I
K I N G S
CHAP. I.
In
this chapter we have, I. David declining in his health, ver. 1-4. II. Adonijah
aspiring to the kingdom, and treating his party, in order to it, ver. 5-10.
III. Nathan and Bathsheba contriving to secure the succession to Solomon, and
prevailing for an order from David for the purpose, ver. 11-31. IV. The
anointing of Solomon accordingly, and the people's joy therein, ver. 32-40. V.
The effectual stop this put to Adonijah's usurpation, and the dispersion of
his party thereupon, ver. 41-49. VI. Solomon's dismission of Adonijah upon his
good behaviour, ver. 50-53.
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Introduction.
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B.
C. 1015.
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1 Now king David was old and stricken in
years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. 2
Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king
a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him,
and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.
3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and
found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 And the
damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him:
but the king knew her not.
David, as recorded in the foregoing chapter, had, by the great mercy of God,
escaped the sword of the destroying angel. But our deliverances from or
through diseases and dangers are but reprieves; if the candle be not blown
out, it will burn out of itself. We have David here sinking under the
infirmities of old age, and brought by them to the gates of the grave. He that
cometh up out of the pit shall fall into the snare; and, one way or
other, we must needs die. 1. It would have troubled one to see David so
infirm. He was old, and his natural heat so wasted that no clothes could keep
him warm, v. 1. David had been a valiant active man and a man of
business, and very vehement had the flame always been in his breast; and yet
now his blood is chilled and stagnated, he is confined to his bed, and there
can get no heat. He was now seventy years old. Many, at that age, are as
lively and fit for business as ever; but David was now chastised for his
former sins, especially that in the matter of Uriah, and felt from his former
toils and the hardships he had gone through in his youth, which then he made
nothing of, but was now the worse for. Let not the strong man glory in his
strength, which may soon be weakened by sickness, or at last will be
weakened by old age. Let young people remember their Creator in the days of
their youth, before these evil days come. What our hand finds to do for
God, and our souls, and our generation, let us do with all our might, because
the night comes, the night of old age, in which no man can work; and, when our
strength has gone, it will be a comfort to remember that we used it well. 2.
It would have troubled one to see his physicians so weak and unskilful that
they knew no other way of relieving him than by outward applications. No
cordials, no spirits, but, (1.) They covered him with clothes, which,
where there is any inward heat, will keep it in, and so increase it; but,
where it is not, they have none to communicate, no, not royal clothing. Elihu
makes it a difficulty to understand how our garments are warm upon us
(Job xxxvii. 17); but, if God deny his blessing, men clothe themselves, and
there is none warm (Hag. i. 6), David here was not. (2.) They foolishly
prescribed nuptials to one that should rather have been preparing for his
funeral (v. 2-4); but they knew what would gratify their own
corruptions, and perhaps were too willing to gratify his, under colour of
consulting his health. His prophets should have been consulted as well as his
physicians in an affair of this nature. However, this might be excused then,
when even good men ignorantly allowed themselves to have many wives. We now
have not so learned of Christ, but are taught that one man must have but one
wife (Matt. xix. 5), and further that it is good for a man not to touch a
woman, 1 Cor. vii. 1. That Abishag was married to David before she lay
with him, and was his secondary wife, appears from its being imputed as a
great crime to Adonijah that he desired to marry her (ch. ii. 22) after
his father's death.
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Adonijah's
Ambition.
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B.
C. 1015.
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5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted
himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen,
and fifty men to run before him. 6 And his father had not
displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was
a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest:
and they following Adonijah helped him. 8 But Zadok the
priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei,
and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with
Adonijah. 9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the
stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel, and called all his brethren
the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants: 10
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his
brother, he called not.
David had much affliction in his children. Amnon and Absalom had both been his
grief; the one his first-born, the other his third, 2 Sam. iii. 2, 3. His
second, whom he had by Abigail, we will suppose he had comfort in; his fourth
was Adonijah (2 Sam. iii. 4); he was one of those that were born in Hebron; we
have heard nothing of him till now, and here we are told that he was a comely
person, and that he was next in age, and (as it proved) next in temper to
Absalom, v. 6. And, further, that in his father's eyes he had been a
jewel, but was now a thorn.
I. His father had made a fondling of him, v. 6. He had not displeased
him at any time. It is not said that he never displeased his father; it is
probably that he had done so frequently, and his father was secretly troubled
at his misconduct and lamented it before God. But his father had not
displeased him, by crossing him in his humours, denying him any thing he had a
mind to, or by calling him to an account as to what he had done and where he
had been, or by keeping him to his book or his business, or reproving him for
what he saw or heard of that he did amiss; he never said to him, Why hast
thou done so? because he saw it was uneasy to him, and he could not bear
it without fretting. It was the son's fault that he was displeased at reproof
and took it for affront, whereby he lost the benefit of it; and it was the
father's fault that, because he saw it displeased him, he did not reprove him;
and now he justly smarted for indulging him. Those who honour their sons more
than God, as those do who keep them not under good discipline, thereby forfeit
the honour they might expect from their sons.
II. He, in return, made a fool of his father. Because he was old, and confined
to his bed, he thought no notice was to be taken of him, and therefore exalted
himself, and said, I will be king, v. 5. Children that are
indulged learn to be proud and ambitious, which is the ruin of a great many
young people. The way to keep them humble is to keep them under. Observe
Adonijah's insolence. 1. He looked upon the days of mourning for his father to
be at hand, and therefore he prepared to succeed him, though he knew that by
the designation both of God and David Solomon was to be the man; for public
notice had been given of it by David himself, and the succession settled, as
it were by act of parliament, in pursuance of God's appointment, 1 Chron. xxii.
9; xxiii. 1. This entail Adonijah attempted by force to cut off, in contempt
both of God and his father. Thus is the kingdom of Christ opposed, and there
are those that say, "We will not have him to reign over us." 2. He
looked upon his father as superannuated and good for nothing, and therefore he
entered immediately upon the possession of the throne. He cannot wait till his
father's head be laid low, but it must now be said, Adonijah reigns (v.
18), and, God save king Adonijah, v. 25. His father is not fit
to govern, for he is old and past ruling, nor Solomon, for he is young, and
not yet able to rule; and therefore Adonijah will take the government upon
him. It argues a very base and wicked mind for children to insult over their
parents because of the infirmities of their age. 3. In pursuance of this
ambitious project, (1.) He got a great retinue (v. 5), chariots and
horsemen, both for state and strength, to wait on him, and to fight for
him. (2.) He made great interest with no less than Joab, the general of the
army, and Abiathar the high priest, v. 7. That he should make his court
to those who by their influence in church and camp were capable of doing him
great service is not strange; but we may well wonder by what arts they could
be drawn to follow him and help him. They were old men, who had been faithful
to David in the most difficult and troublesome of his times, men of sense and
experience, who, one would think, would not easily be wheedled. They could not
propose any advantage to themselves by supporting Adonijah, for they were both
at the top of their preferment and stood fast in it. They could not be
ignorant of the entail of the crown upon Solomon, which it was not in their
power to cut off, and therefore it was their interest to oblige him. But God,
in this matter, left them to themselves, perhaps to correct them for some
former misconduct with a scourge of their own making. We are told (v.
8) who those were that were of such approved fidelity to David that Adonijah
had not the confidence so much as to propose his project to them--Zadok,
Benaiah, and Nathan. A man that has given proofs of his resolute adherence to
that which is good shall not be asked to do a bad thing. (3.) He prepared a
great entertainment (v. 9) at En-rogel, not far from Jerusalem; his
guests were the king's sons, and the king's servants, whom he feasted and
caressed to bring them over to his party; but Solomon was not invited, either
because he despised him or because he despaired of him, v. 10. Such as
serve their own belly, and will be in the interest of those that will feast
them what side soever they are of, are an easy prey to seducers, Rom. xvi. 18.
Some think that Adonijah slew these sheep and oxen, even fat ones, for
sacrifice, and that it was a religious feast he made, beginning his usurpation
with a show of devotion, as Absalom under the colour of a vow (2 Sam. xv. 7),
which he might do the more plausibly when he had the high priest himself on
his side. It is a pity that any occasion should ever be given to say, In
nomine Domini incipit omne malam--In the name of the Lord begins all evil,
and that all religious exercises should be made to patronise all religious
practices.
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David
Makes Solomon King.
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B.
C. 1015.
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11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the
mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of
Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? 12
Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest
save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. 13 Go and
get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O
king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign
after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?
14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in
after thee, and confirm thy words. 15 And Bathsheba went in unto
the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the
Shunammite ministered unto the king. 16 And Bathsheba bowed, and
did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD
thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall
reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. 18 And now,
behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it
not: 19 And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in
abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest,
and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not
called. 20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are
upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my
lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when
my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall
be counted offenders. 22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the
king, Nathan the prophet also came in. 23 And they told the king,
saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he
bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. 24 And
Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me,
and he shall sit upon my throne? 25 For he is gone down this day,
and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all
the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and,
behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the
son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called. 27
Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed it
unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after
him? 28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And
she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king. 29
And the king sware, and said, As the LORD
liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, 30 Even as
I sware unto thee by the LORD
God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he
shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this
day. 31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth,
and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.
We have here the effectual endeavours that were used by Nathan and Bathsheba
to obtain from David a ratification of Solomon's succession, for the crushing
of Adonijah's usurpation. 1. David himself knew not what was doing.
Disobedient children think that they are well enough off if they can but keep
their good old parents ignorant of their bad courses; but a bird of the air
will carry the voice. 2. Bathsheba lived retired, and knew nothing of it
either, till Nathan informed her. Many get very comfortably through this world
that know little how the world goes. 3. Solomon, it is likely, knew of it, but
was as a deaf man that heard not. Though he had years, and wisdom above his
years, yet we do not find that he stirred to oppose Adonijah, but quietly
composed himself and left it to God and his friends to order the matter. Hence
David, in his Psalm for Solomon, observes that while men, in pursuit of the
world, in vain rise early and sit up late, God giveth his beloved (his Jedidiahs)
sleep, in giving them to be easy, and to gain their point without
agitation, Ps. cxxvii. 1, 2. How then is the design brought about?
I. Nathan the prophet alarms Bathsheba by acquainting her with the case, and
puts her in a way to get an order from the king for the confirming of
Solomon's title. He was concerned, because he knew God's mind, and David's and
Israel's interest; it was by him that God had named Solomon Jedidiah (2
Sam. xii. 25), and therefore he could not sit still and see the throne
usurped, which he knew was Solomon's right by the will of him from whom
promotion cometh. When crowns were disposed of by immediate direction from
heaven, no marvel that prophets were so much interested and employed in that
matter; but now that common providence rules the affairs of the kingdom of men
(Dan. iv. 32) the subordinate agency must be left to common persons, and let
not prophets intermeddle in them, but keep to the affairs of the kingdom of
God among men. Nathan applied to Bathsheba, as one that had the greatest
concern for Solomon, and could have the freest access to David. He informed
her of Adonijah's attempt (v. 11), and that it was not with David's
consent or knowledge. He suggested to her that not only Solomon was in danger
of losing the crown, but that he and she too were in danger of losing their
lives if Adonijah prevailed. A humble spirit may be indifferent to a crown,
and may be content, notwithstanding the prospect of it, to sit down short of
the possession of it. But the law of self-preservation, and the sixth
commandment, obliges us to use all possible endeavours to secure our own life
and the life of others. Now, says Nathan, let me give thee counsel how to
save thy own life and the life of thy son, v. 12. Such as this is
the counsel that Christ's ministers give us in his name, to give all
diligence, not only that no man take our crown (Rev. iii. 11), but that
we save our lives, even the lives of our souls. He directs her (v.
13) to go to the king, to remind him of his word and oath, that Solomon should
be his successor; and to ask him in the most humble manner, Why doth
Adonijah reign? He thought David was not so cold but this would warm him.
Conscience, as well as a sense of honour, would put life into him upon such an
occasion as this; and he promised (v. 24) that, while she was reasoning
with the king in this matter, he would come in and second her, as if he came
accidentally, which perhaps the king might look upon as a special providence
(and he was one that took notice of such evidences, 1 Sam. xxv. 32, 33), or,
at least, it would help to awaken him so much the more.
II. Bathsheba, according to Nathan's advice and direction, loses no time, but
immediately makes her application to the king, on the same errand on which
Esther came to king Ahasuerus, to intercede for her life. She needed not wait
for a call as Esther did, she knew she should be welcome at any time; but it
is remarked that when she visited the king Abishag was ministering to him (v.
15), and Bathsheba took no displeasure either at him or her for it, also that
she bowed and did obeisance to the king (v. 16), in token of her
respect to him both as her prince and as her husband; such a genuine daughter
was she of Sarah, who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. Those that
would find favour with superiors mush show them reverence, and be dutiful to
those whom they expect to be kind to them. Her address to the king, on this
occasion, is very discreet. 1. She reminded him of his promise made to her and
confirmed with a solemn oath, that Solomon should succeed him, v. 17.
She knew how fast this would hold such a conscientious man as David was. 2.
She informed him of Adonijah's attempt, which he was ignorant of (v.
18): "Adonijah reigns, in competition with thee for the present and in
contradiction to thy promise for the future. The fault is not thine, for thou
knewest it not; but now that thou knowest it thou wilt, in pursuance of thy
promise, take care to suppress this usurpation." She told him who were
Adonijah's guests, and who were in his interest, and added, but "Solomon
thy servant has he not called, which plainly shows he looks upon him as
his rival, and aims to undermine him, v. 19. It is not an oversight,
but a contempt of the act of settlement, that Solomon is neglected." 3.
She pleads that it is very much in his power to obviate this mischief (v.
20): The eyes of all Israel are upon thee, not only as a king,
for we cannot suppose it the prerogative of any prince to bequeath his
subjects by will (as if they were his goods and chattels) to whom he pleases,
but as a prophet. All Israel knew that David was not only himself the
anointed of the God of Jacob, but that the Spirit of the Lord spoke by
him (2 Sam. xxiii. 1, 2), and therefore waiting for and depending upon a
divine designation, in a matter of such importance, David's word would be an
oracle and a law to them; this therefore (says Bathsheba) they expect, and it
will end the controversy and effectually quash all Adonijah's pretensions. A
divine sentence is in the lips of the king. Note, Whatever power, interest
or influence, men have, they ought to improve it to the utmost for the
preserving and advancing of the kingdom of the Messiah, of which Solomon's
kingdom was a type. 4. She suggested the imminent peril which she and her son
would be in if this matter was not settled in David's life-time, v. 21.
"If Adonijah prevail, as he is likely to do (having Joab the general and
Abiathar the priest on his side) unless speedily suppressed, Solomon and all
his friends will be looked upon as traitors and dealt with accordingly."
Usurpers are most cruel. If Adonijah had got into the throne, he would not
have dealt so fairly with Solomon as Solomon did with him. Those hazard
everything who stand in the way of such as against right force their entrance.
III. Nathan the prophet, according to his promise, seasonably stepped in, and
seconded her, while she was speaking, before the king had given his answer,
lest, if he had heard Bathsheba's representation only, his answer should be
dilatory and only that he would consider of it: but out of the mouth of two
witnesses, two such witnesses, the word would be established, and he would
immediately give positive orders. The king is told that Nathan the prophet has
come, and he is sure to be always welcome to the king, especially when either
he is not well or has any great affair upon his thoughts; for, in either case,
a prophet will be, in a particular manner, serviceable to him. Nathan knows he
must render honour to whom honour is due, and therefore pays the king the same
respect now that he finds him sick in bed as he would have done if he had
found him in his throne: He bowed himself with his face to the ground, v.
23. He deals a little more plainly with the king than Bathsheba had done. In
this his character would support him, and the present languor of the king's
spirits made it necessary that they should be roused. 1. He makes the same
representation of Adonijah's attempt as Bathsheba had made (v. 25, 26),
adding that his party had already got to such a height of assurance as to
shout, God save king Adonijah, as if king David were already dead,
taking notice also that they had not invited him to their feast (Me thy
servant has he not called), thereby intimating that they resolved not to
consult either God or David in the matter, for Nathan was secretioribus
consiliis--intimately acquainted with the mind of both. 2. He makes David
sensible how much he was concerned to clear himself from having a hand in it: Hast
thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me? (v. 24), and again (v.
27), "Is this thing done by my lord the king? If it be, he is not
so faithful either to God's word or to his own as we all took him to be; if it
be not, it is high time that we witness against the usurpation, and declare
Solomon his successor. If it be, why is not Nathan made acquainted with it,
who is not only in general, the king's confidant, but is particularly
concerned in this matter, having been employed to notify to David the mind of
God concerning the succession; but, if my lord the king knows nothing of the
matter (as certainly he does not), what daring insolence are Adonijah and his
party guilty of!" Thus he endeavoured to incense David against them, that
he might act the more vigorously for the support of Solomon's interest. Note,
Good men would do their duty if they were reminded of it, and put upon it, and
told what occasion there is for them to appear; and those who thus are their
remembrancers do them a real kindness, as Nathan here did to David.
IV. David, hereupon, made a solemn declaration of his firm adherence to his
former resolution, that Solomon should be his successor. Bathsheba is called
in (v. 28), and to her, as acting for and on behalf of her son, the
king gives these fresh assurances. 1. He repeats his former promise and oath,
owns that he had sworn unto her by the Lord God of Israel that Solomon
would reign after him, v. 30. Though he is old, and his memory
begins to fail him, yet he remembers this. Note, An oath is so sacred a thing
that the obligations of it cannot be broken, and so solemn a thing that the
impressions of it, one would think, cannot be forgotten. 2. He ratifies it
with another, because the occasion called for it: As the Lord liveth, that
hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, even so will I certainly do this
day, without dispute, without delay. His form of swearing seems to be what
he commonly used on solemn occasions, for we find it, 2 Sam. iv. 9. And it
carries in it a grateful acknowledgment of the goodness of God to him, in
bringing him safely through the many difficulties and hardships which had lain
in his way, and which he now makes mention of to the glory of God (as Jacob,
when he lay a dying, Gen. xlviii. 16), thus setting to his seal, from his own
experience, that that was true which the Spirit of the Lord spoke by him. Ps.
xxxiv. 22, The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants. Dying saints
ought to be witnesses for God, and speak of him as they have found. Perhaps he
speaks thus, on this occasion, for the encouragement of his son and successor
to trust in God in the distresses he also might meet with.
V. Bathsheba receives these assurances (v. 31), 1. With great
complaisance to the king's person; she did reverence to him; while Adonijah
and his party affronted him. 2. With hearty good wishes for the king's health;
Let him live. So far was she from thinking that he lived too long that
she prayed he might live for ever, if it were possible, to adorn the crown he
wore and to be a blessing to his people. We should earnestly desire the
prolonging of useful lives, however it may be the postponing of any advantages
of our own.
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Solomon
Declared Successor.
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B.
C. 1015.
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32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the
priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came
before the king. 33 The king also said unto them, Take with you
the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own
mule, and bring him down to Gihon: 34 And let Zadok the priest and
Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the
trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. 35 Then ye shall come up
after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my
stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD
God of my lord the king say so too. 37 As the LORD
hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his
throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. 38 So Zadok
the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the
Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon
king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. 39 And Zadok the
priest took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And
they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and
rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
We have here the effectual care David took both to secure Solomon's right and
to preserve the public peace, by crushing Adonijah's project in the bud.
Observe,
I. The express orders he gave for the proclaiming of Solomon. The persons he
entrusted with this great affair were Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah, men of power
and interest whom David had always reposed a confidence in and found faithful
to him, and whom Adonijah had passed by in his invitation, v. 10. David
orders them forthwith, with all possible solemnity, to proclaim Solomon. They
must take with them the servants of their lord, the lifeguards, and all
the servants of the household. They must set Solomon on the mule the king used
to ride, for he kept not such stables of horses as his son afterwards did. He
appoints them whither to go (v. 33 and v. 34, 35), and what to
do. 1. Zadok and Nathan, the two ecclesiastical persons, must, in God's name,
anoint him king; for though he was not the first of his family, as Saul and
David were, yet he was a younger son, was made king by divine appointment, and
his title was contested, which made it necessary that hereby it should be
settled. This unction was typical of the designation and qualification of the
Messiah, or Christ, the anointed one, on whom the Spirit, that oil of
gladness, was poured without measure, Heb. i. 9; Ps. lxxxix. 20. And all
Christians, being heirs of the kingdom (Jam. ii. 5), do from him receive
the anointing, 1 John ii. 27. 2. The great officers, civil and military,
are ordered to give public notice of this, and to express the public joy upon
this occasion by sound of trumpet, by which the law of Moses directed the
gracing of great solemnities; to this must be added the acclamations of the
people: "Let king Solomon live, let him prosper, let his kingdom
be established and perpetuated, and let him long continue in the enjoyment of
it;" so it had been promised concerning him. Ps. lxxii. 15, He shall
live. 3. They must then bring him in state to the city of David, and he
must sit upon the throne of his father, as his substitute now, or viceroy, to
despatch public business during his weakness and be his successor after his
death: He shall be king in my stead. It would be a great satisfaction
to David himself, and to all parties concerned, to have this done immediately,
that upon the demise of the king there might be no dispute, or agitation, in
the public affairs. David was far from grudging his successor the honour of
appearing such in his life-time, and yet perhaps was so taken up with his
devotions on his sick-bed that, if he had not been put in mind of it by
others, this great good work, which was so necessary to the public repose,
would have been left undone.
II. The great satisfaction which Benaiah, in the name of the rest, professed
in these orders. The king said, "Solomon shall reign for me, and reign
after me." "Amen" (says Benaiah heartily); "as the king
says, so say we; we are entirely satisfied in the nomination, and concur in
the choice, we give our vote for Solomon, nemine contradicente--unanimously,
and since we can bring nothing to pass, much less establish it, without the
concurrence of a propitious providence, The Lord God of my lord the king
say so too!" v. 36. This is the language of his faith in that
promise of God on which Solomon's government was founded. If we say as God
says in his word, we may hope that he will say as we say by his providence. To
this he adds a prayer for Solomon (v. 37), that God would be with him
as he had been with David, and make his throne greater. He knew David was not
one of those that envy their children's greatness, and that therefore he would
not be disquieted at this prayer, nor take it as an affront, but would
heartily say Amen to it. The wisest and best man in the world desires
his children may be wiser and better than he, for he himself desires to be
wiser and better than he is; and wisdom and goodness are true greatness.
III. The immediate execution of these orders, v. 38-40. No time was
lost, but Solomon was brought in state to the place appointed, and there Zadok
(who, though he was not as yet high priest, was, we may suppose, the
suffragan, the Jews called him the sagan, or second priest) anointed
him by the direction of Nathan the prophet and David the king, v. 39.
In the tabernacle, where the ark was now lodged, was kept among other sacred
things, the holy oil for many religious services thence Zadok took a horn
of oil, which denotes both power and plenty, and therewith anointed
Solomon. We do not find that Abiathar pretended to anoint Adonijah: he was
made king by a feast, not by an unction. Whom God calls, he will qualify,
which was signified by the anointing; usurpers had it not. Christ
signifies anointed, and he is the king whom God hath set upon his
holy hill of Sion, according to decree, Ps. ii. 6, 7. Christians also are made
to our God (and by him) kings, and they have an unction
from the Holy One, 1 John ii. 20. The people, hereupon, express their
great joy and satisfaction in the elevation of Solomon, surround him with
their Hosannas--God save king Solomon, and attend him with their music
and shouts of joy, v. 40. Hereby they declared their concurrence in the
choice, and that he was not forced upon them, but cheerfully accepted by them.
The power of a prince can be little satisfaction to himself, unless he knows
it to be a satisfaction to his people. Every Israelite indeed rejoices in the
exaltation of the Son of David.
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Solomon
Proclaimed.
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B.
C. 1015.
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41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were
with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab
heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the
city being in an uproar? 42 And while he yet spake, behold,
Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come
in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath
made Solomon king. 44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the
priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the
Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the
king's mule: 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have
anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so
that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.
46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom. 47 And
moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God
make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater
than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed. 48 And
also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD
God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine
eyes even seeing it. 49 And all the guests that were
with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught
hold on the horns of the altar. 51 And it was told Solomon,
saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on
the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he
will not slay his servant with the sword. 52 And Solomon said, If
he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the
earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. 53
So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came
and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine
house.
We have here,
I. The tidings of Solomon's inauguration brought to Adonijah and his party, in
the midst of their jollity: They had made an end of eating, and, it
should seem, it was a great while before they made an end, for all the affair
of Solomon's anointing was ordered and finished while they were at dinner,
glutting themselves. Thus those who serve not our Lord Christ, but
oppose him, are commonly such as serve their own belly (Rom. xvi. 18)
and made a god of it, Phil. iii. 19. Their long feast intimates
likewise that they were very secure and confident of their interest, else they
would not have lost so much time. The old world and Sodom were eating and
drinking, secure and sensual, when their destruction came, Luke xvii. 26,
&c. When they made an end of eating, and were preparing themselves
to proclaim their king, and bring him in triumph into the city, they heard
the sound of the trumpet (v. 41), and a dreadful sound it was in
their ears, Job xv. 21. Joab was an old man, and was alarmed at it,
apprehending the city to be in an uproar; but Adonijah was very confident that
the messenger, being a worthy man, brought good tidings, v. 42.
Usurpers flatter themselves with the hopes of success, and those are commonly
least timorous whose condition is most dangerous. But how can those who do
evil deeds expect to have good tidings? No, the worthiest man will bring them
the worst news, as the priest's son did here to Adonijah, v. 43. "Verily,
the best tidings I have to bring you is that Solomon is made king, so
that your pretensions are all quashed." He relates to them very
particularly, 1. With what great solemnity Solomon was made king (v.
44, 45), and that he was now sitting on the throne of the kingdom, v.
46. Adonijah thought to have stepped into the throne before him, but Solomon
was too quick for him. 2. With what general satisfaction Solomon was made
king, so that that which was done was not likely to be undone again. (1.) The
people were pleased, witness their joyful acclamations, v. 45. (2.) The
courtiers were pleased: The kings servants attended him with an address
of congratulation upon this occasion, v. 47. We have here the heads of
their address: They blessed king David, applauded his prudent care for
the public welfare, acknowledged their happiness under his government, and
prayed heartily for his recovery. They also prayed for Solomon, that God would
make his name better than his father's, which it might well be when he had his
father's foundation to build upon. A child, on a giant's shoulders, is higher
than the giant himself. (3.) The king himself was pleased: He bowed himself
upon the bed, not only to signify his acceptance of his servants' address,
but to offer up his own address to God (v. 48): "Blessed be the
Lord God of Israel, who, as Israel's God, for Israel's good, has brought
this matter to such a happy issue, my eyes even seeing it." Note,
It is a great satisfaction to good men, when they are going out of the world,
to see the affairs of their families in a good posture, their children rising
up in their stead to serve God and their generation, and especially to see
peace upon Israel and the establishment of it.
II. The effectual crush which this gave to Adonijah's attempt. It spoiled the
sport of his party, dispersed the company, and obliged every man to shift for
his own safety. The triumphing of the wicked is short. They were
building a castle in the air, which, having no foundation, would soon fall and
crush them. They were afraid of being taken in the fact, while they were
together hatching their treason, and therefore each one made the best of his
way.
III. The terror Adonijah himself was in, and the course he took to secure
himself. He was now as much depressed as he had been elevated, v. 42,
50. He had despised Solomon as not worthy to be his guest (v. 10), but
now he dreads him as his judge: He feared because of Solomon. Thus
those who oppose Christ and his kingdom will shortly be made to tremble before
him, and call in vain to rocks and mountains to shelter them from his wrath.
He took hold on the horns of the altar, which was always looked upon as
a sanctuary, or place of refuge (Exod. xxi. 14), intimating hereby that he
durst not stand a trial, but threw himself upon the mercy of his prince, in
suing for which he relied upon no other plea than the mercy of God, which was
manifested in the institution and acceptance of the sacrifices that were
offered on that altar and the remission of sin thereupon. Perhaps Adonijah had
formerly slighted the service of the altar, yet now he courts the protection
of it. Many who in the day of their security neglect the great salvation,
under the arrests of the terrors of the Lord would gladly be beholden to
Christ and his merit, and, when it is too late, will catch hold of the
horns of the altar.
IV. His humble address to Solomon for mercy. By those who brought Solomon
tidings where he was, he sent a request for his life (v. 51): Let
king Solomon swear to me that he will not slay his servant. He owns
Solomon for his prince, and himself his servant, dares not justify himself,
but makes supplication to his judge. It was a great change with him. He
that in the morning was grasping at a crown is before night begging for his
life. Then Adonijah reigned, now Adonijah trembles, and cannot think himself
safe unless Solomon promise, with an oath, not to put him to death.
V. The orders Solomon gave concerning him. He discharges him upon his good
behaviour, v. 52, 53. He considered that Adonijah was his brother, and
that it was the first offence. Perhaps, being so soon made sensible of his
error and then not persisting in his rebellion, he might prove not only a
peaceable, but a serviceable subject, and therefore, if he will conduct
himself well for the future, what is past shall be pardoned: but if he be fond
disaffected, turbulent, and aspiring, this offence shall be remembered against
him, he shall be called up upon his former conviction (as our law speaks), and
execution shall be awarded against him. Thus the Son of David receives those
to mercy that have been rebellious: if they will return to their allegiance,
and be faithful to their Sovereign, their former crimes shall not be mentioned
against them; but, if still they continue in the interests of the world and
the flesh, this will be their ruin. Adonijah is sent for, and told upon what
terms he stands, which he signifies his grateful submission to, and then is
told to go to his house and live retired there. Solomon not only gave him his
life, but his estate, thus establishing his throne by mercy.
Contents
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