1 Kings 1:39

39 And Zadok, the priest, took an horn of oil (out) of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon; and they sang with a clarion (and they sang with a trumpet); and all the people said, (Long) Live king Solomon!

1 Kings 1:39 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 1:39

And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the
tabernacle
Not out of the tabernacle of Moses, for that was at Gibeon; see ( 1 Chronicles 21:29 ) ; and if the oil had been there, it would have been too far to have fetched it, since haste was now required; but this was taken out of the tabernacle David had built for the ark, ( 2 Samuel 6:17 ) ; where the ark was, and before which the pot of oil was; so Jarchi; but Kimchi indeed says, that though it was at this time at Gibeon, Zadok went thither, or sent thither to fetch it; and though it is said, the pot of oil was set before the ark, this was when the ark was in the tabernacle; but when they took it out from thence at the war with the Philistines, that and the pot of manna were left in the tabernacle; and they took nothing but the ark; but if they brought the pot afterwards, and put it before the ark in Jerusalem, then it may be understood of the tabernacle David pitched for it; but that he disapproves of. Here Zadok is only said to take the oil, and anoint with it; which he did either as the deputy of the high priest, or he was made use of because the high priest was on the side of Adonijah:

and anointed Solomon;
whether it was by pouring it on his head, as Saul was anointed, ( 1 Samuel 10:1 ) ; or, as the Jews say F6, by putting it round about his head in the form of a crown, and then between his eyebrows, is not very material; and they also say F7, that it is not usual to anoint the son of a king that has been anointed; and that the reason of the anointing of Solomon was, because of the sedition of his brother Adonijah, and to confirm the kingdom to him; this anointing was an emblem of the gifts, graces, and virtues, necessary to qualify a king for the discharge of his office:

and they blew the trumpet;
and proclaimed him king:

and all the people said, God save King Solomon;
wished him long life and happiness, and gave him a general huzza or shouting.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 T. Bab. Ceritot, fol. 5. 2.
F7 Ibid.

1 Kings 1:39 In-Context

37 As the Lord was with my lord the king, so be he with Solomon, and make he the throne of Solomon higher than the throne of my lord king David.
38 Then Zadok, the priest, went down, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and (the) Cherethites, and Pelethites; and they putted Solomon upon the mule of David, the king, and they brought him into Gihon. (Then Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and Pelethites, went down; and they put Solomon on King David's mule, and they brought him to Gihon.)
39 And Zadok, the priest, took an horn of oil (out) of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon; and they sang with a clarion (and they sang with a trumpet); and all the people said, (Long) Live king Solomon!
40 And all the multitude went up after him, and the people of men singing with pipes, and being glad with great joy; and the earth sounded of the cry of them (and the earth sounded with their cry).
41 And Adonijah heard, and all that were called of him to the feast; and then the feast was ended. But also Joab said, when the voice of the trump was heard, What will it to itself the cry of the city making (such a) noise? (And Adonijah, and all who were called by him to the feast, heard the noise, as the feast was ending. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, What is the meaning of all this noise in the city?)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.