Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 2:1-11

I. In this passage we notice the calmness and quietude of spirit with which David looked forward to the termination of his earthly career. In order to place ourselves in the position which David occupied, (1) we must have sought and found pardoning mercy; (2) we must have the Spirit of adoption, so as to be able to say, "Abba, Father;" (3) we must be advancing in the practical experience of sanctifying grace.

II. Notice the special charge which David addresses to Solomon to show himself a man and to be strong in observing the requirements of the Divine law. The expression which first strikes the mind is "Show thyself a man." (1) It is plainly the path of manly effort to strive to serve God and to fulfil the requirements of His law. (2) It is implied in the words of David that Solomon would have numberless difficulties to contend with. "Show thyself a man" means Resist; fight; overcome. (3) Unless the Spirit of God is in the man, the pieces of armour are useless, and the conflict must end in defeat and ruin. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there only is liberty and power.

III. Notice the clear perception which David evidently had of the conditional nature of the promises made to Israel and to his own family in particular. The faithful observance of the law of Moses formed the condition upon which Israel was to be great and flourishing.

IV. In explanation of David's charge to Solomon to revenge himself on Joab and Shimei, we should remember (1) that he was there dictating to Solomon counsels of policy, not by Divine wisdom, but by his own mind; and whether these counsels were right or wrong, we must lay the responsibility of them upon David himself. (2) David lived under a darker dispensation than ours, and had not learned to forgive his enemies. (3) It may have been right and necessary for the public welfare that such dangerous men as Joab and Shimei should not be allowed to live.

A. D. Davidson, Lectures and Sermons, p. 349.

References: 1 Kings 2:8.—Expositor, 2nd series, vol. i., p. 245. 1 Kings 2:8, 1 Kings 2:9.—Homiletic Quarterly, vol. iii., p. 175.

1 Kings 2:10

There is a rounded completeness about these words which is peculiarly applicable to the man of whom they were spoken. His day had been a long, an active, and a troubled one. He was the greatest general of his time. He bequeathed to his son a broad and well-consolidated empire. He sinned deeply, but he also suffered terribly and repented bitterly.

I. The expression "David slept with his fathers" is the well-known Hebrew formula for death, having primary reference, no doubt, to the fact of burial, but beyond that denoting the fact of being received into the happy portion of Hades and being there rejoined to the blessed spirits of their fathers. The two thoughts are undoubtedly conjoined. The phrase is applied in cases where it was not true that the bodily remains were laid side by side with those who had gone before, as, for example, in the case of Abraham.

II. There is another expression for death, also taken from the Hebrew, but used with greater frequency in the Greek of the New Testament, and from it transferred to the language of the whole Christian world: "falling asleep." By Him who was the Truth itself we are taught to regard sleep as the symbol of death. All that in His mind the symbol conveyed we do not know. The symbol itself is a mystery, as well as the thing symbolised. There may be inner and subtle resemblances between sleep and death, as well as those outer analogies which lie upon the surface and are patent to all. These we must be content to leave with God.

III. Sleep at last we all shall, but we may sleep well or ill. And then the awaking—what shall that be? A happy awaking depends upon the soundness of the sleep; the soundness of the sleep depends upon a healthy state of body and mind, and upon hard, honest work. There is no sleep so calm as the sleep in Jesus; and if we wish to sleep in Jesus, we must be in loving communion with Him now..

J. Macgregor, Contemporary Pulpit, vol. i., p. 65.

References: 1 Kings 2:10.—J. Van Oosterzee, Year of Salvation, vol. ii., p. 471. 1 Kings 2:14.—Clergyman's Magazine, vol. viii., p. 269; F. W. Krummacher, David the King of Israel, p. 527; G. T. Coster, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xxv., p. 328. 1 Kings 2:22.—Homiletic Quarterly, vol. III., p. 388. 1Ki 2.—Parker, vol. vii., p. 261. 1 Kings 3:3.—Ibid., p. 272. 1 Kings 3:3-14.—Homiletic Quarterly, vol. iii., p. 232.