Bible Commentaries

old

David was probably now about sixty-nine years of age. He was thirty years old when he began to reign, reigned forty, and died in his seventieth year; and the transactions mentioned here are supposed to have taken place about a year before his death. Sixty-nine was not an advanced age; but he had been exhausted with various fatigues, and especially family afflictions, so that he was much older in constitution than in years.

2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Chronicles 23:1, 29:27,28, Psalms 90:10

and stricken in years

Heb. and entered into days.

Genesis 18:11, 24:1, Joshua 23:1,2, Luke 1:7

Let there be sought

Heb. Let them seek. a young virgin. Heb. a damsel, a virgin. stand.

Deuteronomy 10:8, 1 Samuel 16:21,22, 2 Chronicles 29:11

cherish him

Heb. be a cherisher unto him. lie.

Genesis 16:5, Deuteronomy 13:6, 2 Samuel 12:3, Micah 7:5

get heat

Ecclesiastes 4:11

So

Esther 2:2,4

Abishag

2:17-25

Shunammite

Joshua 19:18, 1 Samuel 28:4, 2 Kings 4:8,25

knew her not

Matthew 1:25

Adonijah

2 Samuel 3:4, 1 Chronicles 3:2

exalted

11, 2:24, Exodus 9:17, Proverbs 16:18, 18:12, Luke 14:11, 18:14

I will

Deuteronomy 17:15, Judges 9:2, 1 Chronicles 22:5-11, 28:5, 29:1

be king

Heb. reign. and he.

Deuteronomy 17:16, 2 Samuel 15:1, Isaiah 2:7

had not

1 Samuel 3:13, Proverbs 22:15, 23:13,14, 29:15, Hebrews 12:5,6

at any time

Heb. from his days. very.

1 Samuel 9:2, 10:23, 2 Samuel 14:25

bare him

2 Samuel 3:3,4, 1 Chronicles 3:2

And he conferred

Heb. his words were.

2 Samuel 15:12, Psalms 2:2

Joab

2:28, 2 Samuel 8:16, 20:23

Abiathar

1 Samuel 22:20-23, 2 Samuel 15:24-29,35, 20:25

following Adonijah helped him

Heb. helped after Adonijah.

2:22,26-35

Zadok

2:35, 2 Samuel 8:17,18, 20:25, 1 Chronicles 27:5,6, Ezekiel 44:15

Nathan

2 Samuel 7:2-4, 12:1-15

Shimei

4:18, Zechariah 12:13

the mighty

2 Samuel 23:8-39, 1 Chronicles 11:10-47

Adonijah

The Oriental banquet, in consequence of the intense heat, is often spread upon the verdant turf, beneath the shade of a tree, where the streaming rivulet supplies the company with wholesome water, and excites a gentle breeze to cool their burning temples.

slew

2 Samuel 15:12, Proverbs 15:8

En-rogel

or, the well Rogel.

2 Samuel 17:17

called

2 Samuel 13:23-27, 15:11

8,19, 2 Samuel 12:1-15

Nathan

2 Samuel 7:12-17, 12:24,25, 1 Chronicles 22:9,10, 28:4,5, 29:1

Adonijah

Haggith

2 Samuel 3:4

let me

Proverbs 11:14, 20:18, 27:9, Jeremiah 38:15

save

21, Genesis 19:17, Acts 27:31

the life

Judges 9:5, 2 Kings 11:1, 2 Chronicles 21:4, 22:10, Matthew 21:38

Assuredly

11,17,30, 1 Chronicles 22:6-13

sit

17,24,30,35,48, 2:12, Deuteronomy 17:18, 1 Chronicles 29:23, Psalms 132:11,12, Isaiah 9:7, Jeremiah 33:21, Luke 1:32,33

I also

17-27, 2 Corinthians 13:1

confirm

Heb. fill up.

very old

bowed

23, 1 Samuel 20:41, 24:8, 25:23

And the

2:20, Esther 7:2, Matthew 20:21,32

What wouldest thou? Heb

What to thee?

My lord

Genesis 18:12, 1 Peter 3:6

thou swarest

It is not recorded when or upon what occasion David sware to Bathsheba that Solomon should succeed him; but it is supposed, with some degree of probability, that it took place after Absalom's rebellion; and as God himself had settled the succession, he might very properly give her this assurance.

13,30

Adonijah

5,24, 2 Samuel 15:10

thou knowest

11,24,27, Acts 3:17

7-10,25

the eyes

2 Chronicles 20:12, Psalms 25:15, 123:2, Zechariah 3:9

that thou

At this time the monarchy of Israel was unsettled; no man knew who was to succeed to the crown; and the minds of the people were as unsettled as the succession. It was neither hereditary nor elective: the king, as was anciently the case in most countries, named his successor; but in this instance, God had already assigned the throne to Solomon.

2 Samuel 23:2, 1 Chronicles 22:8-10, 28:5,6,10, 29:1

sleep

2:10, Genesis 15:15, Deuteronomy 31:16

that I

That is, when Adonijah is established on the throne, I and my son Solomon shall be put to death as state criminals. The history of the world demonstrates, that the lust of dominion has tempted men to commit the most enormous crimes. A father has destroyed his son, a son deposed a father, and a brother murdered a brother, in order to obtain a crown!

offenders

Heb. sinners.

2:15,22-24

Genesis 24:15, Job 1:16-18, Daniel 9:20

he bowed

16, Romans 13:7, 1 Peter 2:17

hast thou

14,18

reign

5,13,17

slain

9,19, 1 Samuel 11:14,15, 1 Chronicles 29:21-13

God save king Adonijah

Heb. Let king Adonijah live.

34, 1 Samuel 10:24, 2 Samuel 16:16, 2 Kings 11:12, 2 Chronicles 23:11; *margins; Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9,10, Luke 19:38

8,19, 2 Samuel 7:2,12-17, 12:25

and thou

24, 2 Kings 4:27, John 15:15

Call me

She appears to have gone out when Nathan entered; and he retired when she was readmitted.

into the king's presence

Heb. before the king.

As the

2:24, 17:1, 18:10, Judges 8:19, 1 Samuel 14:39,45, 19:6, 20:21, 2 Samuel 12:5, 2 Kings 4:30, 5:16,20

hath

Genesis 48:16, 2 Samuel 4:9, Psalms 34:19-22, 72:14, 136:24, 138:7

Even as I sware

13,17

did reverence

2 Samuel 9:6, Esther 3:2, Matthew 21:37, Ephesians 5:33, Hebrews 12:9

Let my

25, Nehemiah 2:3, Daniel 2:4, 3:9, 5:10, 6:6,21

Zadok

8,26,38

Take

2 Samuel 20:6

and cause

Maimonides informs us, that it was a capital offence for any one to ride on the king's mule, to sit on his throne, or to handle his sceptre, without permission; and as David ordered Solomon to ride on his own mule, etc., it was ample evidence that he had appointed him his successor.

to ride

5,38,44, Genesis 41:43, Esther 6:6-11

mine own mule

Heb. the mule which belongeth to me.

Leviticus 19:19

Gihon

38,45, 2 Chronicles 32:30

Zadok

19:16, 1 Samuel 10:1, 16:3,12,13, 2 Samuel 2:4, 5:3, 2 Kings 9:3,6, 11:12, 2 Chronicles 23:11, Psalms 45:7, 89:20,36, Isaiah 45:1, Acts 10:38, 2 Corinthians 1:21,22

blow ye

2 Samuel 15:10, 2 Kings 9:13, 11:14, Psalms 98:5-7

God

25, 2 Kings 11:12

sit

13,17, 2:12

I have

2:15, 1 Chronicles 23:1, 28:4,5, Psalms 2:6, 72:1; *title; Psalms 72:1,2

Amen

Deuteronomy 27:15-26, Psalms 72:19, Jeremiah 11:5, 28:6, Matthew 6:13, 28:20, 1 Corinthians 14:16

the Lord

1 Samuel 25:29, 1 Chronicles 17:27, Psalms 18:2, 63:1, 89:20,26

As the

3:7-9, Exodus 3:12, Joshua 1:5,17, 1 Samuel 20:13, 1 Chronicles 28:20, 2 Chronicles 1:1, Psalms 46:7, Psalms 46:11, Isaiah 8:10, Matthew 1:23, Romans 8:31

and make

47, 2 Samuel 24:3, 2 Kings 2:9, Psalms 72:8,17-19, 89:27, Daniel 7:14

Zadok

8,26

the Cherethites

1 Samuel 30:14, 2 Samuel 8:18, 15:18, 20:20-23, 1 Chronicles 18:17, Zephaniah 2:5

king David's

an horn

1 Samuel 16:13

out

Exodus 30:23-33, Psalms 89:20

anointed

1 Chronicles 29:22

all the people

25, 1 Samuel 10:24, 2 Kings 11:12, 2 Chronicles 23:11,13

pipes

or, flutes.

Daniel 3:5

rejoiced

1 Samuel 11:15, 2 Kings 11:14,20, 1 Chronicles 12:38-40, Psalms 97:1, Zechariah 9:9, Luke 19:37, Revelation 11:15-18

the earth rent

We use a similar expression in precisely the same sense: "They rent the air with their cries."

as they

Job 20:5, Proverbs 14:13, Ecclesiastes 7:4-6, Matthew 24:38,39, Luke 17:26-29

Wherefore

Exodus 32:17, Job 15:21,22, Psalms 73:18-20

the city

Matthew 21:9-11,15, Acts 21:31

Jonathan

2 Samuel 15:36, 17:17

a valiant

22:18, 2 Samuel 18:27, 2 Kings 9:22, Isaiah 57:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3

Verily

44

Gihon

This was a fountain on the west of Jerusalem, (consequently in an opposite direction to En-rogel on the east, where Adonijah was proclaimed king,) of which there were two pools, an upper and a lower. (2Ch 32:30.) There is a large square cistern in the ravine west of the city, mentioned by Dr. Richardson as a little to the south of the Jaffa gate, which Dr. Pococke describes as a basin about 250 paces long and 100 broad. It is commonly called the pool of Bathsheba, but seems to be the lower pool of Gihon. "Nearly a mile to the N.N.W. is the pool of Gihon, which I suppose to be the upper pool. It is a very large basin, and, if I mistake not, is cut down about ten feet into the rock, there being a way down to it by steps. It was almost dry at that time, and seems designed to receive the rain waters which come from the hills about it. There is a canal from the pool to the city, which is uncovered part of the way, and, it is said, goes to the pool in the streets near the holy sepulchre. The fountain of Gihon arose either in the upper pool, or out of the high ground above it."--Travels, book i. ch. 6.

the city

40, 1 Samuel 4:5, Ezra 3:13

This is

14:6, 1 Samuel 28:14, Daniel 5:26-28

13, 1 Chronicles 29:23, Psalms 132:11, Haggai 2:22

bless

Exodus 12:32, 2 Samuel 8:10, 21:3, Ezra 6:10, Psalms 20:1-4

God

37, Luke 19:38

bowed

Genesis 47:31, Hebrews 11:21

Blessed

Genesis 14:20, 1 Chronicles 29:10,20, Nehemiah 9:5, Psalms 34:1, 41:13, 72:17-19, 103:1,2, Psalms 145:2, Daniel 4:34, Luke 1:46,47,68,69, Ephesians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:3

which

3:6, 1 Chronicles 17:11-14,17, Psalms 132:11,12, Proverbs 17:6

mine eyes

2 Samuel 24:3, Psalms 128:5,6

Proverbs 28:1, Isaiah 21:4,5, Daniel 5:4-6

caught

2:28, Exodus 21:14, 38:2, Psalms 118:27

there shall

1 Samuel 14:45, 2 Samuel 14:11, Matthew 10:30, Luke 21:18, Acts 27:34

wickedness

2:21-25, Job 15:22, Proverbs 13:6, 21:12

bowed himself

16,31, 2 Samuel 1:2

Go to

2:36, 2 Samuel 14:24,28, Proverbs 24:21