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1 Kings 2:13-23

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Solomon's Reign Established

13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, 1"Do you come peacefully?" He said, "Peacefully."
14 Then he said, "I have something to say to you." She said, "Speak."
15 He said, "You know that 2the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, 3for it was his from the LORD.
16 And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me." She said to him, "Speak."
17 And he said, "Please ask King Solomon--he will not refuse you--to give me 4Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."
18 Bathsheba said, "Very well; I will speak for you to the king."
19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, 5and she sat on his right.
20 Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you."
21 She said, "Let 6Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife."
22 King Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you ask 7Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, 8for he is my older brother, and on his side 9are Abiathar[a] the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah."
23 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, 10"God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life!
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1 Kings 2:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KING 2

This chapter gives an account of the charge David gave to his son Solomon, a little before his death, to walk in the ways of the Lord, 1Ki 2:1-4; and of some instructions delivered to him concerning some particular persons he should either show favour to, or execute justice on, 1Ki 2:5-9; and the next account in it is concerning his death and burial, and the years of his reign, 1Ki 2:10,11; after which it relates an address of Bathsheba to Solomon in favour of Adonijah, which was refused, and the issue of it was his death, 1Ki 2:12-25; and the deposition of Abiathar from the priesthood, 1Ki 2:26,27; and the putting of Joab to death for his treason and murders, 1Ki 2:28-34; in whose post Benaiah was put, as Zadok was in the place of Abiathar, 1Ki 2:35; and lastly the confinement of Shimei in Jerusalem, who had cursed David, 1Ki 2:36-38; who upon transgressing the orders given him was put to death, 1Ki 2:39-46.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 10

  • 1. 1 Samuel 16:4
  • 2. [1 Kings 1:5, 25]
  • 3. 1 Chronicles 22:9, 10; 1 Chronicles 28:5-7
  • 4. 1 Kings 1:3, 4
  • 5. [Psalms 45:9]
  • 6. [See ver. 17 above]
  • 7. [See ver. 17 above]
  • 8. 1 Kings 1:6; 1 Chronicles 3:2, 5
  • 9. 1 Kings 1:7
  • 10. See Ruth 1:17

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew and for him and for Abiathar
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.