THESE two Books called Of the Kings, because they treat of the kings of Judah and Israel, were written by the prophets, or holy men of God, living in or near their several times, and by some one of them digested into this order.

Stricken in years; Being in the end of his seventieth year. He gat no heat; which is not strange in a person not only of so great an age, but also who had been exercised with so many hardships in war, and with such tormenting cares, and fears, and sorrows, for his own sins, (as divers of his Psalms…

His servants; his physicians. A young virgin; whose natural heat is fresh and wholesome, and not impaired with bearing or breeding of children. The same counsel doth Galen give for the cure of some cold and dry distempers. Let her stand before the king, i.e.

A fair damsel; whose beauty might engage his affections, and refresh his spirits, and invite him to those embraces which might communicate some of her natural heat to him, as was designed. A Shunammite, of the city of Shunem in Issachar, Josh. 19:18, 2 Kings 4:8.

Which is mentioned to note the continuance and progress of the king’s malady, and the ground of Adonijah’s rebellion, and of his following request, 1 Kings 2:17.

Then, on notice of the desperateness of the king’s disease, and the approach of his death, Adonijah the son of Haggith (see 2 Sam. 3:4 exalted himself; entertained high thoughts and designs.

His father had not displeased him at any time: this is noted as David’s great error, and the occasion of Adonijah’s presumption. Why hast thou done so? he neither restrained him from, nor reproved him for his miscarriages; which was a great sin against that plain law, Lev.

Either because they thought the right of the crown was his; or rather, from secret grudges, because they perceived themselves neglected by David, and possibly by Solomon too; and from carnal policy, that they might secure and advance their own interest, which they saw to be in manifest danger.

His great and famous commanders, and the guards and soldiers under them.

Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle; partly for a sacrifice; and partly for feasts, that he might engage God to be on his side, and draw a multitude of people after him. By En-rogel, or, the fountain of Rogel, or, of the fuller; a place nigh to Jerusalem: see Josh. 15:7, Josh. 18:16, 2 Sam.

Because he knew they favoured Solomon his competitor.

Nathan was prompted to this both by his piety in fulfilling the will of God declared to him, and by him to David, concerning Solomon’s succession, 2 Sam. 7:13, 1 Chron. 22:8–9; and by his prudence, as knowing that Adonijah hated him for being the principal instrument of Solomon’s advancement.

For he will never reckon himself safe till his competitor and his friends be taken out of the way.

Didst not thou swear, i.e. Thou didst swear; which David himself owneth, 1 Kings 1:30, which probably he did to satisfy Bath-sheba’s doubts and fears about it, and to oblige himself to a compliance with the Divine will declared about it. See 1 Kings 2:15, 1 Chron. 28:5.

Thou swarest by the Lord thy God; to whom thou art highly obliged, whose name thou justly fearest and honourest; and therefore thou wilt not pollute it by perjury, but make conscience of thy oath.

This she adds, partly lest she should seem to accuse the king of inconstancy and perfidiousness; and partly to aggravate Adonijah’s crime, from that gross neglect and contempt of the king which did accompany it.

Who is not so presumptuous as Adonijah, usurping the throne before his time; but carries himself modestly and submissively, as thy son, and servant, and subject.

The eyes of all Israel are upon thee; the generality of the people are in suspense, whether Adonijah’s practices be with thy consent or no, and wait for thy sentence, which they will readily embrace.

Shall sleep with his fathers, i.e. die as his fathers did. See Gen. 47:30. I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders; we shall be punished with death as malefactors, as guilty of practicing against the right heir of the crown, and transferring the kingdom to Solomon, and covering our…

To discourse with the king; which made it fit for her to withdraw, as she did, 1 Kings 1:28.

Is this done by thy consent? without which it seems strange that he durst attempt it.

Even me thy servant, whom he knew to be acquainted with thy mind, and with the mind of God in this matter; and therefore his neglect of me herein gives me cause to suspect that this is done without thy privity; which now I come to know.

Thou hast not showed it unto thy servant; who, having been an instrument in delivering God’s message to thee concerning thy successor, might reasonably expect that if the king had changed his mind, or God had since made some revelation contrary to the former, thou wouldst have acquainted me with…

Call me Bath-sheba; who, upon Nathan’s approach to the king, had modestly withdrawn herself, either in another room, or into another part of this room, more remote from the bed upon which David lay.

i.e. For a long time, as that word is oft used, as 1 Kings 2:33, Dan. 2:4. Though I desire thy oath may be kept, and the right of succession confirmed to my son; yet I am far from thirsting after thy death for his advancement, and should rather rejoice, if it were possible for thee to live and…

The servants of your Lord, i.e. my public officers, and my guards. To ride upon mine own mule; as a token that the royal dignity is transferred upon Solomon, and that by my consent. Compare Gen. 41:43, Est. 6:8. To Gihon; a river near Jerusalem, on the west side, as may be gathered from 2 Chron.

Anoint him there king; as they used to do where there was any thing new, or doubtful, or extraordinary in the succession, as 1 Sam. 10:1, 1 Sam. 16:12–13, 1 Kings 19:15–16, 2 Kings 9:3.

King in my stead; my deputy and vice-king whilst I live, and absolutely king when I die. Or if David and Solomon were joint kings, it is no more than was afterwards frequent at Rome, where the father and son, or two other persons, were not seldom joint emperors.

Amen; which was both an approbation of the king’s fact, and a profession of his allegiance to the new king, and a petition to God to ratify and confirm it. The Lord God of my lord the king say so too; the Lord stablish Solomon’s throne in spite of Adonijah, and all his other enemies.

Which petition, albeit it might have offended an unworthy, vain-glorious, and envious father, he knew would be welcome to so pious and generous a man as David was, and to one so kind and indulgent to his children.

Zadok the priest; for though he was not the high priest, he might do this office, especially having the direction of the prophet Nathan, 1 Kings 1:34. Out of the tabernacle; that which David had erected for the ark, 2 Sam.

All the people came up after him; which flocked in of so thither abundance; some out of curiosity to see so solemn an action; others to do their duty; and others in expectation some advantage by their cheerful attendance upon the new king.

As they had made an end of eating; for Nathan having given wise counsel, took all due care to expedite the execution of it, that it might not be spoiled by delays, as frequently happens.

Jonathan it seems was left at Jerusalem for a spy, as he had formerly been under Absalom. Thou art a valiant man; or, a man of virtue or worth, as this Hebrew word is used, Prov. 12:4; and therefore a happy man, and hast good news for thyself and us. Compare 2 Sam. 18:27.

Verily, or, but, or, nay but, i.e. the matter is not as thou expectest, but quite contrary.

i.e. Is put into actual possession of the kingdom.

To bless our lord king David; to praise and thank him for his great and good care, in leaving them in the hands of so excellent a successor, under whom they might expect peace and all prosperity; and to congratulate with him for God’s great mercy to him, in giving him such a son and successor, and…

i.e. The way to his own house, lest they should be discovered and taken.

Either that which was at Gibeon, as appears from 1 Chron. 16:39, 2 Chron. 1:3; and was made with four horns, Ex. 38:2; to which the sacrifices were bound Ps. 118:27.

He owns Solomon as his king, and himself as his servant and subject; and being sensible of his great guilt, and of the jealousy which kings have of their competitors, could not be satisfied without Solomon’s oath.

A worthy man, Heb. a man of strength or courage; for it requires great strength of mind and resolution to resist all temptations of vice, and to do virtuously.

Lead a private or retired and quiet life, without noise and numerous attendants, and meddle not with the affairs of the court and kingdom.