1 Kings 2

1Ki 2:1-11.

DAVID

DIES.

1. David . . . charged Solomon his son--The charge recorded here was

given to Solomon just before his death and is different from the

farewell address delivered in public some time before

(1Ch 28:2-9).

It is introduced with great solemnity.

2. I go the way of all the earth--a beautiful and impressive

periphrasis for death.

be thou strong, . . . show thyself a man--This counsel is similar to

the apostolic direction

(1Co 16:13)

and refers to the fortitude or strength of mind that was required to

discharge the onerous functions of king.

3. keep the charge of the Lord thy God--that is, the divine law in all

its ceremonial as well as moral requirements. But particular reference

was intended to its political institutions, as it was only by strictly

maintaining the conduct that became the Hebrew monarch

(De 17:10-20),

that he would secure the blessing of peace and prosperity to his reign

(see on

De 4:5;

De 29:10).

4. there shall not fail thee . . . a man on the throne of Israel--a

reference to the promise made to David of the sovereignty being vested

perpetually in his lineage

(2Sa 7:11-16),

which was confirmed to Solomon afterwards (see

1Ki 9:5),

and repeated with reference to its spiritual meaning long after

(Jer 33:17).

5, 6. thou knowest also what Joab . . . did--The insolent and imperious

conduct of that general had not only been deeply offensive to the

feelings

(2Sa 18:5-15; 19:5-7),

but calculated to bring reproach on the character, to injure the

prospects, and endanger the throne of David. Passing over the injuries

committed directly against himself, David dwelt with strong feelings on

the base assassination of Abner and Amasa.

shed the blood of war in peace, &c.--The obvious meaning is, that in

peace he acted towards them as if they had been in a state of warfare;

but perhaps these graphic expressions might be designed to impress

Solomon's mind more strongly with a sense of the malice, treachery, and

cruelty by which those murders were characterized.

6. Do . . . according to thy wisdom--Joab's immense popularity with

the army required that any proceedings instituted against him should be

taken with great prudence and deliberation.

8. thou hast with thee Shimei--Though David promised him a pardon,

which being enforced by the presence of a thousand followers, could not

have been well refused, he warned his son against Shimei as a turbulent

and dangerous character. It must not be supposed that in these dying

instructions David was evincing a fierce, vindictive spirit. He is

rather to be considered as acting in the character of a king and

magistrate, in noticing crimes which he had not been in a condition to

punish, and pointing out persons of whom Solomon would be under a

necessity to rid himself as dangerous to the state. The grateful

mention of Barzillai's kindness

[1Ki 2:7]

was, however, a personal feeling that does honor to the warmth of his

heart; and his silence as to Mephibosheth, the son of his beloved

Jonathan, would imply the previous death of that prince.

9. for thou art a wise man--Solomon had given early indications of

wisdom before his miraculous endowment with the heavenly gift (see

1Ki 3:11),

and his own sagacity would dictate the course that should be followed

in any new offense that Shimei might commit.

10. So David slept with his fathers--about six months after the

coronation of Solomon (compare

2Sa 5:5

with 1Ch 29:27).

The interval was spent in developing his ideas and plans for the future

glory of the kingdom and providing for the permanent worship of God

(see on

1Ch 22:1,

and following).

was buried in the city of David--Sepulchres were not allowed

within the precincts of cities. Jerusalem, however, formed an

exception; and yet, even there, the privilege was reserved chiefly for

the royal family

(Ac 2:29).

Tradition says that the bones of David repose on Mount Zion, and the

minaret of a small mosque points out the spot which tradition has

fixed. His was a noble, a wondrous, and a humbling history. He was a

good man, yet his life was deformed by various crimes of a very gross

character. But there were many bright and noble traits in his

character; he was an earnest lover of the divine law; his reign was

signalized by many important services that contributed to the glory of

God and the exaltation of His kingdom; and his name, as the sweet

Psalmist of Israel, will be held in honor to the latest age of the

Church.

1Ki 2:12-24.

SOLOMON

SUCCEEDS

HIM.

12. Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father--His ascension

to the royal dignity was made under the happiest auspices. Having been

born after his father became monarch of the whole kingdom, his claim,

according to the notions of Oriental people, was preferable to that of

all, even his elder brothers. The Hebrew kingdom enjoyed internal

prosperity; it was respected and renowned abroad, and Solomon well knew

how to improve these advantages.

13-18. Adonijah . . . came to Bath-sheba--Her question to him betrays

an apprehension which his recent conduct might well warrant; but his

pious acknowledgment of the divine will seemed apparently to indicate

so entire an acquiescence in the settlement of the succession

[1Ki 2:15],

that, in her womanly simplicity, she perceived not the deep cunning and

evil design that was concealed under his request and readily undertook

to promote his wishes.

19, 20. Bath-sheba . . . went unto King Solomon--The filial reverence

and the particular act of respect, which Solomon rendered, were quite

in accordance with the sentiments and customs of the East. The right

hand is the place of honor; and as it expressly said to have been

assigned to "the king's mother," it is necessary to remark that, when a

husband dies, his widow acquires a higher dignity and power, as a

mother over her son, than she ever possessed before. Besides, the

dignity of "king's mother" is a state office, to which certain revenues

are attached. The holder has a separate palace or court, as well as

possesses great influence in public affairs; and as the dignity is held

for life, it sometimes happens, in consequence of deaths, that the

person enjoying it may not be related to the reigning sovereign by

natural maternity. Bath-sheba had evidently been invested with this

honorable office.

22. why dost thou ask Abishag . . . ask for him the kingdom

also--(See on

2Sa 16:5;

also see on

2Sa 12:8).

Solomon's indignation was roused; he in a moment penetrated the artful

scheme, and from his associating the names of Abiathar and Joab, he

seems to have suspected or known that those deep schemers had been the

prompters of Adonijah.

23-25. God do so to me, and more also--the common form of introducing

a solemn oath.

if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life--Whether

there was a treasonable design to conceal under this request or not,

the act, according to Eastern notions, was criminal, and of dangerous

consequence to the state. There is no ground of censure upon Solomon

for cruelty or precipitation in this instance. He had pardoned

Adonijah's former conspiracy; but this new attempt was rebellion

against the viceroy appointed by the divine King and called for condign

punishment. The office of executioner was among the Hebrews, as in

other ancient countries of the East, performed unceremoniously and

privately--often without any previous warning--by the captain of the

guard, or one of his officers

(Mt 14:10).

26, 27. unto Abiathar the priest said the king--This functionary, as

the counsellor or accomplice of Adonijah, had deserved to share his

fate. But partly from regard to his priestly dignity, and partly from

his long associations with the late king, Solomon pronounced on him the

mitigated sentence of banishment to his country estate at Anathoth, and

thereby, as God's vicegerent, deprived him of his office and its

emoluments. The sacred writer notices the remarkable fulfilment,

Abiathar's degradation from the high priesthood

(see on

1Ki 4:4),

of the doom denounced against the house of Eli

(1Sa 2:30).

1Ki 2:28-45.

JOAB

SLAIN.

28. Then tidings came to Joab--The execution of these sentences

respectively on Adonijah and Abiathar prepared Joab for his fate.

Death, due to his great crimes

(Nu 35:33),

would long ago have been inflicted, had not his power and popularity

with the army been too formidable for the old king. He now fled to the

altar, which, though a recognized asylum, afforded no sanctuary to the

rebel and murderer

(Ex 21:14).

And, as he refused to leave it, he seems to have cherished some faint

hope that a religious scruple would have been felt at the thought of

violating the sanctity of the place by bloodshed. Benaiah, not liking

to assume any responsibility, referred the matter to Solomon, who

determined that the law should take its course

(De 19:13).

33. Their blood shall . . . return upon the head of Joab, &c.--A

reference is here made to the curse publicly and solemnly pronounced by

King David

(2Sa 3:28, 29).

1Ki 2:34-46.

SHIMEI

PUT TO

DEATH.

34. Benaiah . . . went up, and fell upon him--According to the terms

of the statute

(Ex 21:14),

and the practice in similar cases

(2Ki 11:15),

the criminal was to be dragged from the altar and slain elsewhere. But

the truth is, that the sanctity of the altar was violated as much by

the violence used in forcing the criminal from the place as in shedding

his blood there; the express command of God authorized the former and

therefore by implication permitted the latter.

was buried in his own house--or family vault, at his property in the

wilderness of Judah. His interment was included in the king's order, as

enjoined in the divine law

(De 21:23).

36. the king sent and called for Shimei--He was probably residing at

Bahurim, his native place. But, as he was a suspicious character,

Solomon condemned him henceforth to live in Jerusalem, on the penalty

of death, for going without the gates. He submitted to this confinement

for three years, when, violating his oath, he was arrested and put to

death by Solomon for perjury, aggravated by his former crime of high

treason against David

[1Ki 2:42-44].

46. the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon--Now, by the

death of Shimei, all the leaders of the rival factions had been cut

off.