Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Years; sixty-nine, as he died when he was seventy years old. Calmet. 2 Kennicott. 5:4.—Warm. Though David was of a strong constitution, he had been so much exposed to fatigue, and so harassed with domestic broils, that his vigour was nearly decayed. Calmet.—The Rabbins say, that the sight of the angel had greatly contributed to weaken him. Lyran, and others, suppose that he was affected with the palsy. Abul. Salien, A. 3019.
Verse 2. Servants. Physicians. Josep. vii. 14.—People of the faculty still adopt the same sentiments; and when fire and clothes will not procure heat, they advise the application of living creatures. Bartholin ix. Galen vii. Vales. Philos. chapter 19.
Verse 3. Sunamitess. Sunam was not far from Thabor, in the tribe of Issachar. Calmet.—This history leads us to explain the ambition and death of Adonias. Bible.
Verse 4. Her. Which shews the virtue and temperance of David. Menochius.—She was his wife, at least of a second order. Adonias flattered himself, on account of Abisag’s virginity, that the law did not hinder him from marrying her; (Leviticus 18:8. Kimchi) or he was blinded by ambition. Calmet.—Heretics and persecutors thus attempt in vain, ( Bible.) to defile the Church, the chaste spouse of Jesus, that they may usurp his throne. Calmet.
Verse 5. Him. He was not deterred by the fate of Absalom. Bible.—He was now the eldest son, and gave himself out for the presumptive heir. Calmet.—David is blamed for some remissness, in not repressing him; (Salien) as his conduct tended to excite confusion, and to frustrate the appointment of God. But the king was convinced that nothing would be able to disturb that order; and he would take measures, in due time, to curb the ambition of his eldest son, from which, as yet, he apprehended no danger. Bible.—Old age renders people slow. Menochius.
Verse 7. Side. For their own interest, and because they supposed that the throne belonged of course to him. Menochius.—This was the natural privilege, when no other disposition was made by God, or by the kings who succeeded David. They did not esteem themselves bound to leave the crown to their eldest sons. Hitherto God had made choice himself, as he had required. Deuteronomy 17:15. In favour of David, he pleased to grant sovereignty to his descendants. But the king expected to declare which he preferred, in case he chose to deviate from the natural order, verse 20.
Verse 8. Sadoc, the rival of Abiathar, and a descendant of Eleazar. David had permitted both to perform the functions of the high priesthood; ( Calmet.) or one had acted as the delegate of the other. Salien.—Banaias was distinguished for his valour, 2 Kennicott. 23:20. He was the flower of his age, and, perhaps, aspired at the authority of Joab, whose credit began to decline; as he was grown old, and was known to be rather disagreeable to David, and had been guilty of such horrid murders. Both the contending princes sought to ingratiate themselves with the army and with the priests, as their influence was of the utmost consequence. Solomon was more fortunate, in having also Nathan the prophet on his side; but the throne was secured to him much more on account of the divine decree, 2 Kennicott. 7:12 and 12:25. Bible.—Nathan is commonly considered as the tutor of the young prince, ( Menochius.) and was styled his “father.” Calmet.—Semei, or Nabath, father of Jeroboam; and Rei, or Ira, who is styled the priest of David, 2 Kennicott. 20:26. Saint Jerome Tradit. Menochius.—To confound Semei with Nabath is wrong. Salien.—Army; the king’s guard consisting chiefly of the Cerethi, and so forth ( Calmet.) who were under Banaias. The whole army, over which Joab was general, was not always in arms. Septuagint “Semei and Resi, other copies read ( Bible.) his friends,” (with Syr. Arab.) “and Daia, heroes of David.” Hebrew may be, “neither the hearers nor the seers, nor the brave men of David were with Adonias.” The populace, or the disciples, as well as the prophets, may be thus denoted.
Verse 9. Slain. Either for sacrifice, or simply for a feast; ( Calmet.) though it is probable that victims of peace would be offered, as on similar occasions, on which the guests would afterwards feast. 1 Kennicott. 11. Bible.—Rogel, east of Jerusalem, in the vale of Josaphat. Menochius.
Verse 10. Not. Out of contempt, ( Calmet.) and because he knew that they would oppose his measures. Bible.
Verse 11. It not. So that we may safely endeavour to overturn his plane. Menochius.
Verse 12. Life. Both would have been in imminent danger, if the ambitious projects of Adonias succeeded, as he knew that the throne had been promised to Solomon by his father, and he would consider him as a dangerous rival. Calmet.—The Turkish emperors usually destroy or confine their brethren, when they commence their reign. Bible.
Verse 13. Swear. This he did, either when he comforted her, after the death of her first-born; (2 Kennicott. 12:24) or rather, when Solomon had received so glorious a name, and was declared the heir by Nathan. 2 Kennicott. 7:12. 1 Chronicles 22:19. and 28:5. Adonias acknowledges that God had made choice of his brother. Calmet. 2:15. Calmet.
Verse 14. Words, and confirm what thou hast said, ( Menochius.) reminding the king of God’s express declaration. Bible.
Verse 16. Worshipped. Prot. “did obeisance.” Hebrew “fell prostrate on the ground before the king,” ( Calmet.) without any danger of idolatry. Bible.
Verse 18. Of it. So that thy authority is also contemned. Menochius.
Verse 20. Thee. Adonias boasts that all Israel was on his side. Calmet. 2:15. Calmet.
Verse 21. Offenders. I, as guilty of adultery; and my son, as a mamzer; (Deuteronomy 23:2. Tirinus.) or we shall be accounted pretenders, ( Bible.) and condemned as guilty of high treason. Calmet.—Our hopes and expectations will be frustrated. Vat. E.—We shall be despised or punished. Worthington.
Verse 28. Come in. Nathan went out, at the same time; ( Menochius.) so that each had a private audience. Calmet.
Verse 33. Lord, David. Menochius.—The Cerethi, and other life-guards, went under the command of their captain, Banaias, ( Calmet.) to repel any force that might disturb this solemn inauguration. Bible.—Mule. None but the king was allowed to mount it.—Gihon, a fountain, or place of public resort, on the west of Jerusalem. Ezechias brought its waters into the city. 2 Chronicles 32:30. Calmet.—Adonias was at Rogel, on the east. Menochius.
Verse 34. Save, (Vavat.) “Live.” May Solomon reign for many years. Bible.
Verse 35. Stead. Not after me only. David voluntarily abdicates the throne, so that Solomon reigned in his life-time. Menochius.
Verse 36. King. May all have a prosperous issue, conformably to the wishes of your majesty and the decrees of God. Calmet.
Verse 37. David. Parents wish their children to be still more happy than themselves, how jealous soever they may be of their own glory. Calmet.
Aspice completum votum; jam natus adæquat
Te meritis, &, quod magis est optabile, vincit. Claud. iv. con. Honor.
Verse 39. Horn of oil. Such liquors were commonly kept in vessels of horn. Calmet.—Some say that oil, for the consecration of priests, was used on this occasion; and that the ceremony was performed only, when the throne was contested: as in the case of Joas, Joachaz, and so forth Bible.—Nathan assisted Sadoc, (verse 34.) who was not yet the high priest. Menochius.
Verse 40. Rang. Hebrew “was split.” Chal. “shook.” Menochius.
Verse 41. Uproar. Nathan had conducted the affair with singular address. A little delay might have plunged the kingdom into all the horrors of a civil war.
Verse 43. Not so. Hebrew “Misfortune or mourning, or verily.” A man of character did not willingly deliver a disagreeable message. 2 Kennicott. 18:25. Calmet.—But Jonathan was concerned for his father. Bible.
Verse 47. Blessed. Congratulating him on the exaltation of Solomon.—Bed. Shewing respect to the new king, as Jacob had done to Joseph; (Genesis 47:31. Sanctius) or laying himself down again; ( Calmet.) or rather giving thanks to God, ( Menochius.) whom he adored, in gratitude for the favour of a successor being granted to him. Worthington.
Verse 49. Afraid. As they had offended both David and Solomon, and had rendered themselves suspected of high treason.
Verse 51. Altar. At Gabaon, (2 Chronicles 1:3,) or at Sion. All nations seemed to grant the right of an asylum to sacred places; but only in favour of the innocent. Exodus 21:14. Calmet.
Verse 53. House. He does not forbid him the court, but grants him pardon. Menochius.
“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).