1 Kings 1

1 et rex David senuerat habebatque aetatis plurimos dies cumque operiretur vestibus non calefiebat

2 dixerunt ergo ei servi sui quaeramus domino nostro regi adulescentulam virginem et stet coram rege et foveat eum dormiatque in sinu tuo et calefaciat dominum nostrum regem

3 quaesierunt igitur adulescentulam speciosam in omnibus finibus Israhel et invenerunt Abisag Sunamitin et adduxerunt eam ad regem

4 erat autem puella pulchra nimis dormiebatque cum rege et ministrabat ei rex vero non cognovit eam

5 Adonias autem filius Aggith elevabatur dicens ego regnabo fecitque sibi currum et equites et quinquaginta viros qui ante eum currerent

6 nec corripuit eum pater suus aliquando dicens quare hoc fecisti erat autem et ipse pulcher valde secundus natu post Absalom

7 et sermo ei cum Ioab filio Sarviae et cum Abiathar sacerdote qui adiuvabant partes Adoniae

8 Sadoc vero sacerdos et Banaias filius Ioiadae et Nathan propheta et Semei et Rhei et robur exercitus David non erat cum Adonia

9 immolatis ergo Adonias arietibus et vitulis et universis pinguibus iuxta lapidem Zoheleth qui erat vicinus fonti Rogel vocavit universos fratres suos filios regis et omnes viros Iuda servos regis

10 Nathan autem prophetam et Banaiam et robustos quosque et Salomonem fratrem suum non vocavit

11 dixit itaque Nathan ad Bethsabee matrem Salomonis num audisti quod regnaverit Adonias filius Aggith et dominus noster David hoc ignorat

12 nunc ergo veni accipe a me consilium et salva animam tuam filiique tui Salomonis

13 vade et ingredere ad regem David et dic ei nonne tu domine mi rex iurasti mihi ancillae tuae dicens quod Salomon filius tuus regnabit post me et ipse sedebit in solio meo quare ergo regnavit Adonias

14 et adhuc ibi te loquente cum rege ego veniam post te et conplebo sermones tuos

15 ingressa est itaque Bethsabee ad regem in cubiculo rex autem senuerat nimis et Abisag Sunamitis ministrabat ei

16 inclinavit se Bethsabee et adoravit regem ad quam rex quid tibi inquit vis

17 quae respondens ait domine mi tu iurasti per Dominum Deum tuum ancillae tuae Salomon filius tuus regnabit post me et ipse sedebit in solio meo

18 et ecce nunc Adonias regnavit te domine mi rex ignorante

19 mactavit boves et pinguia quaeque et arietes plurimos et vocavit omnes filios regis Abiathar quoque sacerdotem et Ioab principem militiae Salomonem autem servum tuum non vocavit

20 verumtamen domine mi rex in te oculi respiciunt totius Israhel ut indices eis qui sedere debeat in solio tuo domine mi rex post te

21 eritque cum dormierit dominus meus rex cum patribus suis erimus ego et filius meus Salomon peccatores

22 adhuc illa loquente cum rege Nathan prophetes venit

23 et nuntiaverunt regi dicentes adest Nathan propheta cumque introisset ante conspectum regis et adorasset eum pronus in terram

24 dixit Nathan domine mi rex tu dixisti Adonias regnet post me et ipse sedeat super thronum meum

25 quia descendit hodie et immolavit boves et pinguia et arietes plurimos et vocavit universos filios regis et principes exercitus Abiathar quoque sacerdotem illisque vescentibus et bibentibus coram eo et dicentibus vivat rex Adonias

26 me servum tuum et Sadoc sacerdotem et Banaiam filium Ioiadae et Salomonem famulum tuum non vocavit

27 numquid a domino meo rege exivit hoc verbum et mihi non indicasti servo tuo qui sessurus esset super thronum domini mei regis post eum

28 et respondit rex David dicens vocate ad me Bethsabee quae cum fuisset ingressa coram rege et stetisset ante eum

29 iuravit rex et ait vivit Dominus qui eruit animam meam de omni angustia

30 quia sicut iuravi tibi per Dominum Deum Israhel dicens Salomon filius tuus regnabit post me et ipse sedebit super solium meum pro me sic faciam hodie

31 submissoque Bethsabee in terram vultu adoravit regem dicens vivat dominus meus rex David in aeternum

32 dixit quoque rex David vocate mihi Sadoc sacerdotem et Nathan propheten et Banaiam filium Ioiadae qui cum ingressi fuissent coram rege

33 dixit ad eos tollite vobiscum servos domini vestri et inponite Salomonem filium meum super mulam meam et ducite eum in Gion

34 et unguat eum ibi Sadoc sacerdos et Nathan propheta in regem super Israhel et canetis bucina atque dicetis vivat rex Salomon

35 et ascendetis post eum et veniet et sedebit super solium meum et ipse regnabit pro me illique praecipiam ut sit dux super Israhel et super Iudam

36 et respondit Banaias filius Ioiadae regi dicens amen sic loquatur Dominus Deus domini mei regis

37 quomodo fuit Dominus cum domino meo rege sic sit cum Salomone et sublimius faciat solium eius a solio domini mei regis David

38 descendit ergo Sadoc sacerdos et Nathan propheta et Banaias filius Ioiadae et Cherethi et Felethi et inposuerunt Salomonem super mulam regis David et adduxerunt eum in Gion

39 sumpsitque Sadoc sacerdos cornu olei de tabernaculo et unxit Salomonem et cecinerunt bucina et dixit omnis populus vivat rex Salomon

40 et ascendit universa multitudo post eum et populus canentium tibiis et laetantium gaudio magno et insonuit terra ad clamorem eorum

41 audivit autem Adonias et omnes qui invitati fuerant ab eo iamque convivium finitum erat sed et Ioab audita voce tubae ait quid sibi vult clamor civitatis tumultuantis

42 adhuc illo loquente Ionathan filius Abiathar sacerdotis venit cui dixit Adonias ingredere quia vir fortis es et bona nuntians

43 responditque Ionathan Adoniae nequaquam dominus enim noster rex David regem constituit Salomonem

44 misitque cum eo Sadoc sacerdotem et Nathan prophetam et Banaiam filium Ioiadae et Cherethi et Felethi et inposuerunt eum super mulam regis

45 unxeruntque eum Sadoc sacerdos et Nathan propheta regem in Gion et ascenderunt inde laetantes et insonuit civitas haec est vox quam audistis

46 sed et Salomon sedit super solio regni

47 et ingressi servi regis benedixerunt domino nostro regi David dicentes amplificet Deus nomen Salomonis super nomen tuum et magnificet thronum eius super thronum tuum et adoravit rex in lectulo suo

48 insuper et haec locutus est benedictus Dominus Deus Israhel qui dedit hodie sedentem in solio meo videntibus oculis meis

49 territi sunt ergo et surrexerunt omnes qui invitati fuerant ab Adonia et ivit unusquisque in viam suam

50 Adonias autem timens Salomonem surrexit et abiit tenuitque cornu altaris

51 et nuntiaverunt Salomoni dicentes ecce Adonias timens regem Salomonem tenuit cornu altaris dicens iuret mihi hodie rex Salomon quod non interficiat servum suum gladio

52 dixitque Salomon si fuerit vir bonus non cadet ne unus quidem capillus eius in terram sin autem malum inventum fuerit in eo morietur

53 misit ergo rex Salomon et eduxit eum ab altari et ingressus adoravit regem Salomonem dixitque ei Salomon vade in domum tuam

1 Kings 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

The history now before us accounts for the affairs of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, yet with special regard to the kingdom of God among them; for it is a sacred history. It is earlier as to time, teaches much more, and is more interesting than any common histories.

David's declining age. (1-4) Adonijah aspires to the throne. (5-10) David makes Solomon king. (11-31) Solomon is anointed king, and Adonijah's usurpation stopped. (32-53)

Verses 1-4 We have David sinking under infirmities. He was chastised for his recent sins, and felt the effects of his former toils and hardships.

Verses 5-10 Indulgent parents are often chastised with disobedient children, who are anxious to possess their estates. No worldly wisdom, nor experience, nor sacredness of character, can insure the continuance in any former course of those who remain under the power of self-love. But we may well wonder by what arts Joab and Abiathar could be drawn aside.

Verses 11-31 Observe Nathan's address to Bathsheba. Let me give thee counsel how to save thy own life, and the life of thy son. Such as this is the counsel Christ's ministers give us in his name, to give all diligence, not only that no man take our crown, Re. 3:11 , but that we save our lives, even the lives of our souls. David made a solemn declaration of his firm cleaving to his former resolution, that Solomon should be his successor. Even the recollection of the distresses from which the Lord redeemed him, increased his comfort, inspired his hopes, and animated him to his duty, under the decays of nature and the approach of death.

Verses 32-53 The people expressed great joy and satisfaction in the elevation of Solomon. Every true Israelite rejoices in the exaltation of the Son of David. Combinations formed upon evil principles will soon be dissolved, when self-interest calls another way. How can those who do evil deeds expect to have good tidings? Adonijah had despised Solomon, but soon dreaded him. We see here, as in a glass, Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God, exalted to the throne of glory, notwithstanding all his enemies. His kingdom is far greater than that of his father David, and therein all the true people of God cordially rejoice. The prosperity of his cause is vexation and terror to his enemies. No horns of the altar, nor forms of godliness, nor pretences to religion, can profit those who will not submit to His authority, and accept of his salvation; and if their submission be hypocritical, they shall perish without remedy.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS

This, and the following book, properly are but one book, divided into two parts, and went with the Jews under the common name of Kings. This, in the Syriac version, is called the Book of Kings; and in the Arabic version, the Book of Solomon, the Son of David the Prophet, because it begins with his reign upon the death of his father; and, in the Vulgate Latin version, the Third Book of Kings, the two preceding books of Samuel being sometimes called the First and Second Books of Kings, they containing the reigns of Saul and David; and in the Septuagint version both this and the following book are called Kingdoms, because they treat of the kingdom of Israel and Judah, after the division in the times of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and of the several kings of them; as of Solomon before the division, so afterwards of the kings of Judah; Rehoboam, Abijam, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Jehoash, Amaziah, Uzziah or Azariah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah; and of the kings of Israel, Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam the son of Joash, Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hoshea; so that these books may, with great propriety, be called the books or histories of the kings in the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel: who they were written by, is not easy to say; some think they were written by piecemeal by the prophets that lived in the several reigns successively, as Nathan, Ahijah the Shilonite, Iddo, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, and afterwards put together by an inspired writer. The Jews commonly say {a}, that Jeremiah wrote the book of the Kings, by which they mean this, and the following book; though very probably they were written by Ezra, since the history in them is carried down to the liberty granted to Jehoiachin in Babylon; but that Ezra was the writer of all the preceding historical books, and even of the Pentateuch, cannot be admitted, which is the conceit of Spinosa {b}; part of whose tract is just now republished by somebody, word for word, under a title as in the margin {c}; but that Ezra was not the writer of the Pentateuch is clear, since he refers to it as written by Moses, and as the rule of religion and worship in his times, Ezr 3:2-4, 6:18; and it is certain these writings were in being in the times of Josiah, Amaziah, Joash, yea, of David, and even of Joshua, \2Ch 34:14 25:4 23:18 1Ki 2:3 Jos 8:34\; and as for the book of Joshua, that also was written long before Ezra's time; it must be written long before the times of David, before the Jebusites were expelled from Jerusalem, since the writer of it says, that they dwelt there in his days, Jos 15:63; the book of Judges must be written before the times of Samuel and David, since the former refers to the annals of it, 1Sa 12:9,10; and the latter alludes to some passages in it, Ps 68:7,8; see Jud 5:4,5; and a speech of Joab's, 2Sa 11:21, shows it to be an history then extant: to which may be added, that in it Jerusalem is called Jebus, Jud 19:10,11; which it never was, after it was taken by David out of the hands of the Jebusites, 2Sa 5:6; the book of Ruth very probably was written by Samuel; had it been of a later date, or written by Ezra, the genealogy with which it concludes, would doubtless have been carried further than to David: the Book of Samuel, and particularly the song of Hannah in it, were written in all probability before the penning of the hundred thirteenth psalm, Ps 113:1-9, in which some expressions seem to be taken from it wherefore, though the two books of Kings may be allowed to be written or compiled by Ezra, the ten preceding ones cannot be assigned to him: however, there is no room to doubt of the divine authority of these two books, when the honour our Lord has done them is observed, by quoting or referring to several histories in them; as to the account of the queen of Sheba coming to hear the wisdom of Solomon; of the famine in the times of Elijah; and of that prophet being sent to the widow of Sarepta, and of the cleansing of Naaman the Syrian in the times of Elisha, Mt 12:42, Lu 4:25-28 from 1Ki 17:1-10 2Ki 5:10-14; to which may be added, the quotations and references made by the apostles to passages in them, as by the Apostle Paul in Ro 11:2-4 from 1Ki 19:14,18; where this book is expressly called the Scripture; and by the Apostle James, Jas 5:17,18; who manifestly refers to 1Ki 17:1-24; and there are various things in this part of Scripture, which are confirmed by the testimonies of Heathen writers, as will be observed in the exposition of it. The use of these books is to carry on the history of the Jewish nation, to show the state of the church of God in those times, and his providential care of it amidst all the changes and vicissitudes in the state; and, above all, to transmit to us the true genealogy of the Messiah, which serves to confirm the Evangelist Matthew's account of it.

{a} T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 15. 1. {b} Tractat. Theolog. Politic. c. 8. & 9. p. 150 {c} Tractatus de Primis 12. Vet. Test. Lib. &c. Londini 1763.

\\INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 1\\

This chapter gives an account of the infirmities of David in his old age, and the method used to relieve him under them, 1Ki 1:1-4; of the preparation his son Adonijah made to usurp the throne, 1Ki 1:5-10; of Bathsheba's address to the king upon it, in favour of her son Solomon, on which she was put by, Nathan the prophet, and seconded in it by him, 1Ki 1:11-27; when the king with an oath confirmed the succession of Solomon in the kingdom, and ordered Nathan the prophet, and Zadok the priest, to anoint him, which was accordingly done with great ceremony, to the satisfaction of the king and his servants, 1Ki 1:28-40; the news of which being brought to Adonijah and his friends, struck them with terror, and on which they dispersed, 1Ki 1:41-50; and upon the promise of Adonijah, that he would behave well to Solomon, he was pardoned and dismissed, having fled and lain hold on the horns of the altar, 1Ki 1:51-53.