THE FIRST BOOK OF
THE KINGS,

1 Kings 1

1Abishag cherisheth David in his extreme old age. 5Adonijah, having gained over Joab and Abiathar, inviteth his friends to a feast in order to make himself king. 11Nathan's advice to Bathsheba thereupon; 15who moveth the king on the behalf of Solomon. 22She is seconded by Nathan. 28David sweareth to Bathsheba to make Solomon king that same day; 32and issueth out orders accordingly. 38Solomon is anointed and proclaimed king, the people rejoicing. 41Adonijah and his guests hearing the news betake themselves to flight. 50Adonijah, laying hold on the horns of the altar, is dismissed by Solomon in peace, on condition of his good behaviour.


1NOW king David 1was old and 2stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but 3he gat no heat.

1 Namely, about 70 years; for, in his thirtieth year he began to reign, and he reigned forty years; seven in Hebron, and thirty-three in Jerusalem, 2 Sam. 5:5; 1 Kings 2:11.

2 Hebr. come into days, that is, was of a good age. See Gen. 18 on verse 11.

3 Hebr. to him was no warm.

2Wherefore his 4servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand 5before the king, and let her cherish him, and 6let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.

4 That is, counselors, officers, most important courtiers, see Gen. 20 on verse 8.

5 That is, minister unto him; see this phrase, Deut. 1 on verse 38; Deut. 10:8; 1 Sam. 16:22; 1 Kings 12:6, and compare below verses 4 and 15.

6 See this phrase also 2 Sam. 12:3; Micah 7:5, and compare Deut. 13:6 together with the annotation. It is thought that this was done after that he had married her.

3So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a 7Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

7 So called, because she was of the city of Shunem, situated in the tribe of Issachar, on the south side of mount Gilboa. See Joshua 19:18; 2 Kings 4:8.

4And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king 8knew her not.

8 See Gen. 4 on verse 1.

5¶Then 9Adonijah the son of 10Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: anda11he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

9 Who was now the eldest of David’s sons; for Amnon and Absalom were dead; as also Chileab, as is perceived. See of these 2 Sam. 3:2, 3, 4.

10 See also of this woman 2 Sam. 3:4.

a 2 Sam. 15:1.

11 To have a kingly retinue and train, as Absalom also had done, 2 Sam. 15:1. Compare the annotation at 1 Kings 14 on verse 27.

6And his father had 12not displeased him 13at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very 14goodly man; and his motherb bare him 15after Absalom.

12 Namely, to rebuke him for it.

13 That is, all his life long.

14 See Gen. 6 on verse 2.

b 1 Chron. 3:2.

15 Who was born of another woman named Maacah, 2 Sam. 3:3.

7And hec16conferred 17with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah 18helped him.

c 1 Kings 2:22, 28.

16 Or, had communication, see 2 Sam. 3:17. Hebr. words, which is likewise so taken, Num. 31:16; Ezek. 38:10.

17 That is, he conferred, or consulted with these men, the better to attain to his design.

18 Hebr. and helped after Adonijah, that is, helped and followed Adonijah. Also 2 Sam. 2:10; 1 Kings 16:21, etc.

8But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with 19Adonijah.

19 Hebr. Adoniahu. Also verse 9, etc.

9And Adonijah 20slew 21sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which isd by 22En-rogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:

20 Namely, to keep a stately feast at his installation. The word slew is likewise so taken, Gen. 31:54; 1 Sam. 28:24.

21 That is, both small and large cattle. See Gen. 26 on verse 14.

d Joshua 15:7; 18:16.

22 Or, the fountain Rogel: see of this fountain, Joshua 15:7; 18:16; 2 Sam. 17:17.

10But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

11¶Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

12Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee 23counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the 24life of thy son Solomon.

23 Hebr. advice.

24 Or, soul, that is, save your own life, and your son’s life, which is in danger of Adonijah, if he is made king. Compare verse 21. See of the word soul, in the foregoing sense, Gen. 19 on verse 17.

13Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto 25thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit 26upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

25 Thus she calls herself out of humility of heart, and reverence toward the king. Otherwise she was his wife, 2 Sam. 11:27.

26 That is, be king, and reign as king. See Exod. 11:5; Deut. 17:18; 1 Kings 16:11; 1 Chron. 29:23.

14Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and 27confirm thy words.

27 Namely, by adding somewhat thereunto, if you shall be too short in your account; or by confirming your sayings with my testimony, and exhorting the king to execute the will of God, Who has determined that Solomon shall inherit the crown. See on verse 17.

15¶And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

16And Bath-sheba 28bowed, and 29did obeisancee unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

28 See Gen. 24 on verse 26.

29 Understand it of a civil reverence and see Gen. 18 on verse 2. Likewise verse 23.

e expression of submission, often a bow*

17And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the 30LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

30 Who has declared Solomon to be your heir in the kingdom, adding thereunto glorious promises, see 2 Sam. 7:13; 1 Chron. 28:5; 29:1.

18And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

19And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

20And thou, my lord, O king, 31the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

31 That is, all Israel wait and depend upon thee that thou wouldest publicly declare thy successor in the kingdom before thy death. See a similar phrase, 2 Chron. 20:12; Psalm 145:15.

2132Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall 33sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted 34offenders.

32 Hebr. and it shall, or should, etc.

33 Hebr. properly lie down, that is, has died according to the body and according to the soul taken up into the rest of heaven, to await there the blessed resurrection of the dead. Death is compared unto a sleep, because it happens with the remaining of the soul’s life, and ends with the resurrection of the dead body. See hereof also Deut. 31 on verse 16.

34 Or, be accounted as sinners, that is, as guilty persons and worthy of death, as malefactors, or such as had unjustly aspired after the crown. See Gen. 43 on verse 9. Thus innocent persons are called, who have deserved no punishment at all, Gen. 44:10; Joshua 2:19.

22¶And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

23And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was 35come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

35 Namely, after that Bath-sheba was gone out of the chamber, as may be gathered from verse 28.

24And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

25For he is 36gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, 37God save king Adonijah.

36 Namely, to the stone of Zoheleth, at the fountain of Rogel. See verse 9.

37 That is, we wish that the king may have a long and prosperous life in his reign. Also verses 34, 39; 2 Sam. 16:16.

26But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

27Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

28¶Then king David answered and 38said, Call me Bath-sheba. And 39she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

38 Namely, to the valets.

39 Namely, after that Nathan the prophet was gone out of the chamber, as may be gathered from verse 32.

29And the king 40sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,

40 David renews the oath which he had made to Bath-sheba, not out of rashness, but: 1. by this resolute and zealous steadfastness to oppose the action and bold attempt of Adonijah; 2. to comfort Bath-sheba; 3. to leave to all men after his death a sure testimony, that he had kept close, as in this, so also in all other things, to the word and will of the Lord, even to the end of his life.

30Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.

31Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, 41Let my lord king David live 42for ever.

41 This is a manner of salutation or greeting, wherewith kings and princes were addressed. Of which see also Dan. 2:4; 3:9; 5:10; 6:7.

42 That is, a very long time. Intimating, she wished not for the king’s death, when she petitioned that the right of succession might be settled in her son; but prayed unto God, notwithstanding her petition, for the king’s long life. So is the word olam taken for a long and unlimited time, 1 Kings 2:33; Dan. 2:4.

32¶And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of 43Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

43 Hebr. Jehojada.

33The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants 44of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to 45ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to 46Gihon:

44 That is, my servants, who have hitherto faithfully served me. Other, of your lords, in the plural number; that is, mine and Solomon’s servants. Understand by these king’s foot-men, lifeguard, and who fought round about his person in the war.

45 This was a sign of royal dignity and honor, unto which the king would advance a man. Compare Gen. 41:43; Esther 6:8.

46 The name of a fountain flowing on the west side of Mount Zion, 2 Chron. 32:30, and is to be distinguished from a river of Paradise, so likewise called, Gen. 2:13.

34And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet 47anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

47 Thus were the kings, whose choice had somewhat extraordinary in it, installed into their office, 1 Sam. 10:1; 16:12, 13; 1 Kings 19:15, 16; 2 Kings 9:3.This ceremony of anointing signified that they were called by God to their office, and would receive from Him gifts needful thereunto.

35Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be 48ruler over Israel and over Judah.

48 Or, advocate, leader, prince; also 1 Kings 14:7; 16:2.

36And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king 49say so too.

49 That is, will and do so likewise; for, the saying of God is His doing. See Gen. 1 on verse 3.

37As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

38So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and 50the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

50 Meaning: lifeguards and soldiers, who, ordinarily in time of peace or war, attended upon the king’s person, who in verse 33 are called his servants. See likewise of these, 2 Sam. 8:18; 15:18.

39And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of 51the tabernacle, and 52anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Godf save king Solomon.

51 Namely, in which David had set the ark of the LORD, 2 Sam. 6:17.

52 Understand this of the first anointing of Solomon, which was only done before the men of Jerusalem; of the second, which was done afterward in a more solemn manner before all Israel, see 1 Chron. 29:22.

f 1 Sam. 10:24.

40And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth 53rent with the sound of them.

53 This is a hyperbolical expression. Compare Gen. 13 on verse 16.

41¶And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the 54sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this 55noise of the city being in an uproar?

54 Hebr. voice.

55 Hebr. voice, and so in the sequel.

42And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art 56a valiant man, and bringest 57good tidings.

56 Hebr. a man of courage, or, valor.

57 That is, what is acceptable and well-pleasing. See 1 Kings 12:7; 22:8; 2 Kings 25:28; 2 Chron. 10:7; Jer. 12:6; 52:32.

43And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

44And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:

45And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are 58come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.

58 Namely, into the city of David, which was the castle of Zion. 1 Chron. 11:5; 2 Chron. 5:2.

46And also Solomon 59sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

59 Or, hath sat, which served as public evidence, that he was made king. See on verse 13.

47And moreover the king's servants came to 60bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon 61better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king 62bowed himself upon the bed.

60 That is, to wish him well with the inauguration of his son Solomon into the kingly office.

61 That is, more excellent, more glorious, more renowned.

62 Understand this of a religious worship, which he performed to give God thanks that He had fulfilled His promises toward Solomon, and to beseech Him to bless him in his government. Compare Gen. 47:31, and see Gen. 24 on verse 26.

48And also thus said the king, 63Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes 64even seeing it.

63 Or, blessed. See Gen. 14 on verse 20.

64 Or, do see it.

49And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

50¶And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and 65caught hold on the horns 66of the altar.

65 This has been an ancient custom, whereby those who were guilty of any crime and feared immediately to be punished, made themselves go to sacred places for refuge, to find mercy, and to escape the punishment of death, which sometimes succeeded well, as here with Adonijah; sometimes ill, as with Joab: 1 Kings 2:28, for, against some sins there was a law to the contrary, Exod. 21:14.

66 Which was at Gibeon, where the tent of the congregation was at that time. See 2 Chron. 1:3, 5.

51And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day 67that he will not slay 68his servant with the sword.

67 Hebr. if he shall slay his servant with the sword!

68 Thus Adonijah calls himself, to declare, that he now acknowledged his brother for his sovereign, and was ready to serve and obey him. Compare 1 Kings 18:12, 13; 20:32; 2 Kings 5:15, 17.

52And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a 69worthy man, 70there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

69 Hebr. a son of worthiness or honesty. The Hebrew word signifies not only strength, and worth, or valor of body, but also virtue and valor of mind or spirit, as here and Ruth 3:11; Prov. 31:10.

70 That is, the least harm shall not be done to him. See this proverbial phrase, 1 Sam. 14:45; 2 Sam. 14:11.

53So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, 71Go to thine house.

71 That is, lead a private life; busy yourself with your own affairs, and rest satisfied therewith, without intermeddling with or causing any disturbance in the government.