1 Kings 2

Verse 2. Flesh, to the tomb. Omnium idem exitus est, sed & idem domicilium. Petron.—In life each follows his own course. Calmet.

Verse 3. Charge, what he orders.—Understand. Hebrew “act prudently,” ( Menochius.) or “with success,” Greek interp. ( Calmet.) and Chal. Menochius.—The observance of God’s law, both in private and in public, will ensure to thee the title of a wise prince.

Verse 4. Truth and sincerity. Calmet.—This promise was made, 2 Kennicott. 7:16. Menochius.

Verse 5. Joab. These instructions given by David to his son, with relation to Joab and Semei, proceeded not from any rancour of heart, or private pique; but from a zeal for justice: that crimes so public and heinous might not pass unpunished. Challoner.—David and Solomon esteemed themselves, in a manner, defiled, as long as these continued unpunished, verse 31. Joab had behaved to David with great insolence, after the death of Absalom. Bible.—He had lately sided with Adonias. Menochius.—But what touched the good old king more particularly, were the treacherous murders of two great generals, who had put themselves under his protection, and were endeavouring to promote his welfare. Only the fear of greater commotions had hitherto prevented David from bringing his nephew to public execution, as the people expected. He deemed it requisite to remind his successor of this obligation, when his power should be sufficiently strong, that the impunity of such daring offenders might not destroy the commonwealth. Bible.—Peace. Pretending affection. Joab had treated Abner and Amasa as the worst of enemies, and their blood had stained his garments. Menochius.

Verse 6. To hell. This word hell doth not signify the place or state of damnation; but the place and state of the dead. Challoner.—It would have been a great scandal if this murderer had died quietly in his old age. Joab had rendered great services to his uncle, for which he had been rewarded. He had been at the head of the armies 40 years. His great age rendered him now less formidable; particularly as the nation enjoyed peace.

Sheol is the place of the dead.

Verse 7. Table, or of the meat, which had been served upon it; as was the custom at the court of Persia. Daniel 1:5.—Brother. See 2 Kennicott. 19:31. Calmet.

Verse 8. Curse. Saying, Go out, &chapter 2 Kennicott. 16:5.—Camp. Hebrew Machanayim. Bible.—Sword. He would revenge his private wrongs, but reserved the punishment of a notorious offender, till a time when passion would have no influence. Solomon was not bound by the personal oath of his father.

Verse 9. Man. Many have thought that Solomon was only 12 years old. Euseb. and so forth—But the best chronologers suppose that he was about 20. God had blessed him with a happy disposition, which he adorned with various graces. Calmet. 3:12. Wisd. 8:19.

Sheol is the place of the dead.

Verse 10. David. Thus died this perfect model of princes, and this great saint, whose only fault, of consequence, was occasioned by Bethsabee: (2 Kennicott. 11:4) and this served to display his repentance. Saint John Chrysostom hom lxxvii.—He prefigured Jesus Christ in a wonderful manner; in his birth, at the same city; his election, in preference to his brethren; his persecutions, and subsequent glory. Jesus was, in like manner, betrayed by a false friend, and obliged to go out of Jerusalem, laden with his cross. But he acquired fresh splendour by his sufferings, and purchased a more faithful people. The tomb of David remained for many ages. Acts 2:29. Josephus says that it contained vast riches: but this seems to be fabulous. S. Jerom often went to pray at this tomb. Ep. ad Marcel.—If it be now unknown, the Holy Ghost has left us a more illustrious monument to the honour of this great man, in the Psalms, and EcclI. 47:2. and so forth Calmet.—We have now only an abridgment of his history. 1 Chronicles 29:29.

Verse 11. Seven years. The odd six months are not mentioned. 2 Kennicott. 2:11. Bible.

Verse 12. Sat, exercising the same authority, as he had done in his father’s life-time. Calmet. 1:53. Calmet. Saint Augustine de Calmet. xvii. 8. Salien, A.Calmet. 1033.—The public assembly of Israel, convoked by David, had already sworn fidelity to him. 1 Chronicles 28:1. Bible.

Verse 15. Mine, according to the ordinary course of things. But I was willing to forego my claims, when I perceived that the Lord had made choice of my brother. Calmet.

Verse 17. Wife. Some think that Joab had instigated Adonias to make this petition, that his party might be strengthened. Theod. q. 7. But love might be his prompter. Calmet.—Bethsabee consented to further his petition, ( Menochius.) without suspecting any bad consequences. Bible.

Verse 19. To her. Only fools will despise their parents. Proverbs 15:20. Sirach 3:18. Tobit 4:3. The Persians would allow no one to sit in his mother’s presence, without her leave; and Alexander would treat Sysigambis with the like respect. Q. Curt. v.—Right hand. In the most honourable place, next to his own. Genesis 48:13. The Turks and Persians give the preference to the left. Xenop. Cyrop. viii.

Verse 20. Thy face, with confusion. He engages to grant her request, if it could be done with any propriety, ( Calmet.) as a son ought to do. Worthington.

Verse 22. The kingdom. It was a maxim in most of the oriental courts, that the things which had belonged to the king, should not be enjoyed by any but his successor. Grotius.—Hence Adonias might be suspected of ambitious projects, as his party was still formidable. Calmet.—The marriage seems also to be unlawful. Menochius. See Calmet. 1:4.—Yet, if the aforesaid custom subsisted at that time; or, if the marriage had been evidently prohibited, both Adonias and Bethsabee must have acted in a very inconsistent manner, so that we must hesitate before we pronounce sentence. Bible.—Many condemn Solomon of precipitation and cruelty in his judgment; (Cajet.) while others approve of his conduct, (Theod. q. 7.) and think any delay might have proved dangerous. Ubi facto magis quam consulto opus. Tacit. Calmet.

Verse 24. House. This generally denotes children, and Roboam was born this year. Some have considered his birth as miraculous, supposing that Solomon was not above 12 years old, verse 9. Saint Jerome Ep. ad Vital.

Verse 25. Banaias. The chief officers became executioners, on such occasions. Daniel 2:24. The Romans employed soldiers; which makes Tertullian (Coron. xi.) dissuade Christians from entering the service.

Verse 26. Priest. Sadoc had been anointed in his stead, probably by Nathan, in the general assembly, while David was present: they anointed … Sadoc to be high priest, 1 Chronicles 29:22. Salien.—But not, Solomon orders Abiathar to retire to his estate, in punishment of his conspiracy. Calmet.—He might have justly put him to death, if he had committed a crime worthy of it; as his dignity did not give him a right to disturb the peace of the state with impunity. Bible.—Solomon acted as a prophet. Worthington.—God had long before denounced that the family of Eleazar should regain the dignity, which Heli had obtained by some means or other. 1 Kennicott. 2:31. Bible.—Solomon only put the divine decree in execution. Pineda vi. 15.—Sadoc had perhaps also passed sentence, as the Levitical tribe had a great sway in the courts of judicature. Menochius.—Abiathar was still honoured with his former title. Calmet. 4:4. But he was not permitted to officiate, ( Calmet.) nor to remain in the royal city, as he seemed now to be a dangerous man. Bible.—Anathoth was a sacerdotal town in Benjamin. Menochius.—A portion of the suburbs had been assigned to Abiathar, unless he had obtained a field by inheritance, or by marrying an heiress. See Jeremias 32:7. Calmet.

The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”

Verse 28. Joab. The Latin MSS. except one, and almost all the ancient editions of Sixtus, and so forth read Solomon. “And a messenger came to Solomon that Joab,” and so forth—Solomon. Hebrew “Absalom.” Septuagint vary. The difference is of little consequence. Calmet.

Verse 30. Die, if my life must not be spared. Bible.—He knew that the like precaution would not have been able to protect Adonias. It was not just that he, who had despised all that was sacred, should find an asylum at the altar itself.

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Verse 34. Slew him, holding the altar; though some think that he was removed by force, like Athalia, 4 Kennicott. 11:15. Both actions were contrary to the reverence due to so holy a place, and perhaps inexcusable; ( Calmet.) unless the law had ordered it otherwise. Exodus 21:14. Bible.

Verse 35. Abiathar. See verse 26. Secular princes sometimes nominate, but they must obey, the pastor. Worthington.

Verse 37. Cedron, which led towards Bahurim. He was equally forbidden to go out by any other road; and was put to death for going to Geth.—Head. Thou canst blame only thyself. Solomon might have put this man to death before: but he chose to pay so much deference to the oath of his father, as not to bring him to execution without a fresh offence.

Verse 39. Servants. Two in number; (Hebrew Sept.) perhaps originally from Geth; ( Menochius.) to the king of which place David had fled, 44 years before. Abul. q. 44.