2.) Others say, he hoped to obtain burial by this means. But f take these to be mere conceits. It is more probable, that, as Dr. Lightfoot conjectures, he hoped to obtain a pardon, as Abiathar had done, by consecrating himself to God and to his service: as he did," he thinks, by this solemn ceremony. For the laying hold of the altar had a vow in it for the future, as well as the hope of present safety. Which may bo argued from the name of the altar: which made that which touched it to be holy. (See his treatise of the Temple, chap. 34. sect. 3.)

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And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled into the tabetnacle of the Lord; and, behold, he is by the altar: then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Gofall upon him.] Which punishment, as Abarbinel observes, was not inflicted on him for killing Abner and Amasa: though the remembrance of that innocent blood which he shed moved him not to pardon the faults he had “newly committed: first, in setting-up Adonijah to be king while his father was living, which was no better than rebellion; being done with-

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A7td Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the Lord; and said, Tlius saith the king,’ Come forth. The forenamed author thinks that Benaiah had a mind to bring him to Solomon, and try to get his pardon, so far as to have him only deposed from his office, as Abiathar was. And he said, Nay; but I will die here.] Which he said, that he might bring Solomon into the people’s hatred for staining the house of God with blood. And. Benaiah brought the king word, saying, TJius said Joab, and thus he answered me.] This interpreters generally take to be but the repetition of the same thing in different, words: but Abarbinel takes them for two distinct answers of Joab, in which he refuses to come from the place where he was;* and pronounces the sentence upon himself, and desires no pardon. For those words, thus saith Joab, respect (he thinks) the sentence which he pronounced on himself, that he would die: and those.words, thus he answered, signify he would not come from the altar.

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And Solomon said to Benaiah, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him^. Kill him at the very altar, where he resolves to die: after which he would not deny him burial suitable to his quality, (ver. 34.) But many think he did not kill him at the very altar; but dragged him from thence, and then slew him. For what need was there to defile the holy place with blood? And so the command is, Exod. xxi. 14. Though others are of opinion, that Solomon did think fit to have him killed at the very altar; to let all men see that no place, though ever so holy, should secure, any man from the hand of justice.. That thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed.] He means the blood of those two persons mentioned in the next verse: whose murder (as I said before) was not the immediate reason of Joab’s death: but the words of Solomon are to be understood (Abarbinel thinks) as if he had said to Benaiah, Do not imagine thou shalt offend God, by killing Joab at the very altar, but rather perform an acceptable service to him: by cutting off a man who deserves to die, not only upon the account of Adonijah; but of the innocent blood which he shed heretofore. So the business of Adonijah was the principal cause of his death: the other only the secondary; which he remembers, that he might warrant Benaiah to kill him in the tabernacle.. From me, and from the house of my father.] The crimes of Joab in killing those two men could not be punished by the house of judgment, because there were no witnesses of that murder: but David might have done it by such proofs as satisfied him of his’ guilt. Yet he, omitted it, because Joab was so potent in the army: and so Solomon feared the guilt might stick upon his family, if it were not wiped off by this execution upon Joab.

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And the Lord sliall return his blood upon his own head. Make him alone bear the punishment of his iniquity. Who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father not knowing thereof, to tvit, Abner the son ofNer, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the soil ofJether, captain of the host of Judah.] His crime was the more heinous, because it brought a suspicion upon David, as if it had been done by his order: which calumny he laboured to wipe off, by the unfeigned grief he expressed for Abner, (2 Sam. Hi. 37.)

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Their blood therefore shall return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever. Why doth he repeat what he said before? Abarbinel answers, it is not a mere repetition; but Solomon pronounces that the curse of David should come upon him: so that Joab’s own. death should not expiate the guilt; but his posterity should suffer for it in future generations, according to what David’ said, 2 Sam. iii. 28, 29….:. Buttipon David, and upon his seed, and upon his, house, and upon his throne, shall be peace for ever before the Lord.] He prays and prophesies that his family and kingdom might never suffer upon this account, now that the sin which had not been punished in David’s lifetime, had received a just punishment from him. „

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So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, mid fell upon him, and slew him. He is said to go up, because Gibeon,. where Joab was at the tabernacle, was a. high place. l And he was buried.] It is not said who. took c.are of his burial; but it is likely Benaiah. (See ver. 21.) Because Joab was a man of dignity, and one of the royal faniily., ti » In his own house in the wilderness.] He did not bury him in the house, but in some ground belonging to it, and accounted a part of the habitation, which was in the wilderness; so they called those parts of the country, which were but thinly inhabited. And Abarbinel is of opinion, that here Joab had built a hospital, where he provided, in several rooms, a bed, a table, and a candlestick, for poor tra* vcllers.;.; ^^

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And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host; and Zadok the priest did he put in the room of Abiathar. It is evident that Zadok wasa great man before this; at least the vicar of the high-priest Abiathar: who was, as some of the Jevrs fancy, deprived by David himself, or suspended from his office, upon his anointing Adonijah. Butnosuch anointing is mentioned in the story of Adonijah; nay, it is most likely (as I before; observed) that he wanted it. And therefore he remained high-priest till now that Solomon removed him, and translated that great office from the family of Ithamar to that of Eleazar, (according to the threatening against Eli; 1 Sam. ii. 30.) in which if continued till the time of the captivity; no notice being takeri’of Jonathan the son of Abiathar, mentioned in the foregoing chapter, ver. 42. and in 1 Sam;, xv. 27. v See Selden, de Succession, in Pontif. lib. i. cap. 4, 5. and Grotius, de Imperio Sum. Potestat. where he observes, (cap. 10.) that the sagan, or vicar of the highpriest, had rather a hope, than’a right, to succeed in jhe office of high-priest; For Maimonides saith, the Sanhedrin chose him out of the family of Aaron; but here it is plain the king disposed of that office. For otherwise it could not be said truly, that Solomon put Zadok in the 3 E

*And king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, i/Adonijah have not spoken this word. Made this request, which ho knew came originally from him. Against his own life.’] For he looked upon it as a treasonable design, to ask David’s wife might become his. For, fcccordfng to the custom of the Hebrews, no man who had been servant of the king, might serve any other master; nor might any man ride upon the king’s horse; nor sit on his throne, nor use his sceptre: as they say, in the title Sanhedrin, cap. 2. sect. 2. 5. Much less might any private person marry the king’s widow: who belonged only to his successor. Therefore God gave David all the wives of Saul, (2 Sam. xii. 8.) All which the Gemara upon that place (cap. 2. sect. 34.) applies unto this history of Adonijah; whose desire to marry the king’s widow (which was not lawful for any private person) was looked upon as an affecting the kingdom. So Cocceius glosses upon that place. And, indeed, Adonijah seems to have understood well enough, that Abishag was wholly in the power of Solomon; and did not return to her father’s house after the death of David: but remained with him in his possession, as one of those things that were appropriated to him. Which move 3 Adonijah (as Abarbinel observes) to desire her of Solomon; and not address himself to her, or to her relations; but to him, because she belonged to the crown, (See Selden, lib. i. do Uxor. Ilebr. cap. 10.)