Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Abishag Cherishes David. 1 KINGS 1. Adonijah Usurps the Kingdom, pented lilm of the evil—God is often described in Scripture as repenting wlien He ceased to pursue a course Ha had begun. 17. David said (or liad said), I have sinned those thirty thousand men, because they were not all of the tribe of Judah, and therefore does not say, "all those of Judah," as he had said, "all those of Israel," but only, "and those of Judah." Thus both accounts maybe rec-. . . but these sheep, what have they done 1—The guilt of numl)eiing the people lay exclusively with David. But in the body politic as well as natural, when the head sufonciled. [Davidson.] 10-U. He, Having Three Plagues Propounded by Gad, Repents, and Chooses Three Days' Pestilence. fers, all tlie members suffer along with it; and, besides, althougli David's sin was the Immediate cause, the great Increase of national offences at tliis time had (v. 1} ki ndled the anger of tlie Lord. 18. Arauitah—Or Ornan (1 Chron-
10. David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto tlie Iiord, I have sinned—The act of numbering the people was not icles "21. 18), the Jebusite, one of the ancient inhabitants, who, having become a convert to the true religion, retained his house and possessions. He resided on Mount Morlali, the spot on which the temple was afterwards built (2 Chronicles 3. 1), but that mount was not then enclosed in the town. 21. to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague may be stayed—It is evident tliat the plague was not stayed till after the altar was built, and la it.self sinful ; for Moses did it by the e.xpress authority of God. But David acted not only independently of such order or sanction, but from motives unworthy of the delegated king of Israel; from pride and vainglory, from, self-confidence and distrust of God, and, above all, from ambitious designs of conquest, in furtherance of wliich he was determined to force the people Into military service, and to ascertain whether he could muster an army suftlie sacrifice offered, so tiiat what is related {o. IGj was by anticipation. Previous to the ottering of this sacrifice, he had seen the destroying angel as well as ottered the intercessory power (t!. 17). This was a sacrifice of expiation; and the reason wliy he was allowed to otter it on Mount Moriah, was partlj' in gracious consideration to his fear of repairing to Gibeon (1 Chronicles 21. 29, 30), and partly in anticipation of the removal of tlie tabernacle and the erection of the temple there (2 Chronicles 3.1). 23. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give—Indicating, as the sense is, that this man had been anciently a. heathen king or chief, but was now a proselyte who still retained great property and influence In Jerusalem, and whose piety was evinced by the liberality of his offers. The words, "as a king," are taken by some to signify simply, "he gave with royal munificence." 34. IVay ... 1 will ficient for the magnitude of the enterprises he contemplated. It was a breach of the constitution, an Infringement of the liberties of the people, and opposed to that Divine policy which required that Israel should continue a separate people. His eyes were not opened to tlie Iieinousness of his sin till God had spoken unto him bj' liis commissioned prophet. 13. Shall seven years of famine come unto thee i. e., in addition to the three that had been already, with tlie current year included (see on 1 Chronicles 21. 11, 12). 14. David aald, . . . Let us fall Into tlie hand of the li Ord—His overwhelming sente of his Bin led him to acquiesce in the punishment denounced, notwithstanding its apparent excess of severity. He proceeded on a good principle in choosing the pestilence. In pestilence he was equally exposed, as it was just and right he should be, to danger as his people, whereas, in war and famine, he possessed means of protection superior to them. Besides, he thereby showed his trust, founded on long experience. In the Divine goodness.
. . . buy it of thee at a price—The sum mentioned here, viz., fifty shekels of sliver, equal £6 sterling, was paid for the floor, oxen and wood instruments only, whereas the large sum (1 Chronicles 21. 25) was paid afterwards for the whole hill, on which David made preparations for liuilding the temple. 25. David oi Tered burnt ofl Terings and peace offerings—There seem to have been two sacrifices" the first expiatory, the second a thanksgiving for the cessation of the pestilence (see on 1 Chronicles 21. 26). l.>-2.). His Intercession to God; the Plague Ceases.
15. from the morning—Rather that morning when Gad CAme, till tlie end of the three days, there died of the people . . . seventy thousand men—Thus was the pride of tlie vainglorious monarch, confldlng In the number
Ot his population, deeply humbled. 16. the Lord re-
THE FIRST BOOK OF THEKINGS,
COMMONLY CALLED THE THIRD BOOK OF THE KINGS.
CHAPTER I. hygeian point of view for the prolongation of his valuable life, and not merely for the comfort to be derived from the natural warmth Imparted to his withered frame. [Tent and Khan.] The polygamy of the age and country may account for the Introduction of this practice; audit
Ver. M. AnrsHAO Cherishes David in his Extuemk AOK. I. Now King Davltl was old — He was in the seventieth year of liis age (2 Samuel 5. 4, 5). But the wear and tear of a military life, bodily fatigue, and mental care, had prematurely. If we may say it, exiiau.sted the fiiergies of David's strong constitution (1 Samuel 16. 12). Jn modern Palestine and Egj'pt the people, owing to the Uenl of the climate, sleep each in a separate bed. Tliey only depart from this practice for medical reasons (Ecis evident that Abishag was maile a concubine or secondary wife to David (see on cli. 2. 22). 3. a SItunamniite Shunem, in the trilie of Issachar (Joshua 19. IS), lay on an eminence In the plain of Esdraelon, five miles south of Tabor. It Is now called Snlam.
.5-:lI. AnoNiJAii Usurps the Kingdom. 5. llien Adonijah the son of Hagglth exalted himself-Nothing is said as to the origin or rank of Ilagglth, so that it el)»iin Htes 4. II). The expedient recommended by David's ph.vsluians is the regimen prescribed in similar cases still in the East, particularly among the Arab population, not simply to give heat, but "to cherish," as thry are aware that the inhalation of young breath will give new life and vigour to the worn-out frame. The fact of the licalth of the .young and healthier person being, as it wei c, stolen to support that of the more aged and sickly
Is probable slie was not illslinguished by family descent. .Vdonljah, tbougli David's fourth son (2 Samuel 3.1; 1
C!:roii!cl('S 3.2), was now the eldest alive; and his personal altnurtions and manners (1 Samuel 9. "2) not only recommended him to the leading men about court, but made him tlie favourite of his father, who, though seeing him a.ssuiiie an eciulpage becoming only the heir-presuinptlve to the tliroiie (2.Sainuel l.j. 1), said notbiiii;; aa<1 la well established among the medical faculty. And beuue the prescription for the aged king was made in a