of Judah; inasmuch as they offer more exemplary illustrations of the manner in which the invisible Sovereign asserted his supremacy over both kings and people. The introduction and obstinate maintenance of idolatry made it needful that, by his servants the prophets, He should continually remind the nation of their backslidings; should alarm hardened sinners by signs and wonders; and should publicly punish their kings, who led the people into sin, by frequent changes of the dynasty. so that, in the short space of 250 years, the throne was occupied by nine different families; until at last, after warnings and milder punishments had failed to produce amendment, the kingdom was utterly overthrown, and Ephraim ceased to be a people (Isa. vii. 8). In the smaller state of Judah, which continued faithful to the house of David, the existence of the temple worship and of the Levitical priesthood tended to uphold the authority of Jehovah. Some idolaters appear among the monarchs, but their reigns were generally short; while those of the pious kings were, according to the Divine promises by Moses, usually long and prosperous. These princes, with the aid of the prophets and priests, repressed idolatry, and revived from time to time the knowledge and service of Jehovah. Thus Judah, though a much smaller country, preserved her national existence for more than a century longer than Israel; but, finally, as no lasting reformation was effected, her land also was desolated, and the best of her sons were subjected to a seventy years' exile. In these books also is further displayed the agency and influence of the prophets, who were specially commissioned by the Supreme King of Israel to assert his rights, and demand obedience to his laws; counselling, guiding, and aiding the monarchs and the people when they acted aright, and warning and judging them when they sinned. Great prominence is given to the prophetic ministry; so that we find it frequently interposing in the affairs of the nation, as well as declaring the Divine purposes respecting the future. Nathan's interference secures the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i. 45). Ahijah announces the division of the kingdom, with its causes (xi. 29-40). Shemaiah, after the division has taken place, confirms it, by directing Rehoboam to disband his army (xii. 21, 22). By various prophets, Jeroboam's idolatry is publicly reproved, and its punishment threatened (xiii. 1—3; xiv. 7); judgment is denounced against the house of Baasha (xvi. 1); and Ahab's doom is distinctly declared (xxii. 17-28). Whilst, in the midst of the national history, the wonderful works of the two great prophets, Elijah and Elisha, occupy so much of several chapters, that the kings appear to hold but a secondary place (1 Kings xvii.—2 Kings xiii.) And besides these, there were Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, and others, whose inspired writings, if carefully compared with the contemporaneous histories, will afford much aid in understanding the national affairs, and particularly the moral state of the times. A tabular view of the prophets, showing the periods at which they respectively lived, is given at the commencement of the Prophetical Books. Nothing certain is known with respect to the authorship of these Books of the Kings; but it appears that narratives of Solomon's reign had been composed by Nathan, Ahijah the Shilonite, and Iddo (2 Chron. ix. 29); that a history of Rehoboam had been written by Shemaiah and Iddo, to which the latter had added an account of Abijah 1 (2 Chron. xii. 15; xiii. 22); that Jehu, the son of Hanani, had recorded the life of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. xx. 34); that annals of the kings from Uzziah to Hezekiah had been kept by Isaiah, among whose prophecies may be found narratives almost verbally agreeing with these (see 2 Chron. xxvi. 22; xxxii. 32; Isa. xxxvi.-xxxviii. 1-8, 21, 22; xxxix.; compared with 2 Kings xviii. 13-37; xix.; xx. 1-19); and that Jeremiah had done the same in his days (see 2 Kings xxiv. 18–20; xxv.; Jer. lii.) From such records of contemporary prophets, some inspired writer, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and Evil-Merodach, compiled the present books, containing as much as the Holy Spirit deemed necessary. See Kings xi. 41; xiv. 19, 29; xv. 7, 23; xvi. 5, 14, 20. The Jewish tradition, which ascribes this work to Jeremiah, will appear highly probable if we compare the period at which the history closes (see 2 Kings xxv. 27-30) with what we know of the duration of his life; and if we further observe the occasional resemblance in style and expression to some parts of his writings. The chronology of this period is not easily settled; and nothing more than an approximation to correctness seems now to be attainable. The parallel histories in the Books of the Kings and the Chronicles disagree respecting some dates, and other dates are manifestly erroneous in both. See Note at the end of Esther; and Chronological Table of the Kings of Judah and Israel. The most careful investigations give from 422 to 432 years for the two books-from the accession of Solomon to the capture of Jerusalem-divided into four periods: 1. The undivided monarchy under Solomon, 40 years. 2. From the division to the accession of Jehu, who put to death the two kings of Judah and Israel, between 88 and 92 years. 3. From the accession of Jehu to the captivity of the ten tribes, between 161 and 167 years. 4. The duration of the kingdom of Judah alone, 133 years. The FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS comprehends a period of about 120 years, from the accession of Solomon to the death of Jehoshaphat; and it may be divided into two principal parts: I. The history of the UNDIVIDED KINGDOM under Solomon; including David's old age and death, Solomon's accession to the throne, and suppression of Adonijah's conspiracy (ch. i., ii.); Solomon's vision and prayer, and his wisdom (iii.); his court and officers, and the extent and prosperity of his kingdom (iv.); the building of the temple, and of Solomon's houses (v.—vii.); dedication of the temple (viii.-ix. 9); Solomon's transactions with Hiram, his wealth and magnificence, and the queen of Sheba's visit (ix. 9-x.); Solomon's wives, and idolatry-God's displeasure-Solomon's adversaries (xi.) II. The history of the TWO SEPARATE KINGDOMS for about 80 years; including Rehoboam's accession, and the revolt of the ten tribes (xii. 1-24); Jeroboam's idolatry, and the prophecies against him and his family (xii. 24-xiv. 20); the reigns of Rehoboam, Abijam, and Asa in Judah (xiv. 21–xv. 24), and of Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab in Israel (xv. 25-xvi.); Elijah's prophecy and ministry, and the call of Elisha (xvii.-xix.); war between Israel and Syria (xx.); murder of Naboth, and Elijah's reproof of Ahab (xxi.); Jehoshaphat's league with Ahab-Micaiah and the false prophets-death of Ahab (xxii. 1-40); Jehoshaphat's reign in Judah, and Ahaziah's in Israel (xxii. 41—53). David's old age; Adonijah's conspiracy; and Solomon's accession to the throne. NOW king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with 2 clothes, but he gat no heat. 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 3 get heat. So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, 4 and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not. Jos. 19. 18 d 2 Sam. &. 4. 2 Sam. 15. 1. Sam. 3. 3,4; 1 Chr. d1 Sam. 9. 2. 32 (2 Sam. 8 16 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 goodly3 man; and his mother bare him after 7 Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar 8 the priest and they following Adonijah helped him. 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. 2 Sam 23 & 9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth,7 which is by En-rogel [or, the well Rogel'], and called all his brethren the king's 10 sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants: but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our 12 lord knoweth it not? Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, 13 that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. Go and 11 2 Sam. 17. 17. m2 Sam. 3. & 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 1 Chr. 22. 9. 14 me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words. 15 P vers. 13, 30. And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was 16 very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest 17 thou? And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God Ge. 18. 12 unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, 18 and he shall sit upon my throne. And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and 19 now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not: and he hath slain oxen and fat vers. 7–9, 25. 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 20 hath he not called. 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 21 lord the king after him. 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. 28 u Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath-sheba. And she came into 29 the king's presence, and stood before the king. And the king sware, and said, 30 As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, 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 1 Adonijah does not appear to have intended to depose his father, but to assert his claim to the crown, as being the eldest surviving son. The invisible King of Israel had, however, reserved to himself the power of appointing his vicegerent, irrespectively of the law of primogeniture; and had promised the kingdom to Solomon, the 'man of peace, who was to build the temple (1 Chron. xxii. 9; xxviii. 5); and Adonijah was cognizant of this decision. See ch. ii. 15. 2 Showing the same laxity of parental discipline which had produced such disastrous consequences in the instances of Amnon and Absalom. 3 This personal quality, no doubt, as in the case of Absalom, contributed to his success. 4 This means only that Adonijah was next in age to Absalom; for they were not sons of the same mother. ch. 2. 10; Deu. 31.16 ' ver. 19. #1 Sam. 10. 24 #2 Sam. 42 3 ver. 17. 5 Benaiah was the fifth of David's mighty men, the captain of twenty-four thousand men for the third month (1 ̊Chron. xxvii. 5), and commander of David's bodyguard; and was consequently a man of great influence. He succeeded Joab as commander-in-chief under the reign of Solomon. 6 This man was not Shimei of Bahurim; but probably the son of Elah, and the same who was afterwards one of Solomon's officers (ch. iv. 18). Josephus calls him 'the friend of David' (Antiq. vii. 14). 7 This was on the eastern side of Zion, by the fountain En-rogel and the king's gardens, at the junction of the king's dale with the valley of Hinnom. 8 The omission of Soloinon shows that Adonijah considered him as his rival. 9 See note on 1 Sam. xxiv. 21. 32 y Ne. 2. 3; Dan. 2. 4. * 2 Sam. 20. 6. @ Ge. 41. 43; Est. 6. 6 2 Chr. 32. 30. 31 I certainly do this day. Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever. And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and 33 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon 34 my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: 35 and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. 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 36 over Judah. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, 37 Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. As the LORD hath been Jos. 5, 17; 1 Sam. 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 e 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 39 upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and 'anointed Solomon. And they blew 40 the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. 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." 41 10. 1; 16 3, 12; 9 Sam. 2. 4; 5. 3; 9 Ki. 9. 3; 11. 12. d2 Sam. 15. 10; 2 Ki. 9. 13; 11. 14. ch. 2.15; Ps. 72, title. 20. 13. 6 ver. 47. A 2 Sam. 8. 18; 23. 20 -23. 2 Sam. 15. 18. k Ex. 30. 23-33; Ps. 89. 20. 1 Chr. 29. 22. m1 Sam. 10. 24. "2 Sam. 15. 38. 2 Sam. 18. 27. 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, 42 Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar? And while he yet spake, behold, "Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto 43 him, Come in; for thou art a valiant2 man, and bringest good tidings. And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made 44 Solomon king. 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 45 Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule: 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 46 that ye have heard. And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom. P1 Chr. 29. 23. 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 48 greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed. 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 50 every man his way. And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and 51 went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, 9 ver. 37. Ge. 47. 31. ch. 3. 6; Ps. 32. 11, 12. teh. 2. 28; Ex. 21. 14 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 52 will not slay his servant with the sword. And Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, "there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if "1 Sam. 14. 45: 2 Sam. 53 wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. 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. 2 David's charge to Solomon, and death. NOW the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged 4 2 Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth:5 be thou strong there3 fore, and show thyself a man;6 and keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest d prosper [or, do wisely] in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou 4 turnest thyself: that the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, "If thy children take heed to their way, to i walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee 1 Gihon was a fountain in the valley on the west of Zion; consequently on the side opposite to En-rogel, where Adonijah and his party were (ver. 9); and was probably chosen on that account. 2 Or, 'good,' 'worthy;' as in ver. 52, and Prov. xii. 4. 3 According to the law in Exod. xxi. 12-14, the murderer was to be taken from the altar and slain; which implies that the altar had been resorted to as a place of 14. 11; Ac. 27. 34. Ge. 47. 29; Deu. 31. 14. y Den. 3. 28: 31. 23; 1 Chr. 28. 9. I see refs. Jos. 23. 14. a Deu. 17. 19, 20; 31. 6. d Deu. 29. 9; Jos. 1.7; 1 Sam. 18. 5, 14, 30. ƒ 2 Sam. 8. 6, 14. 2 Sam. 7. 11-16, 25. A Ps. 132. 11, 12. í 2 ki, 20. 3. * ch. 8. 25; 2 Sam. 7. 12, 13. refuge previously to the enactment of the Mosaic laws. 6 That is, Though thou art young, act with manly energy and wisdom." Solomon cannot have been more than twenty years of age at this time. ch. 1. 7; 2 Sam. 1 39; 18 5, 12, 14; 19. 5-7. 2 Sam. 3 27. ver. 9; Pra, 20, 26 P Ge. 9. 6; Num. 35 33 92 Sam. 19. 31, K. 5 (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah 'did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto " Abner the son of Ner, and unto "Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his 3 Sam. 23. 10. 6 girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the 7 grave in peace. But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I 8 fled because of Absalom thy brother. And, behold, thou hast with thee 'Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the 9 sword. Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down❘ ver. 6; Go. 42. 38; to the grave with blood. 10 a So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. And 11 the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. 12 Solomon's kingdom established, and his enemies punished. THEN sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom 13 was established greatly. And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, 14 Peaceably. He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, 15 Say on. And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all | Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned 16 about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD. And now I 17 ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on. And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee 18 nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife. And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king. 19 Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; 'and she sat on 20 his right hand. Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, 2 Sam. 15. 13-15; 17. 27-29 t2 Sam. 16 5 2 Sam. 19. 16-23. Ex. 20 7; 22 28; 44. 31. ch. 1. 21; Ac. 229; 13. 36 a 2 Sam. 57. 52 Sam. 5. 4; 1 Chr. 29. 26, 27. say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will 21 not say thee nay. And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to 22 Adonijah thy brother to wife. And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for 23 Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah. Then king Solomon "ch. 1. 7. sware by the LORD, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have 24 not spoken this word against his own life. Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death 2 Sam. 7. 11, 13; 1 25 this day. And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died. 26 T 6 "Ru. 1. 17. *see ref. Ex. L. 21. Chr. 22 10. And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine Jos. 21. 18; Jer. 1. 1. own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord God before David my father, 27 and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might 1 Joab's life had long been forfeited by atrocious murders. These directions are to be attributed not to personal resentment on the part of David, but to a sense of justice, mingled perhaps with some self-reproach for having, from reasons of policy, delayed the infliction of merited punishment; which, indeed, would even now require peculiar wisdom, in order to avoid alienating the army. 2 The dying king felt the claims of gratitude to be not less sacred than those of justice. 3 This word is used for showing kindness, especially when God sends help (Psa. Ixix. 18; Lam. iii. 57). 4 David's injunction evidently amounts to this-that Shimei was so dangerous a person, that he must be closely watched, and on the first act of disobedience be put to 1 Sam. 23 6; 2 Sam. 1 Sam. 2 death. He might have preserved his life on certain conditions, which he acknowledged to be reasonable, and yet violated on a very slight pretext (vers. 39, 40). 5 See note on 2 Sam. iii. 7. Adonijah's remarks about the desire of the people that he should be king (ver. 15), seem to have awakened Solomon's suspicions, which were probably confirmed by some circumstances not recorded. 6 See refs. 'House' here means the royal succession. 7 As an accomplice in Adonijah's treason. 8 The Jewish kings exercised the power of appointing or deposing the high priests at their discretion. Abiathar seems to have been second to Zadok. See ch. iv. 4. In later times, we find the high priest had a deputy called, in 2 Kings xxv. 18, the second priest, and afterwards named Sagan. 28 'fulfill the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. y 1 Sam. 2. 31-35; 3 12-14. "ch. 1. 7. see refs, ch. 1. 50. y Ex. 21. 14. Num. 35. 33; Deu. 19. 12, 13; 21. 8. 9. a 2 Sam. 3. 28. Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and 29 caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fed unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then 30 Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him. And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me. 31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from 32 me, and from the house of my father. And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Sam. 3. 27. 33 Jether, captain of the host of Judah. Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and 'upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for P. 89. 29, 36, 37. 34 ever from the LORD. So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and 'Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of " Abiathar. 36 And the king sent and called for "Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an 37 house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither. For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron,3 thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon 38 thine own head. And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days. 39 b ver. 44: Ge. 4. 11; Judg. 9. 24, 57; Ps. 7. 16 2 Chr. 21. 13. d 2 Sim. 3. 2, 37. 2 Sam, 20 10. 5 ver. 32; 2 Sam. 3. * 2 Ki. 21. 18. Num. 25 11-13; 1 m ver. 27 P Le. 20. 9; Jos. 2 19; 2 Sam. 1. 16. And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told 1 Sam. 27. 2 40 Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath. And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and 41 brought his servants from Gath. And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone 42 from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again. And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, 43 The word that I have heard is good. Why then hast thou not kept the oath of 44 the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with? The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy 45 wickedness upon thine own head; and king Solomon shall be blessed, and "the 46 throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever. So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. 3 a Solomon's marriage; his sacrifices at Gibeon; and prayer for wisdom, which is granted. AND Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of Den. & 5; 10. 12: building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the walls of Jerusalem 2 round about. Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no 3 house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: burnt incense in high places. 4 And Solomon loved A vers. 6, 14; ch. 2 3, 4. A ch. 15. 14; 22. 43. 1.3-12. only he sacrificed and see parallel, 2 Chr. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high 1 This passage, which is similar to many others, does not mean that Solomon did this in order to fulfil the prophecy; but that, being led to do it by Abiathar's rebellion, he thus fulfilled the word of the Lord. See note on 1 Sam. ii. 30. 2 Joab probably supposed that Solomon would be unwilling to shed blood in a holy place. 3 Solomon specifies the brook Kidron by way of example, meaning the immediate neighbourhood (see ver. 42). 4 Solomon had already married, more than a year before his accession, Naamah an Ammonitess, the mother of * see parallel, 2 Chr. 1. 3-19; see also I Chr. 16. 39. Rehoboam. Compare ch. xi. 42, with xiv. 21. This marriage with an Egyptian princess was not absolutely contrary to the law, as alliances with Canaanites were. See Exod. xxxiv. 16; Deut. vii. 3; xxiii. 7. 5 Probably fortifying the lower city; a work which his father had desired to accomplish, and had perhaps commenced. See Psa. li. 18. 6 This was a public act (see 2 Chron. i. 2), expressive of gratitude for the establishment of the new government, and supplicating the continuance of the Divine protection and blessing. |