Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
n.e Death of David. 1 KINGS II. Solomon Succeeds Him, the earth—A beautiful and impressive periphrasis for slon to the royal dignity was made under the happiest auspices. Having been born after his father became monarch of the whole kingdom, his claim, according to the notions of Oriental people, was preferable to that of deatli. be thou strong, and show thyself a man—This counsel is similar to the apostolic direction (1 Corinthians
16. 13), and refers to the fortitude or strength of mind that was required to discharge the onerous functions of king.
all, even his elder brothers. The Hebrew kingdom enjoyed internal prosperity; it was respected and renowned abroad, and Solomon well knew how to improve these advantages. 13-18. Adonijah came to Batli-sheba—Her question to him betrays an appreliension 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 tlie succession, that, In her womanly simplicity, slie perceived not the deep cunning and evil design that was concealed under his request, and readily undertook to promote his wishes. 19, 30. Batli-sheba went unto King Solomon—The filial revei'enoe, and the particular act of respect which Solomon rendered, were quite in accordance with the sentiments and customs of the East. The riglithand is the placeof honour ; and as it is expressly said to have been assigned to "the king's motlier," It is necessary to remark, that when a husband dies, his widow acquires a higher dignity and power, as a motlier over her son, than slie ever possessec before. Besides, the dignity of " king's mother"' is a state ofllce, to whicli certain I'evenues are attached. Tlie Iiolder has a separate palace or court, as well as possesses great influence in public aft'airs ; and as the dignity is held for life, it sometimes happens, in consequence of deaths, that the person enjoying it may not be related to the reigning sovereign by natural maternity. Bath-slieba had evidently been invested with this honourable oflice. 23. why dost thou aaU. Abishag . . . ask for hiiu tlkc kingdom also —(See on 2 Samuel 16. 11; also on 12. H.) Solomon's indignation was roused; he in a moment penetrated tlie artful scheme, and from his associating the names of Abiathar and Joab, he seems to have suspected or known that those deep schemers had been the prompters of Adonijaii. 23-35. God do so to me, and more also—The conimoii form of introducing a solemn oath, if Adonijah have not sijoken tliis word against ills own life—Whether
3. keep tlie cliarge of the Liord thy God—^i. e., 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 (Deuteronomy 17. 10-20), that he should secure the blessing of peace and prosperity to his reign (see on Deuteronomy 4. fi; 29.
10-21). 4. there shall not fall thee a man on the throne of Israel—A reference to the promise made to David of the sovei-eignty being vested perpetually in his lineage (2 Samuel 7. 11-16), which was conlirnied to Solomon afterwards (see on ch. 9.5), and repeated with reference to its spiritual meaning long after (.leremialj 33. 17). 5, 6. thou kuowest what Joato did—The insolent and imperious conduct of tliat general had not only been deeply ott'ensive to the feelings (2Samuel 18. 5-15; 19. 5-7), but calculated to bring reproach on the character, to injure tlie prospects, and endanger the throne of David. Passing over the injuries committed directly against himself, David dwelt wilh strong feelings on the base assassination of Abiier and Amasa. shed the blood of war in peace, <Sc.—The obvious meaning is, tliat in peace he acted towards them as if tliey had been in a state of warfare ; but perhaps tliese grapliic expressions might be designed to impress Solomon's mind more strongly witli a sense of the malice, treachery, and cruelty by which those murders were characterized. 6. do according to thy wisdom—Joab's immense popularity with the army required that any proceedings instituted against him sliould be taken with great prudence aiid deliberation. 8. 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 aking and magistliere was a treasonable design to conceal under this riquest or not, the act, according to Eastern notions, was criminal, and of dangerous consequence to the state. There is no ground of censure upon Solomon for cruelty or precipitation in this instance. He had pardoned AdonIjah's former conspiracy; but this new attempt was rebellion against the viceroy appointed by the Divine King, and called for condign punishment. The oflice of executioner was among the Hebrews, as in other ancient countries of the East, performed unceremoniously and privately—often witliout any previous warning—liy the captain of the guard, or one of his officers (Matthew It. 10 . 3G, 37. unto Abiatliar tlie priest said the king—This funetionai y, as the counsellor or accomplice of Adonijah had deserved to shai'e his fate. But partly from regard to his priestly dignity, and partly from his long as.sociations with tlie late king, Solomon pronounced on him the mitigated sentence of banishiueut to his countrj' estate at Anathoth, and thereby, as God's vicegerent, deprived him of his oflice and its emoluments. The sacred writer notices the remarkable fulfilment, Abiatrate, 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. The grateful mention of Barzillai's kindness was, however, a personal feeling that does honour to the warmth of his heart; and his silence as to Mephitjoslieth, the son of his beloved Jonathan, would imply the previous death of that prince. 9. for thou art a wise man—Solomon had given early iRdications of wisdom before his miraculous endowment with the heavenly gift
(see on ch. 3. 11), and his own sagacity would dictate the course that should be followed in any new otfence that Shimei might commit. 10. So David slept with his father*—About six months after the coronation of Solomon (cf. 2 Samuel 5. 5, with 1 Chronicles 29. 27). The interval was spent in developing his ideas and plans for tlie future glory of the kingdom, and providing for the permanent worship of God (see on 1 Chronicles 22., etseq.). David wag buried In the city of David—Sepulchres were not allowed v»;thin the precincts of cities. .Jerusalem, however, formed an exception ; and yet, even tliere, the privilege was reserved chiefly for the royal family (Act.s2. 29). Tradition says that the bones of David repose on Mount ZIon, and the minaret of a small mosque points out the spot which tradition has fixed. His was a iiol)le, a wondrous, and a humbling lilstory. He was a good man, yet his life was deformed by various crlmesof avery gross character. But there were many bright and noble traits In his character; he was an earnest lover of the Divine law; his reign was signalized by many important services that coutril)utcd to the glory of God and the exaltation of His kingdom; and his name, as the swoft r.salintiiar's degradation from the high priestliood (see on cli.
4. 4), of the doom denounced against the house of Eli (I.Samuel -2. 30).
2S-45. JOAB Slain. 28. Then tidings came to Joab— The execution of these sentence? respectively on Adonijah and Abiatliar, jirepared Joab foi' his fate. Death, due to his great crimes (Numbers 35. 33), would long ago have been inflicted, had not Ills power .md po))ularity will) the army been too formidable for tlie old king. He now lied to the altar, wliich, though a recognized asylum, alforded no sanctuary to the rebel and murderer (Exodus
21. IJ). And, as he refused to leave it, lie sei'iiis to have cherished some faint hope that a religious scruple would have been felt at the tliouglit of violating the sanctity oi the place by bloodslKMl. Benaiah, not liking to assume any responsibility, referred the matter to Solomon, who ist of Israel, will be held In honour to the latesi. age of the Churcli.
12-21. Solomon Sccceedh Him. l!i. Then sat Solou»nn on the throne of David his father—His aoCL-u-