1-4 Abishag cherishes David in his extreme age 5-10 Adonijah, David's darling, usurps the kingdom 11-14 By the council of Nathan 15-21 Bath-sheba moves the king 22-27 And Nathan seconds her 28-31 David renews his oath to Bath-sheba 32-40 Solomon, by David's appointment, being anointed king by Zadok and Nathan, the people triumph 41-49 Jonathan bringing the news, Adonijah's guests fly 50-53 Adonijah, flying to the horns of the altar, upon his good behaviour, is dismissed by Solomon

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. 2Sa 5:4 1Ch 23:1 29:27,28 Ps 90:10

and stricken in years [heb] and entered into days. Ge 18:11 24:1 Jos 23:1,2 Lu 1:7

2 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 get heat.

Let there be sought [heb] Let them seek
a young virgin [heb] a damsel, a virgin
stand De 10:8 1Sa 16:21,22 2Ch 29:11

cherish him [heb] be a cherisher unto him
lie Ge 16:5 De 13:6 2Sa 12:3 Mic 7:5

get heat Ec 4:11

3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

So Es 2:2,4

Abishag 1Ki 2:17-15

Shunammite Jos 19:18 1Sa 28:4 2Ki 4:8,25

4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

knew her not Mt 1:25

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.

Adonijah 2Sa 3:4 1Ch 3:2

exalted 1Ki 1:11 2:24 Ex 9:17 Pr 16:18 18:12 Lu 14:11 18:14

I will De 17:15 Jud 9:2 1Ch 22:5-11 28:5 29:1

be king [heb] reign
and he De 17:16 2Sa 15:1 Isa 2:7

6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

had not 1Sa 3:13 Pr 22:15 23:13,14 29:15 Heb 12:5,6

at any time [heb] from his days
very 1Sa 9:2 10:23 2Sa 14:25

bare him 2Sa 3:3,4 1Ch 3:2

7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

And he conferred [heb] his words were 2Sa 15:12 Ps 2:2

Joab 1Ki 2:28 2Sa 8:16 20:23

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

following Adonijah helped him [heb] helped after Adonijah 1Ki 2:22,26-35

8 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.

Zadok 1Ki 2:35 2Sa 8:17,18 20:25 1Ch 27:5,6 Eze 44:15

Nathan 2Sa 7:2-4 12:1-15

Shimei 1Ki 4:18 Zec 12:13

the mighty 2Sa 23:8-39 1Ch 11:10-47

9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:

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 2Sa 15:12 Pr 15:8

En-rogel. or, the well Rogel 2Sa 17:17

called 2Sa 13:23-27 15:11

10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

1Ki 1:8,19 2Sa 12:1

11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

Nathan 2Sa 7:12-17 12:24,25 1Ch 22:9,10 28:4,5 29:1

Adonijah 1Ki 1:5

Haggith 2Sa 3:4

12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

let me Pr 11:14 20:18 27:9 Jer 38:15

save 1Ki 1:21 Ge 19:17 Ac 27:31

the life Jud 9:5 2Ki 11:1 2Ch 21:4 22:10 Mt 21:38

13 Go and 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 me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

Assuredly 1Ki 1:11,17,30 1Ch 22:6-13

sit 1Ki 1:17,24,35,48 2:12 De 17:18 1Ch 29:23 Ps 132:11,12 Isa 9:7 Jer 33:21 Lu 1:32,33

14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

I also 1Ki 1:17-27 2Co 13:1

confirm [heb] fill up

15 And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

very old 1Ki 1:2-4

16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

bowed 1Ki 1:23 1Sa 20:41 24:8 25:23

And the 1Ki 2:20 Ex 7:2 Mt 20:21,32

What wouldest thou? [heb] What to thee?

17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

My lord Ge 18:12 1Pe 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 giver her this assurance. 1Ki 1:13,30

18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

Adonijah 1Ki 1:5,24 2Sa 15:10

thou knowest 1Ki 1:11,24,27 Ac 3:17

19 And he hath slain oxen and fat 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 hath he not called.

1Ki 1:7-10,25

20 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 lord the king after him.

the eyes 2Ch 20:12 Ps 25:15 123:2 Zec 3:9

that thou At this time the monarchy of Israel was {unsettled}; now 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. 2Sa 23:2 1Ch 22:8-10 28:5,6,10 29:1

21 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.

sleep 1Ki 2:10 Ge 15:15 De 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 1Ki 2:15,22-24

22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

Ge 24:15 Job 1:16-18 Da 9:20

23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

he bowed 1Ki 1:16 Ro 13:7 1Pe 2:17

24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

hast thou 1Ki 1:14,18

reign 1Ki 1:5,13,17

25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.

slain 1Ki 1:9,19 1Sa 11:14,15 1Ch 29:21-13

God save king Adonijah [heb] let king Adonijah live 1Ki 1:34 1Sa 10:24 2Sa 16:16 2Ki 11:12 2Ch 23:11 Mt 21:9 Mr 11:9 11:10 Lu 19:38

26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

1Ki 1:8,19 2Sa 7:2,12-17 12:25

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

and thou 1Ki 1:24 2Ki 4:27 Joh 15:15

28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

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

29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,

As the 1Ki 2:24 17:1 18:10 Jud 8:19 1Sa 14:39,45 19:6 20:21 2Sa 12:5 2Ki 4:30 5:16,20

hath Ge 48:16 2Sa 4:9 Ps 34:19-22 72:14 136:24 138:7

30 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 I certainly do this day.

Even as I sware 1Ki 1:13,17

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

did reverence 2Sa 9:6 Es 3:2 Mt 21:37 Eph 5:33 Heb 12:9

Let my 1Ki 1:25 Ne 2:3 Da 2:4 3:9 5:10 6:6,21

32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

Zadok 1Ki 1:8,26,38

33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

take 2Sa 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 1Ki 1:5,33,44 Ge 41:43 Es 6:6-11

mine own mule [heb] the mule which {belongeth} to me Le 19:19

Gihon 1Ki 1:38,45 2Ch 32:30

34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

Zadok 1Ki 19:16 1Sa 10:1 16:3,12,13 2Sa 2:4 5:3 2Ki 9:3,6 11:12 2Ch 23:11 Ps 45:7 89:20,36 Isa 45:1 Ac 10:38 2Co 1:21,22

blow ye 2Sa 15:10 2Ki 9:13 11:14 Ps 98:5-7

God 1Ki 1:25 2Ki 11:12

35 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 over Judah.

sit 1Ki 1:13,17 2:12

I have 1Ki 2:15 1Ch 23:1 28:4,5 Ps 2:6 72:1,2

36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.

Amen De 27:15-26 Ps 72:19 Jer 11:5 28:6 Mt 6:13 28:20 1Co 14:16

the Lord 1Sa 25:29 1Ch 17:27 Ps 18:2 63:1 89:20,26

37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

As the 1Ki 3:7-9 Ex 3:12 Jos 1:5,17 1Sa 20:13 1Ch 28:20 2Ch 1:1 Ps 46:7 46:11 Isa 8:10 Mt 1:23 Ro 8:31

and make 1Ki 1:47 2Sa 24:3 2Ki 2:9 Ps 72:8,17-19 89:27 Da 7:14

38 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 upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

Zadok 1Ki 1:8,26

the Cherethites 1Sa 30:14 2Sa 8:18 15:18 20:20-23 1Ch 18:17 Zep 2:5

king David's 1Ki 1:33

39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

an horn 1Sa 16:13

out Ex 30:23-33 Ps 89:20

anointed 1Ch 29:22

all the people 1Ki 1:25 1Sa 10:24 2Ki 11:12 2Ch 23:11,13

40 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.

pipes. or, flutes Da 3:5

rejoiced 1Sa 11:15 2Ki 11:14,20 1Ch 12:38-40 Ps 97:1 Zec 9:9 Lu 19:37 Re 11:15-18

the earth rent We use a similar expression in precisely the same sense: `They {rent the air} with their cries.'

41 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, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

as they Job 20:5 Pr 14:13 Ec 7:4-6 Mt 24:38,39 Lu 17:26-29

Wherefore Ex 32:17 Job 15:21,22 Ps 73:18-20

the city Mt 21:9-11,15 Ac 21:31

42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.

Jonathan 2Sa 15:36 17:17

a valiant 1Ki 22:18 2Sa 18:27 2Ki 9:22 Isa 57:21 1Th 5:2,3

43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

verily 1Ki 1:32-40

44 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 Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:

no ref

45 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 that ye have heard.

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, and 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 base about 250 paces long and 100 broad. it is commonly called the pool of Bathsheba, but seem 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 1Ki 1:40 1Sa 4:5 Ezr 3:13

This is 1Ki 14:6 Da 5:26-28

46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

1ki 1:13 1ch 29:23 ps 132:11 hag 2:22

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 greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.

bless Ex 12:32 2Sa 8:10 21:3 Ezr 6:10 Ps 20:1-4

God 1Ki 1:37 Lu 19:38

bowed Ge 47:31 Heb 11:21

48 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.

Blessed Ge 14:20 1Ch 29:10,20 Ne 9:5 Ps 34:1 41:13 72:17-19 103:1,2 145:2 Da 4:34 Lu 1:46,47,68,69 Eph 1:3 1Pe 1:3

which 1Ki 3:6 1Ch 17:11-14,17 Ps 132:11,12 Pr 17:6

mine eyes 2Sa 24:3 Ps 128:5,6

49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

Pr 28:1 Isa 21:4,5 Da 5:4-6

50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

caught 1Ki 2:28 Ex 21:14 38:2 Ps 118:27

51 And it was told Solomon, 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 today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

52 And Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

there shall 1Sa 14:45 2Sa 14:11 Mt 10:30 Lu 21:18 Ac 27:34

wickedness 1Ki 2:21-25 Job 15:22 Pr 13:6 21:12

53 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.

bowed himself 1Ki 1:16,31 2Sa 1:2

Go to 1Ki 2:36 2Sa 14:24,28 Pr 24:21