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1 Kings Chapter
Two
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 2
This
chapter gives an account of the charge David gave to his son Solomon, a little
before his death, to walk in the ways of the Lord, 1 Kings 2:1; and of
some instructions delivered to him concerning some particular persons he should
either show favour to, or execute justice on, 1 Kings 2:5; and
the next account in it is concerning his death and burial, and the years of his
reign, 1 Kings 2:10; after
which it relates an address of Bathsheba to Solomon in favour of Adonijah,
which was refused, and the issue of it was his death, 1 Kings 2:12; and
the deposition of Abiathar from the priesthood, 1 Kings 2:26; and
the putting of Joab to death for his treason and murders, 1 Kings 2:28; in
whose post Benaiah was put, as Zadok was in the place of Abiathar, 1 Kings 2:35; and
lastly the confinement of Shimei in Jerusalem, who had cursed David, 1 Kings 2:36; who
upon transgressing the orders given him was put to death, 1 Kings 2:39.
1 Kings 2:1 Now
the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son,
saying:
YLT
1And draw near do the days
of David to die, and he chargeth Solomon his son, saying,
Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die,.... The
number of his days fixed and determined by the Lord, Job 14:5; and which
might be perceived as drawing nigh, both by himself and others, through the
growing infirmities of old age, decline of nature, and various symptoms of an
approaching dissolution which were upon him; see Genesis 47:29.
Abarbinel observes, that he is called only David, not King David; because
Solomon his son was now anointed king, and reigned in his stead; so in 1 Kings 1:10; but
there is another reason given by some JewsF14Bereshit Rabba, sect.
96. fol. 83. 3. , that no man, even a king, has power in the day of death; he
is no king then, he has no rule over that, but that rules over him:
and he charged Solomon his son; gave him his last and
dying charge:
saying; as follows.
1 Kings 2:2 2 “I go the way of all the
earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.
YLT
2`I am going in the way of
all the earth, and thou hast been strong, and become a man,
I go the way of all the earth,.... A path which is the
path of deathF15"------ omnes una manet nox, Et calcanda semel
via lethi". Horat. Carmin. l. 1. ode 28. ver. 15, 16. , which all pass in,
kings and peasants, high and low, rich and poor, great and small, good and bad;
none are exempted, all must die, and do; it is the appointment of God, a decree
which can never be reversed; all experience confirms it: this same phrase is
used by Joshua, from whom David seems to have borrowed it, and shows that that
book was written in his days, Joshua 23:14;
be thou strong therefore; not discouraged at my
death, being a common thing, and to be expected; nor at being left alone, the
Lord can give thee wisdom and counsel, assistance and strength, protection, and
defence; take heart therefore, and be of good courage:
and show thyself a man; in wisdom and
understanding, and in fortitude of mind, though so young a man; which were
necessary for the government of so great a people, and to guard against the
secret intrigues of some, and the open flatteries of others, and the fear of
attempts against his person and government, and the temptations he might be
liable to, to do wrong things; and especially they were necessary to enable him
to keep the commands of God, as follows; which required great strength of mind
and of grace, considering the corruptions of nature, the temptations of Satan,
and the snares of men; see Joshua 1:7.
1 Kings 2:3 3 And keep the charge of the
Lord your God: to
walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and
His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in
all that you do and wherever you turn;
YLT
3and kept the charge of
Jehovah thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commands, and
His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so
that thou dost wisely all that thou dost, and whithersoever thou turnest,
And keep the charge of the Lord thy God,.... Which may
in general respect his whole walk and conversation, and his obedience to the
law and will of God; and in particular his just government of Israel committed
to his charge:
to walk in his ways; directed to in his word:
to keep his statutes and his judgments; his laws,
ceremonial, moral, and judicial:
and his testimonies; as the above laws, which
testify of his mind, and declare what he would have done and observed:
as it is written in the law of Moses; which a king
of Israel was obliged to write a copy of, keep by him, and read it, and rule
according to it, Deuteronomy 17:18,
that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever
thou turnest thyself; to reign in righteousness, and according to the law of God, is
the only way to have a prosperous and happy reign: or "that thou mayest
act wisely"F16למען תשכיל "ut prudenter agas", Montanus, Tigurine
version; "ut intelligas universa", V. L. ; the law of God furnishing
out the best rules of government and maxims of policy; see Deuteronomy 4:6.
1 Kings 2:4 4 that the Lord may fulfill
His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their
way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’
He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
YLT
4so that Jehovah doth
establish His word which He spake unto me, saying, If thy sons observe their
way to walk before Me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul;
saying, There is not cut off a man of thine from the throne of Israel.
That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me,.... his word
of promise concerning the kingdom of David, and the succession of it, and
confirm and establish it:
saying, if thy children take heed to their way; they are
directed to walk in, even the way of the Lord, and not turn to the right hand
or the left:
to walk before me in truth: in the sincerity and
integrity of their hearts, according to the word of truth, and under the
influence of the spirit of truth:
with all their heart, and with all their soul; in the most
cordial manner, with the strongest affection and zeal; with all eagerness and
earnestness; with their whole hearts engaged in every duty performed by them:
then the Lord said,
there shall not fail thee a man on the throne of Israel; one to
succeed him in the throne; this, with respect to his throne, literally
considered, was conditional; but, spiritually considered, was absolute, and had
its fulfilment in the Messiah, whose throne is for ever; see Luke 1:32.
1 Kings 2:5 5 “Moreover you know also
what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two
commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son
of Jether, whom he killed. And he shed the blood of war in peacetime, and put
the blood of war on his belt that was around his waist, and on his
sandals that were on his feet.
YLT
5`And also, thou hast known
that which he did to me -- Joab son of Zeruiah -- that which he did to two
heads of the hosts of Israel, to Abner son of Ner, and to Amasa son of Jether
-- that he slayeth them, and maketh the blood of war in peace, and putteth the
blood of war in his girdle, that [is] on his loins, and in his sandals that
[are] on his feet;
Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto
me,.... In slaying Absalom, contrary to his orders, and in behaving
insolently towards him on account of his mourning for him, and at other times;
but as these things might not be personally known to Solomon, only by hearsay,
this may respect his disloyalty towards him, in joining with Adonijah, who set
himself up for king in his lifetime, and without his knowledge and consent; or
it may respect the instances next mentioned, in which he did injury to the
interest, honour, and character of David:
and, or "even",
what he did to the two captains of the host of Israel, unto Abner
the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew; to Abner who
was under Ishbosheth, and Amasa under David, who had not only the promise of the
post, but was actually in it when Joab slew him; and indeed out of envy to him
for it:
and shed the blood of war in peace; when they were at peace
with him, as if they had been in open war; and even under a pretence of
friendship to them, asking of their peace and welfare, as if he meant nothing
less than to behave peaceably towards them; hence the Targum is,
"whom
he slew in craftiness:'
and put the blood of war upon the girdle that was about his
loins,
and in his shoes that were in his feet; which particularly
respects the affair of Amasa, whose blood he shed with his sword, that dropped
out of its scabbard, girded upon his loins, and into which he put it again, all
over bloody, and wore it girded upon his loins; and which he also stooped for
when it fell, as if he was going to unloose or buckle his shoes, and into which
the blood ran down when he stabbed him; and after this barbarous action marched
on without any shame or remorse, with his bloody sword on his loins, and the
blood of the murdered in his shoes.
1 Kings 2:6 6 Therefore do according to
your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.
YLT
6and thou hast done
according to thy wisdom, and dost not let his old age go down in peace to
Sheol.
Do therefore according to thy wisdom,.... Which
though young began to appear in him, even in the life of his father; he
therefore exhorts him to use the wisdom he had, and take the first and fittest
opportunity to cut him off for his former murders and late treason, as a dangerous
man to his government and the peace of it:
and let not his hoary head go down to the grave in peace; that is, let
him not die a natural, but a violent death; and let not his grey hairs be any
argument for sparing him, or any reason for delaying the taking of him off,
because he would in course die quickly; for he must be now an old man, as old
as David, or perhaps older; since he had been his general forty years, even all
the time of his reign; see 2 Samuel 2:13.
1 Kings 2:7 7 “But show kindness to the
sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your
table, for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.
YLT
7`And to the sons of
Barzillai the Gileadite thou dost do kindness, and they have been among those
eating at thy table, for so they drew near unto me in my fleeing from the face
of Absalom thy brother.
But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite,.... Who
perhaps was now dead, and therefore he would have kindness shown to his
posterity for his sake:
and let them be of those that eat of thy table; as
Mephibosheth had at his, who also perhaps was dead, since no notice is taken of
him; and as David would have had Barzillai, but he desired to be excused on
account of his age:
for so they came to me, when I fled because of thy brother,
Absalom; that is, they came to him, not only Barzillai, but his sons it
seems; and fed him or furnished him with provisions, when he was obliged to fly
to the other side Jordan, because of the rebellion of his son Absalom.
1 Kings 2:8 8 “And see, you have
with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a
malicious curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me
at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put
you to death with the sword.’
YLT
8`And lo, with thee [is]
Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, and he reviled me -- a grievous
reviling -- in the day of my going to Mahanaim; and he hath come down to meet
me at the Jordan, and I swear to him by Jehovah, saying, I do not put thee to
death by the sword;
And behold thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a
Benjamite of Bahurim,.... Of whom, and of his native place; see Gill on 2 Samuel 16:5; he
was now at Jerusalem, and so with Solomon, or near at hand; and was on his
side, and of his party; see 1 Kings 1:8; but
not to be trusted, or looked upon as a real friend:
which cursed me with a grievous curse, when I went to Mahanaim; a place on the
other side Jordan, of which place, and the curses this man cursed David, with,
see 2 Samuel 16:7;
but he came down to me at Jordan; after the defeat of Absalom,
and when David was returning, and humbled himself to him, and begged his
pardon:
and I sware unto him by the Lord, saying, I will not put thee to
death with the sword; but this oath was not binding upon his successor, and especially
should he commit a new crime.
1 Kings 2:9 9 Now therefore, do not hold
him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to
him; but bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood.”
YLT
9and now, acquit him not,
for a wise man thou [art], and thou hast known that which thou dost to him, and
hast brought down his old age with blood to Sheol.'
Now therefore hold him not guiltless,.... Do not
look upon him as an innocent person; and if he commits an offence against thee,
as he has against me, do not acquit him as I have done:
for thou art a wise man; so it seems he was
before the appearance of the Lord to him at Gibeon, even before his father's
death he had given some proofs of it to David himself:
and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; to watch and
observe him, and, if found offending, to punish him according to the rules of
justice, and the laws of the land:
but his hoary head bring thou down to the grave with blood; spare him not
on account of his age, but put him to death whensoever he shall be found
guilty, let him not die a natural death.
1 Kings 2:10 10 So David rested with his
fathers, and was buried in the City of David.
YLT
10And David lieth down with
his fathers, and is buried in the city of David,
So David slept with his fathers,.... Died as his
ancestors before him did; for, buried with them he was not; and therefore
cannot be understood of his lying with them in the grave, but in the state of
the dead; he died according as the Jews sayF17T. Hieros. Chagigah,
fol. 78. 1. on the day of Pentecost, and according to Bishop UsherF18Anuals,
&c. p. 56. A. M. 2990, and before Christ 1014;
and was buried in the city of David; not at Bethlehem, in the
sepulchre of Jesse, who was a private man; but being a king, in his own city,
the hold of Zion he took from the Jebusite, and which afterwards was called by
his name, 2 Samuel 5:7; and
his sepulchre remained unto the times of the apostles, upwards of a thousand
years; see Gill on Acts 2:29.
1 Kings 2:11 11 The period that David
reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years he reigned in Hebron,
and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.
YLT
11and the days that David
hath reigned over Israel [are] forty years, in Hebron he hath reigned seven
years, and in Jerusalem he hath reigned thirty and three years.
And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty
years,.... So says EupolemusF19Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel.
l. 9. c. 30. , an Heathen writer, which are thus reckoned:
seven years reigned he in Hebron; the six months over are
omitted, 2 Samuel 5:5; this
part of his reign was over Judah only:
and thirty three years reigned he in Jerusalem; over the
twelve tribes, in all forty, which round number is only given; though in fact
he reigned six months more.
1 Kings 2:12 12 Then Solomon sat on the
throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.
YLT
12And Solomon hath sat on the
throne of David his father, and his kingdom is established greatly,
Then sat Solomon on the throne of David his father,.... So he did
in his lifetime, with his consent, and by his order, and now by the agreement
of the whole people:
and his kingdom was established greatly; all
submitting to it, and none opposing it.
1 Kings 2:13 13 Now Adonijah the son of
Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, “Do you come
peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably.”
YLT
13and Adonijah son of Haggith
cometh in unto Bath-Sheba, mother of Solomon, and she saith, `Is thy coming
peace?' and he saith, `Peace.'
And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, the mother of
Solomon,.... Into her apartment; Abarbinel thinks it was a few days after
the death of David:
and she said, comest thou peaceably? in a friendly manner,
with no ill design, only to pay a friendly visit; for she might fear he came to
avenge himself on her, and destroy her, because she had been the instrument of
disappointing him of the kingdom, and of getting her son Solomon set upon the
throne, and established in it; and therefore could not tell what envy, rage,
and disappointment, might prompt him to:
and he said, peaceably; he meant no harm unto
her.
1 Kings 2:14 14 Moreover he said, “I have
something to say to you.” And she said, “Say it.”
YLT
14And he saith, `I have a
word unto thee,' and she saith, `Speak.'
He said, moreover, I have something to say unto thee,....
Signifying that he came upon business:
and she said, say on; intimating her readiness
to hear what it was.
1 Kings 2:15 15 Then he said, “You know
that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me,
that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become
my brother’s; for it was his from the Lord.
YLT
15And he saith, `Thou hast
known that the kingdom was mine, and towards me set their faces had all Israel
for reigning, and the kingdom is turned round about, and is my brother's, for
from Jehovah it was his;
And he said, thou knowest that the kingdom was mine,.... Belonged
to him by virtue of his birthright; he was heir to it, being the eldest son:
and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should
reign; which was not true; for, as Bathsheba says, the body of the
people were in suspense, their eyes being on David, waiting to hear whom he
would declare his successor; and when Solomon was declared and anointed, vast
numbers attended him; unless Adonijah thought that the high priest, and general
of the army, with the captains, represented the whole people; however this he
observes by way of preface, to show how unhappy he was, being disappointed, and
to move the compassion of Bathsheba, that she might be the more easily
prevailed upon to seek to obtain so small a favour as he was about to ask:
howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's; things had
taken another turn, and what was his, and he thought himself sure of the other
day, was now become his brother's; such were the uncertainty and vicissitude of
human affairs:
for it was his from the Lord; by the appointment of
the Lord, by a promise of his, and a prophecy concerning it; which if he knew
of, it was both vain and sinful in him to act contrary thereunto; or it was
brought about by the overruling providence of God, which he now plainly saw and
submitted to; this he said to show that he had laid aside all hopes of the
kingdom, and was fully satisfied of the disposition of it in Providence, and so
to hide his real design in the petition he was about to make.
1 Kings 2:16 16 Now I ask one petition of
you; do not deny me.” And she said to him, “Say it.”
YLT
16and now, one petition I am
asking of thee -- turn not back my face;' and she saith unto him, `Speak.'
And now I ask one petition of thee,.... And but one, and a
small one too, as Bathsheba herself after calls it:
deny me not, or "turn not away my face"F20תשיבי את פני
"ne avertere facias faciem meam", Pagninus. ; with shame and sorrow,
which would be the case should he be denied:
and she said unto him, say on; let me hear it.
1 Kings 2:17 17 Then he said, “Please
speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag
the Shunammite as wife.”
YLT
17And he saith, `Speak, I
pray thee, to Solomon the king, for he doth not turn back thy face, and he doth
give to me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife.'
And he said, speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king,.... He owns
him to be king, and which he the rather did to engage her to take his suit in
hand, and to cover his design:
for he will not say thee nay; or turn away thy face,
or deny thy request; she being his mother, for whom he had a great affection,
and to whom he was under obligation on all accounts:
that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife; which was
contrary to the law of God, Leviticus 18:8;
which surely Adonijah must have been ignorant of, and Bathsheba likewise; or
the one would never have made such a request, nor the other have undertaken to
try to obtain it; but perhaps they did not take her to be David's wife, or the
marriage to be consummated, because he knew her not: but yet not being returned
to her father's house, and being at the dispose of Solomon, prove that she must
be a concubine wife, and which became the property of the next heir and
successor; see 2 Samuel 12:8; nor
did Adonijah apply to her or her friends; which, if he was really in love with
her, he would have done, if at her own or their disposal; but this he knew,
that she was solely at the disposal of Solomon, to whom he did not care to
apply himself, but makes use of his mother.
1 Kings 2:18 18 So Bathsheba said, “Very
well, I will speak for you to the king.”
YLT
18And Bath-Sheba saith,
`Good; I do speak for thee unto the king.'
And Bathsheba said, well,.... Very well spoken,
the thing is good and right:
I will speak for thee unto the king; and use her interest
with him, not seeing into his design, but pitying an unfortunate man.
1 Kings 2:19 19 Bathsheba therefore went
to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her
and bowed down to her, and sat down on his throne and had a throne set for the
king’s mother; so she sat at his right hand.
YLT
19And Bath-Sheba cometh in
unto king Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, and the king riseth to meet
her, and boweth himself to her, and sitteth on his throne, and placeth a throne
for the mother of the king, and she sitteth at his right hand.
Bathsheba therefore went unto King Solomon, to speak unto him for
Adonijah,.... She went from her own house to the palace; for she might not
live at court; or however had an apartment to herself, from whence she went to
the king with her suit in favour of Adonijah:
and the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her; upon her
entrance into the presence chamber, in honour to her as a parent, he rose up
from his throne, and made his obeisance to her, as a dutiful son:
and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the
king's mother; a magnificent seat or throne, as the word is, was ordered to be
set for her:
and she sat on his right hand; where he placed her in
honour to her as his mother; so NeroF1Suetonius in Vit. Neron. c.
13. placed Tiridates king of Armenia at his right hand, to do him honour.
1 Kings 2:20 20 Then she said, “I desire
one small petition of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask
it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”
YLT
20And she saith, `One small
petition I ask of thee, turn not back my face;' and the king saith to her,
`Ask, my mother, for I do not turn back thy face.'
Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee,.... It was
but one, and a little one, and therefore she hoped it would be granted:
I pray thee, say me not
nay; do not refuse it, or deny it me, or turn away my thee with shame
and disappointment:
and the king said, ask on, my mother, for I will not say thee nay; since it is a
small one, as thou sayest, and provided it is fit and lawful to be granted.
1 Kings 2:21 21 So she said, “Let Abishag
the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”
YLT
21And she saith, `Let Abishag
the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother for a wife.'
And she said, let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy
brother to wife. For so Adonijah was by his father's side; and Bathsheba makes use
of the relation, the more to move upon him to grant the request.
1 Kings 2:22 22 And King Solomon answered
and said to his mother, “Now why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for
Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also—for he is my older brother—for
him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.”
YLT
22And king Solomon answereth
and saith to his mother, `And why art thou asking Abishag the Shunammite for
Adonijah? also ask for him the kingdom -- for he [is] mine elder brother --
even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah.'
And King Solomon answered and said unto his mother,.... With as
much gentleness and mildness as he could, but inwardly fired at her request,
and amazed at it, and could not forbear using some degree of tartness and
resentment:
and why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? is this a
small petition? is this a fit and lawful one?
ask for him the kingdom also; for this is what he
means by it, that by marrying the king's widow he may step into the throne
whenever any opportunity offers, as any uneasiness, or insurrection in the
kingdom, or the death of Solomon; for none but a king, the Jews sayF2Misn.
Sanhedrin, c. 2. sect. 2. , might marry a king's widow, not any private man;
and therefore for Adonijah to ask this was interpreted affecting the kingdom,
and aspiring to it, and taking his measures to obtain it; yea, it is saidF3Maimon.
Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 2. sect. 1. , that none but another king, the successor,
might make use of his servants, handmaids, and ministers; and it is observed,
that Abishag was free to Solomon, but not to Adonijah:
for he is mine elder brother; and has that to plead in
his favour, and if he could obtain this, it would strengthen his title, or at
least be a plausible pretence, which he might make use of, when opportunity
served, to gain the people to his interest:
even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of
Zeruiah; she might as well ask for them as for him; whose interest it
was, and therefore desirous it might be that he should be king, that so the one
might be continued in the office of high priest, and the other as general of
the army; who, Solomon knew, bore him no good will, but were secretly his
enemies; and he suspected that this was a scheme of theirs, and that it was by
their advice Adonijah made this request; so the Targum,
"are
not he, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, in the counsel?'
in
this counsel; it is what they had consulted among themselves as a preparation
to bring about a design they are contriving; probably Solomon had private
notice that they were plotting against him, and this confirmed him in the truth
of it; and therefore all of them were upon this punished with deprivation of
office, or loss of life.
1 Kings 2:23 23 Then King Solomon swore by
the Lord,
saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this
word against his own life!
YLT
23And king Solomon sweareth
by Jehovah, saying, `Thus doth God to me, and thus He doth add -- surely
against his soul hath Adonijah spoken this word;
Then King Solomon sware by the Lord,.... To prevent his mother
pressing him to have her petition granted:
saying, God do so to me, and more also; lay such and
such evils upon me, and more than I care to express:
if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life; to his own
prejudice, and even to the loss of his life; in which Solomon suggests it would
issue, being a fresh overt act of treason; he knew, from what Bathsheba said,
that this was his petition, and that he had spoken of this to her, and put her
upon making it for him; and who no doubt related to Solomon the whole of the
conversation that passed between them, and to which he seems to have some
respect in his answer.
1 Kings 2:24 24 Now therefore, as
the Lord
lives, who has confirmed me and set me on the throne of David my father, and
who has established a house[a] for me, as
He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!”
YLT
24and now, Jehovah liveth,
who hath established me, and causeth me to sit on the throne of David my
father, and who hath made for me an house as He spake -- surely to-day is
Adonijah put to death.'
Now therefore, as the Lord liveth,.... Which is another
oath; and one may easily perceive hereby in what a temper and disposition
Solomon was, how warm, earnest, and vehement, how resolute against the
petition, and how determined he was to punish Adonijah and his confederates:
which hath established me, and set me upon the throne of David my
father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised; who had
placed him on his father's throne, and established him there, in spite of all
his enemies, and had given him a firm and stable kingdom, which was not to be
shaken and subverted by the power and policy of conspirators, according to the
promise of God by Nathan, 2 Samuel 7:11;
Adonijah shall be put to death this day; both for his
former conspiracy, he only having had a reprieve, and which was to continue on
his good behaviour, 1 Kings 1:51, and
for his fresh attempt in forming treasonable schemes to ascend the throne if
possible; wherefore, being a dangerous man, and no longer to be trusted,
Solomon was determined to dispatch him at once, and being established in his
kingdom, he had nothing to fear from those in the conspiracy with him.
1 Kings 2:25 25 So King Solomon sent by
the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he died.
YLT
25And king Solomon sendeth by
the hand of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he falleth upon him, and he dieth.
And King Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,.... Orders to
execute him, and proper persons to do it; perhaps some of the Cherethites and
Pelethites under him, to assist at least in it:
and he fell upon him, that he died; Benaiah rushed in upon
him with his men, and thrust his sword into him, and killed him; executions
used to be done in those times and countries by great personages, as the
instances of Gideon, Doeg, and others, show, and not by common executioners.
1 Kings 2:26 26 And to Abiathar the priest
the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are
deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you
carried the ark of the Lord God before my father David, and because you were
afflicted every time my father was afflicted.”
YLT
26And to Abiathar the priest
said the king, `To Anathoth go, unto thy fields; for a man of death thou [art],
but in this day I do not put thee to death, because thou hast borne the ark of
the Lord Jehovah before David my father, and because thou wast afflicted in all
that my father was afflicted in.'
And unto Abiathar the priest said the king,.... Who was
either at court, or he sent for him, and thus addressed him:
get thee to Anathoth; a city of the tribe of
Benjamin, given to the priests, Joshua 21:18; of
which place Abiathar might be originally, and whither he is bid to return:
unto thine own fields; which belonged to him
there, either by inheritance or purchase; and these he was to mind, and not
perform the functions of his office, however as high priest, and at Jerusalem,
and the tabernacle there, and still less appear at court, or meddle with state
affairs, only to attend to his private domestic concerns:
for thou art worthy of death; in joining with Adonijah
in the lifetime of David, and setting him up as a king without his knowledge,
and in opposition to Solomon, contrary to the will of God, and promise of
David, of which he, being high priest, cannot be thought to be ignorant, and
for his late confederacy with Adonijah, of which Solomon had knowledge:
but I will not at this time put thee to death; he does not
give him a full pardon, only a respite; suggesting, that should he be guilty of
any overt act, he would be put to death another time, though not now:
because thou barest the ark of the Lord God before David my father; when he fled
from Absalom, 2 Samuel 15:24;
and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was
afflicted; shared with him in all his afflictions under the persecutions of
Saul, from the time he slew the priests at Nob, and at the rebellion of
Absalom; in each of which he accompanied him, and suffered and sympathized with
him.
1 Kings 2:27 27 So Solomon removed
Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, that he might fulfill
the word of the Lord
which He spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh.
YLT
27And Solomon casteth out
Abiathar from being priest to Jehovah, to fulfil the word of Jehovah which He
spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the Lord,.... He
deposed him from his office of high priest, otherwise I suppose he might
officiate as a common priest, at least in some of the branches of it; this was
done by his own authority as a king, and not as a prophet, as Bellarmine vainly
distinguishes; and not by the authority of the college of the, priests, at the
instance of Solomon, as Fortunatus Schacchus saysF4Elaeochrism.
Myrothec. l. 3. c. 50. col. 1069. for which there is no foundation:
that he might fulfil the word of the Lord; which he
might do intentionally, having knowledge of it, or however eventually:
which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh; of which
house Abiathar was, and which, according to that prophecy, was to be
demolished, and the priesthood translated from it, which was in the line of
lthamar, to another house, in the line of Eleazar; the word of the Lord,
referred to, is in 1 Samuel 2:31.
1 Kings 2:28 28 Then news came to Joab,
for Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So
Joab fled to the tabernacle of the Lord, and took hold of the
horns of the altar.
YLT
28And the report hath come
unto Joab -- for Joab hath turned aside after Adonijah, though after Absalom he
did not turn aside -- and Joab fleeth unto the tent of Jehovah, and layeth hold
on the horns of the altar.
Then tidings came to Joab,.... Of the death of
Adonijah, and the deposition of Abiathar:
for Joab had turned after Adonijah; publicly appeared at his
feast, when he was saluted king by him, and others, and privately gave him
advice in the affair of Abishag:
though he turned not after Absalom; did not join with him in
his rebellion, but faithfully adhered to David; and yet both in his lifetime,
and after his death, acted the traitorous part in favour of Adonijah: Ben
Gersom gives these words a different sense, as if he was blameworthy in both
cases; that he turned after Adonijah to make him king, without consulting
David, and having his consent; and he did not turn after Absalom, to deliver him
from death, as David commanded him; but the former sense is best:
and Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord; which was at
Gibeon, see 2 Chronicles 1:3;
it was four miles from Jerusalem to the north, situated on an hillF5Bunting's
Travels, &c. p. 98. ; according to JosephusF6Antiqu. l. 7. c.
11. sect. 7. , it was forty furlongs, or five miles, from it; though Kimchi
thinks it was the altar in Jerusalem he fled to, which was before the ark, in
the tent David made for it; but that is never called the tabernacle of the
Lord, only that of Moses: Joab's fleeing hither showed guilt, and that he was
in the conspiracy of Adonijah, and was conscious he deserved to die, and now
expected it, since Adonijah was put to death; while he remained reprieved or
pardoned, he thought himself safe, but now in danger, and therefore fled for
it:
and caught hold of the horns of the altar; See Gill on 1 Kings 1:50.
1 Kings 2:29 29 And King Solomon was told,
“Joab has fled to the tabernacle of the Lord; there he is, by
the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike
him down.”
YLT
29And it is declared to king
Solomon that Joab hath fled unto the tent of Jehovah, and lo, near the altar;
and Solomon sendeth Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, `Go, fall upon him.'
And it was told King Solomon that Joab was fled unto the
tabernacle of the Lord,.... This account was brought him very probably by some of his
courtiers:
and, behold, he is by the altar; to which he
betook himself for refuge, laying hold on the horns of it:
then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, go, fall
upon him; slay him; JosephusF7Antiqu. l. 8. c. 1. sect. 4.
says, the orders were to cut off his head; but perhaps it might be only to lay
hold on him, and take him thence, and bring him to Solomon to have judgment
passed upon him; for the Targum is,
"exercise
your power over him,'
take
him into custody; and certain it is that the first orders were not to slay him,
at least upon the spot where he was.
1 Kings 2:30 30 So Benaiah went to the
tabernacle of the Lord,
and said to him, “Thus says the king, ‘Come out!’” And he said, “No, but I will
die here.” And Benaiah brought back word to the king, saying, “Thus said Joab,
and thus he answered me.”
YLT
30And Benaiah cometh in unto
the tent of Jehovah, and saith unto him, `Thus said the king, Come out;' and he
saith, `Nay, but here I die.' And Benaiah bringeth back the king word, saying,
`Thus spake Joab, yea, thus he answered me.'
And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the Lord,.... At
Gibeon:
and said unto him; that is, to Joab:
thus saith the king, come forth; meaning, out of the
tabernacle; which plainly shows that his orders were not to slay him in it:
and he said, nay, but I will die here; since he must
die, he chose to die there; but what was his reason for it is not so clear; the
Jews, some of them, say, to save his goods, and that they might come to his
heirs, which would have been forfeited to the crown if he had been tried and
condemned in a court of judicature; others, that he might be buried with his
ancestors, whereas, had he been sentenced to death by the court, he would have
been buried in the common place of malefactors; but rather he thought, or at
least hoped, he should not die at all; either that, by gaining time, Solomon
might be prevailed upon to pardon him; or however that he would not defile that
sacred place with his blood; or, if he should die, he chose to die there, as
being a sacred place, and so might hope to receive some benefit from it, as to
his future state, where sacrifices were offered to atone for sin:
and Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, thus said Joab,
and thus he answered me; told me he would not come out, and, if he must die, he would die
there.
1 Kings 2:31 31 Then the king said to him,
“Do as he has said, and strike him down and bury him, that you may take away
from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed.
YLT
31And the king saith to him,
`Do as he hath spoken, and fall upon him, and thou hast buried him, and turned
aside the causeless blood which Joab shed, from off me, and from off the house
of my father;
And the king said unto him, do as he hath said, and fall upon him,
and bury him,.... Let him die where he is, slay him upon the spot, and then
bury him; not by the altar, but in his own sepulchre, as later related, that
in, give orders to bury him there; for Benaiah being a priest, could not be
concerned in the burial of him, and besides it was below the dignity of his
office:
(, 1 Chronicles 27:2
where Gill advances resaons for Benaiah not being a priest. Editor.)
that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed,
from me, and from the house of my father; which had been too long
connived at, and had called for vengeance; and now here was a proper
opportunity upon fresh sins committed to avenge it, and so remove the guilt,
which lay upon him and his father's house, for not inflicting deserved
punishment on him for it.
1 Kings 2:32 32 So the Lord will return
his blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better
than he, and killed them with the sword—Abner the son of Ner, the commander of
the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of
Judah—though my father David did not know it.
YLT
32and Jehovah hath turned
back his blood on his own head, who hath fallen on two men more righteous and
better than he, and slayeth them with the sword, -- and my father David knew
not -- Abner son of Ner, head of the host of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether,
head of the host of Judah;
And the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head,.... By way of
retaliation, blood for blood:
who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he; later named;
for though they had been in open rebellion against David, yet had submitted,
and were reconciled and received into favour; and even their open crimes were
not so bad, Solomon judged, as his secret treacherous murders of innocent
persons in cool blood; they were men of more honour and integrity than he was,
not so cruel and barbarous, though guilty in other respects:
and slew them with the sword, my father not knowing thereof; this is
observed to remove all suspicion, and which doubtless had been entertained by
some, that David had an hand in their death; and that Joab did what he did with
his knowledge and consent, and by his advice and order; they having been both
concerned in rebellion against him, the one under Ishbosheth, and the other
under Absalom:
to wit, Abner the son
of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of
the host of Judah: the reason of the two hosts, of which they were captains or
generals, being thus distinguished, is, because the tribes of Israel were on
the side of Ishbosheth, whose general Abner was, in opposition to Judah, who
made David their king; and, on the other hand, they were the men of Judah that
were first and chiefly in the rebellion of Absalom, whose general Amasa was; of
the murder of these two men by Joab, see 2 Samuel 3:27.
1 Kings 2:33 33 Their blood shall
therefore return upon the head of Joab and upon the head of his descendants
forever. But upon David and his descendants, upon his house and his throne,
there shall be peace forever from the Lord.”
YLT
33yea, turned back hath their
blood on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed to the age; and for
David, and for his seed, and for his house, and for his throne, there is peace
unto the age, from Jehovah.'
Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon
the head of his seed for ever,.... Not only upon Joab, but upon his
posterity as long as there would be any; signifying, that Joab's death would
not be a sufficient satisfaction, but the punishment of his murders would be
continued to his offspring: see 2 Samuel 3:29;
but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon
his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the Lord; such traitors
and murderers being removed, peace and happiness might be expected and believed
would attend the family and kingdom of David; whether this be considered as a
prayer, or a prophecy, it can and will have its full accomplishment only in the
kingdom of the Messiah the son of David, of the increase of whose government,
and the peace thereof, there shall be no end, Isaiah 9:7.
1 Kings 2:34 34 So Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada went up and struck and killed him; and he was buried in his own house
in the wilderness.
YLT
34And Benaiah son of Jehoiada
goeth up and falleth upon him, and putteth him to death, and he is buried in
his own house in the wilderness,
So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up,.... To
Gibeon, which was a great high place, 1 Kings 3:4;
and fell upon him, and slew him; at the altar; or,
dragging him from it at some distance, drew his sword and slew him:
and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness; not in his dwelling
house strictly taken, but in a garden or field adjoining to it, which house in
the wilderness; not a waste place uninhabited; for, as Kimchi observes, this
word sometimes signifies a place uninhabited, though not tilled, but left for
pasture of cattle; and in such a place might Joab's house be, at least his
country house, where he might have a farm, and fields, and cattle, as it is
plain he had, 2 Samuel 14:30.
1 Kings 2:35 35 The king put Benaiah the
son of Jehoiada in his place over the army, and the king put Zadok the priest
in the place of Abiathar.
YLT
35and the king putteth
Benaiah son of Jehoiada in his stead over the host, and Zadok the priest hath
the king put in the stead of Abiathar.
And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the
host,.... Advanced him from being captain of his bodyguards to be
general of the army:
and Zadok the priest did he put in the room of Abiathar; from a common
priest he promoted him to the high priesthood; whereby that office was restored
to its ancient line, the family or Eleazar, having been in the line of Ithamar
for many years; and the prediction of the destruction of Eli's house, made eighty
years ago, began to be fulfilled, 1 Samuel 2:31.
1 Kings 2:36 36 Then the king sent and
called for Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and
dwell there, and do not go out from there anywhere.
YLT
36And the king sendeth and
calleth for Shimei, and saith to him, `Build for thee a house in Jerusalem, and
thou hast dwelt there, and dost not go out thence any where;
And the king sent and called for Shimei,.... Who had
cursed his father; he lived at Bahurim, in the tribe of Benjamin, and from
thence he sent for him to him, 2 Samuel 16:5;
and said unto him, build thee an house in Jerusalem and dwell
there,
and go not from thence any where; the orders were to
remove from Bahurim to Jerusalem, where he was to provide himself a dwelling
house, and there continue, and never go out of the city, at least not further
on any side of it than it was to the brook Kidron, which was not more than half
a mile from the city. This Solomon ordered, to prevent this man going about in
the country sowing and stirring up sedition; and that he might be under his eye
and notice, that should he commit any evil, and give him an opportunity of
punishing him, he might do it as his father had directed him; and he might
judge from the temper of the man, and indeed from the nature of men in general,
that what they are forbidden they are the most prone unto, that he would
transgress in this case, and give him an occasion against him.
1 Kings 2:37 37 For it shall be, on the
day you go out and cross the Brook Kidron, know for certain you shall surely
die; your blood shall be on your own head.”
YLT
37and it hath been, in the
day of thy going out, and thou hast passed over the brook Kidron, thou dost
certainly know that thou dost surely die -- thy blood is on thy head.'
For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out,.... Out of
the city of Jerusalem: and passest over the brook Kidron: which is particularly
mentioned, because this lay in his way to Bahurim, his native place; he must
cross that to go to it, see 2 Samuel 15:23; and
where it might reasonably be supposed he would some time or another be inclined
to go, through business, or a desire to see it again:
thou shalt know for certain that thou shall surely die: it may be
depended on as what will be most certainly the case; no reprieve nor pardon
will be granted:
thy blood shall be on thine own head; fair warning
being given, he could blame none but himself, should he be guilty and suffer.
1 Kings 2:38 38 And Shimei said to the
king, “The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant
will do.” So Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
YLT
38And Shimei saith to the
king, `The word [is] good; as my lord the king hath spoken so doth thy servant
do;' and Shimei dwelleth in Jerusalem many days.
And Shimei said unto the king, the saying is good,.... It was an
act of goodness in the king, and what was good, grateful, and acceptable to
him; for being sent for by him, and knowing how he had used his father, and
hearing of several traitors being put to death, he expected this would have
been his case; and wherefore, instead of being put to death, was only obliged
to leave his habitation in the country, and come and live at Jerusalem, a
pleasant and delightful city, and the metropolis of the nation, it was very
agreeable to him:
as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do; and he not
only promised, but swore to it, which Solomon obliged him to, 1 Kings 2:42;
and Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days; he
accordingly built or purchased a house in Jerusalem, and removed from Bahurim
to it, where he lived for the space of three years, as follows.
1 Kings 2:39 39 Now it happened at the end
of three years, that two slaves of Shimei ran away to Achish the son of
Maachah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, “Look, your slaves are
in Gath!”
YLT
39And it cometh to pass, at
the end of three years, that flee do two of the servants of Shimei unto Achish
son of Maachah, king of Gath, and they declare to Shimei, saying, `Lo, thy
servants [are] in Gath;'
And it came to pass, at the end of three years,.... He had
dwelt at Jerusalem:
that two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish the son of
Maachah king of Gath; and they told Shimei, saying, behold, thy servant be
in Gath; he being a churlish, ill-natured man, always cursing or beating
them, or imposing too hard service upon them, or not allowing them the necessaries
of life; wherefore they broke away from him, and fled to Gath, and put
themselves under the protection of the king of that place, who was now at peace
with Israel, and a tributary to them: if this Achish was the same that was
David's friend, who sheltered him when persecuted by, Saul, he must be an old
man; for that was between forty or fifty years ago; and as he seems to be,
since he is called the son of Maoch, 1 Samuel 27:2;
which may be thought to be the same with Maachah here.
1 Kings 2:40 40 So Shimei arose, saddled
his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to seek his slaves. And Shimei went and
brought his slaves from Gath.
YLT
40and Shimei riseth, and
saddleth his ass, and goeth to Gath, unto Achish, to seek his servants, and
Shimei goeth and bringeth his servants from Gath.
And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish
to seek his servants,.... And demand them; through the passion he was in with his
servants, and his hurry to get them home, and the covetous disposition which
prevailed on him, he might forget, or be tempted to neglect, the prohibition he
was under not to go out of Jerusalem; or he might think Solomon had forgot it;
or that he could come and go secretly without his knowledge; or if he should
know of it, he might hope he would never punish him with death for so small a
fault; however, so it was ordered by the providence of God leaving him to his
own lust, and the temptations of Satan, that he might suffer just punishment
for cursing David:
and Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath; for the king
being at peace with Israel, and a tributary to them also, did not choose to
detain them, but delivered them up lest it should be resented, and bring him
into trouble.
1 Kings 2:41 41 And Solomon was told that
Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back.
YLT
41And it is declared to
Solomon that Shimei hath gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and doth return,
And it was told Solomon,.... By the spies he set
to watch and observe his motions, or by some others who had seen him go out and
return, and knew that it was contrary to the king's orders:
that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again; which was
thirty four miles from JerusalemF8Bunting's Travels, &c. p. 124.
; whereas his utmost bounds, whither he might go, was the brook Kidron, about
half a mile from it.
1 Kings 2:42 42 Then the king sent and
called for Shimei, and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord, and warn you,
saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and travel anywhere, you
shall surely die’? And you said to me, ‘The word I have heard is good.’
YLT
42and the king sendeth and
calleth for Shimei, and saith unto him, `Have I not caused thee to swear by
Jehovah -- and I testify against thee, saying, In the day of thy going out, and
thou hast gone anywhere, thou dost certainly know that thou dost surely die;
and thou sayest unto me, The word I have heard [is] good?
And the king sent and called for Shimei,.... He sent
messengers to him, and by them ordered him to come to him, who accordingly
came:
and he said unto him, did not I make thee swear by the Lord; which, though
not before mentioned, was no doubt done, nor did Shimei deny it:
and protested unto thee; that is, declared before
witnesses:
saying, know for certain, that on the day thou goest out; namely, out
of the city of Jerusalem:
and walkest abroad any whither; further at most than the
brook Kidron, or any other place equally distant from Jerusalem, on any side of
it; for when he went to Gath, he did not go over Kidron, but went the road the
other way around. Kidron lay to the east, and Gath to the west of Jerusalem:
now the protestation made to him was, that if he went out of Jerusalem any way,
that thou shalt surely die; it would be sure and
certain death to him:
and thou saidst unto me, the word that I have heard is
good; not only he promised to obey it, and that with an oath, but declared
it was agreeable and acceptable to him, and therefore the offence was a very
aggravated one.
1 Kings 2:43 43 Why then have you not kept
the oath of the Lord
and the commandment that I gave you?”
YLT
43and wherefore hast thou not
kept the oath of Jehovah, and the charge that I charged upon thee?'
Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord,.... Which was
made by him, and in his presence, and in which he was appealed to, and so by
not keeping it was guilty of perjury:
and the commandment that I have charged thee with? and so guilty
of disobedience to him as his sovereign; for which two reasons he ought to die.
1 Kings 2:44 44 The king said moreover to
Shimei, “You know, as your heart acknowledges, all the wickedness that you did
to my father David; therefore the Lord will return your
wickedness on your own head.
YLT
44And the king saith unto
Shimei, `Thou hast known all the evil that thy heart hath known, which thou
didest to David my father, and Jehovah hath turned back thine evil on thy head,
The king said moreover to Shimei,.... Not as another
reason for his putting him to death, but to remind him of his former sins, and
to observe to him the providence of God in suffering him to fall into others,
that justice might take place upon him for them also:
thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to,
that thou didst to David my father; which conscience must
bear witness to, and accuse him of, not only of the words and actions
themselves uttered and done by him, but of the malice and wickedness from
whence they sprung:
therefore the Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head; the
punishment of it; which though not directly inflicted for that, yet in
providence was brought about as a just retaliation for it.
1 Kings 2:45 45 But King Solomon shall
be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever.”
YLT
45and king Solomon [is]
blessed, and the throne of David is established before Jehovah unto the age.'
And King Solomon shall be blessed,.... With a
long and peaceable reign, and large dominions, notwithstanding all the attempts
to make him unhappy:
and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord for
ever; the kingdom of David over Judah for a long time, in his natural
line; and the kingdom of Israel, spiritual Israel, for ever in his son the
Messiah; and that in the presence of the Lord, he observing, ordering, and
succeeding all things to that purpose.
1 Kings 2:46 46 So the king commanded
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died.
Thus the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
YLT
46And the king chargeth
Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he goeth out and falleth on him, and he dieth, and
the kingdom is established in the hand of Solomon.
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, which went out,.... From the
presence of the king, and took Shimei with him to the proper place of
execution, it not being fitting to execute him before the king:
and fell upon him, that he died; put him to death by the
sword:
and the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon; Adonijah the
usurper, and Joab the general of the army, who took on his side, being both put
to death; and Abiathar the high priest deposed, who was in the same conspiracy;
and Shimei, a dangerous and troublesome man, dispatched, there remained none to
give any disturbance; so that he now sat easy and quiet on his throne, and
things with respect to the civil government were on a firm and settled
foundation.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)