1 Kings 1:39

39 and Zadok the priest taketh the horn of oil out of the tent, and anointeth Solomon, and they blow with a trumpet, and all the people say, `Let king Solomon live.'

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 Jehovah hath been with my lord the king, so is He with Solomon, and doth make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.'
38 And Zadok the priest goeth down, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethite, and the Pelethite, and they cause Solomon to ride on the mule of king David, and cause him to go unto Gihon,
39 and Zadok the priest taketh the horn of oil out of the tent, and anointeth Solomon, and they blow with a trumpet, and all the people say, `Let king Solomon live.'
40 And all the people come up after him, and the people are piping with pipes, and rejoicing -- great joy, and the earth rendeth with their voice.
41 And Adonijah heareth, and all those called, who [are] with him, and they have finished to eat, and Joab heareth the noise of the trumpet, and saith, `Wherefore [is] the noise of the city roaring?'
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.