PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings
Joseph Hammond [1839-1912] · 502,085 words · 545 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 1
THE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDl'l'ED JlY '.rIIE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., OF.AN 01' GLOUCESTER; AND BY THE REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. WlTH INTRODUCTIONS BY THE VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY. RIGHT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON…
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Ill. CONTENTS AND PURPOSE. It must be remembered, however, that the history of the kings of the chosen people will necessarily have a different character and a different design from the chronicles of all other reigns and dynastieg ; it will, in fact, • be such history as a pious Jew would naturally write. Such a one…
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the purpose for which the history was penned-which was partly, as we have already remarked, to trace the fulfilment of 2 Sam. vii. 12-16, in the fortunes of David's house-had that event occurred at the time when he wrote. We may safely assign this year, consequently, as the minimum date for the composition of the work.…
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nnd engaging in arduous literary labours. And (8) it does not absolutely follow, because the last paragraph of the Kings carries us down to B.c. 562 that that is also the date of the composition or compilation of the rest. It is quite obvious that the bulk of the work might have been written by Jeremiah some years befo…
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the use of expressions which manifestly belong, not to our author, but to some document which he cites.* It is consequently more than " a reason- able supposition that '' this " history was, in part at least, derived from the works in queetion."t And there is a strong presumption that these were hie only authoritie…
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the captivity, seems almost incredible. But our author manifestly refers to the "Books of the Chronicles," &c., as still existent in his time, and, if not generally circulated, yet guarded and accessible somewhere. But a. still more conclusive argument against the " state paper" origin of our histories is found in thei…
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them. It is possible, and indeed probable, that in the one " book of the Chronicles," the memoirs of the three historians had been condensed, arranged, and harmonized; but it hardly admits of doubt that the latter were the originals of the former. And the same remarks apply, mutatia mutandis, to the "book of the Chroni…
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would appear, have been accidentally altered in the course of transcription -a resuH which need ca.l!se us no surprise, if we remember that anciently numbers were represented by letters, and that the Assyrian, or square characters, in which the Scriptures of the Old Testament have been banded down to us, are extremely …
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5. Die Bucher der K"anige. Von Otto Theniue. Leipzig, 184.9. Thie work, I regret to say, I only know indirectly. But some proofs of its suggestiveness, and some of ita destruotive tendencies, will be found in the Exposition. 6. Holy Bibl,e with Comment,ary. (" Speaker's Oo=entary. ") Th8 Book, of Kinp, by the Rev. Can…
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intended here] but he gat no heat. [A Ver. 4.-And the da.msel was very fair common experience of the aged. David's [lit. ,fair to ezceeding] and cherished [ see on early hardships and later eorrowe and ver. 2] the king, a.nd ministered to hJm ; anxieties appear to have aged him pre- but the king knew her not. [This is …
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Jove for the beautiful Bhunammite and the words were" (2 Sam. iii.17, Heb.)J With Joab desire to gain possession of her mo.y have [Joa.b'a she.re in this conspiracy, despite bia strengthened his resolves, It is noteworthy hitherto unwavering fidelity to David, is that he and his beauty are mentioned just easily acco…
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both to be 'priests at this time." Raw- ii. 14), another brother of Da.vid, hut on linson, who adds that "the best exple.- very slender grounds], &nd the mighty men nation is th&t Abi11,the.r was the real high [or heroes. Gesen. "chiefs." Not the 600 priest," officiating in Zion, while Zadok men who formed David's b…
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dred, "went in their simplicity and knew Co.ranus by Olympias ; and Roxana, widow not anything" (2 Sam. xv. 11). of Alexander the Great, who, with her son, Ver. 10.-But Nathan the prophet, and was put to death by C&ssander. Nathan doee Bena1ah, and the mighty men, and Solomon not say this will be, bnt may be, Ba.thshe…
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nlgneth ; &nd now my Lord the king, thou Ver. 211.-And lo, while she yet talked knoweet it not. with the king, Nathan the prophet also Ver. 19.-And he hath Blain oxen &nd came in. [Heh. came, i.e., to the palace. fat cattle a.nd sheep in abundance, &nd " Came in" almost implies that he entered bath called all the s…
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high ofiloers had followed his lead. "Under Version rendering we.a adopted as the more the oapte.ins of the host (ver. 25), the ser- spirited and rhythmico.l. vants of the king (ver.10) a.re mcluded" Ver. 29,-And the king aware [eee on (Biihr). Bahr's BCcidenteJ. miscitation (ver. ver,l 51] a.nd said, As the Lord livet…
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pression seems at first a stre.nge periphrasis (which lies at the foot of Ophel), in fovour for "my servants." But David naturally of which it may further be said that it adopts the le.ngue.ge those a.round him would be admirably suited for David's pur- were always using. Seever. 43; e.lso 2 Sam. pose--0f a. counter…
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virtuo.lly o.bdico.tes in Solomon'e favour. Cf. They did come from Ce.pbtor, and the.t is vers. 46, 61, 63; 1 Chro11. xxix. 23, 26], and probably Crete (see Gen. x. 14; Jer. xlvii. I have appointed him [he and him a.re em- 4; Amoe ix. 7; Dent. ii. 23). 'l'.'1'?!;3• phasised in the original] to be ruler over age.in, …
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him [same expression as ver. 36. The pro• Solomon's party] &nd AdoDJjah aa.ld unto cession, the sound of the trumpets, &c., had him [Heb. a.nd LXX. omit" unto him"] Comb collected a large crowd, whioh followed 1n [Heh. come. See on var. 22. " Come Solomon on his return], &nd the people in" suggests the idea of n hou…
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the Gxe.ct particulars, and ascribes to the young king his new honours. In Adonijah's " servants" the words of their commander. month it is also e. virtue.I abdication of his Of course it is possible that " the body- claim to the throne and a direct acknow- guard took up the words of Jehoiade. ledgment of the new mo…
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HOMILETICS. Ver. 1.-The chamber of sickness. This opening chaptel' of 1 Kings intro- d1;1ces lls int.o the 11~·fracy of a sick room. Stretched upon a couch, covered with _m~ny folds of nch Eastern drapery, we see a feeble, decrepit, attenuated man. ~t his s1~e stands a fair young girl, assiduously ministering to his w…
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said the King of Terrors ; "the hour of thy departure ie come.'' " How is this? " exclaimed the youth ; " thou art false to thy word I Thou didst promise to send me messengers, and I have seen none." "Silence I'' sternly answered the Destroyer. " I have sent thee messenger after messenger. What was the fever? What was …
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(eh. i. 7). There is no greater unkindness and injustice to e. child than over-in} dl~lgence.. The chil~ i~ the fat~er of the _JI).&n. Th«: boy w~o bas all bis own way will certe.mly want 1t m after life, and will not get 1t, to bis own disappointment and the unhappiness of all around him. He that loveth bis son cha…
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Adonijah's "I will be king'' led to conspiracy, rebellion, intrigue, ingntitnde; to defiance of a father, of a brother, of God. • v. HE WAS NOT WITHOUT WARNING, BUT IT WAS IN VAIN. The failnre of his first' conspiracy, the abject terror which followed, the flight to the sanctnary, the terrified clinging to the horns o…
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11,gainst Christ has lasted over 1800 years-for "we see not yet all things put under him "-but what is this compared with eternity, and" He shall 1·eign for ever ant:Z evc1·" (Rey. xi. 15 ; cf. Dan. vi. 26). VI. THE END OF THE CONSPIRATORS FORESHADOWS (1) THE JUDGMENT AND (2) THE DOOM OF THE ENEMIES OF CHRIST. (1) …
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The Benedictus of the Old Testament, and the Benedictus of the New (Ver, 48 ; Luke i. 68). On two memorable occasions this doxology has been found on the lips of the saints. No doubt the formula, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel," was a favourite one with the people of Israel; no doubt the words were often used (cf.…
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how much grander, and every way nobler, is the Benediotus of the latter than tho.t of the former ; of the New Testament than the Old. It is because the theme is so much higher, and the benefits a.re so much greater, because " a greater than Solomon is here." The two friwmp71'1l entries.-Twice in the history of Jerusal…
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or modified by love, if it is rega,rdless of the rights of others a,nd oftbe will of God then it is a, sin ; the sin which wa,s the hera,ld of disobedience a,nd dea,th, the sourc~ of the tyranny a,nd bloodshed which ha,ve desola,ted the world. It was this sin of which Adonijah was guilty when be "exalted himself, sa…
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Hence we may test ambition, by asking om·selvee how we regru:d our competitors, If a man envies others ; if, without compunction, he will crush another to the wall that he may pass him by; if he refuses to help another in sore straits, who is within his reach, on the ground that every man is for himself; then hie ambit…
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(1) The law that "like prod!uces like," which is proved to demonstration in the breeding of lower o.nimals (illustrations from horses bred for speed or en- durance, dogs for fleetness or scent, pigeons for swiftness or beauty, &c.), asserts itself in man. Not only a.re plvysical qualities inherited, so that we recognis…
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hie ebullitione of rage, gets what he wishes, till authority is disregarded and trodden underfoot. You do not see the son who thinks it manly to be callous to a mother's anxiety n.nd a father's counsels, who likes to forget home associations, and is sink- ing in haunts of evil, w~ere you may weep over him as a wreck…
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EXPOSITION. CHAPTER Il. 1-11. but the sudden brightening of the flame THE LAST WOBDS A.ND DEA.TB OF DAVID, before it dies out in the socket-and we see -The death of David, and of COUIS8 the him in this second chapter, once more in charge which preceded it, did not follow the ante-chamber of dee.th. Now, he he.a immedi…
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pose, as Canon Rawlinson does (" Speaker's word of promise is spoken of. Of. 1 Kings Com.," vol. ii. p. 489/, that in the words, viii. 26] ms word which Be spa.ke con- " show thyself II man, ' we have a reference cerning me [by the month of Nathan, to Solomon's youth; for words precisely 2 Sam. vii. 12-17 (cf. Psa. …
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avenged blood of the Gibeonites (2 Sam. cousin. This murder was even fouler than xxi. 1). And yet, one notorious and in- that of Abner. Here there were ties of famous murderer had not been put to blood ; they were companions in arms, and there was no pretence of a vendetta], whom death. The assassin of Abner and of…
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we forget the character of the Old Testa- mentary is mistaken when it says that ment dispensation (as one of temporal re- " Chimhe.i:n is mentioned as present." He wards and punishments. See the "Exposi- was present at the return of David (2 Sam. tor," vol. iii. p.114), the position of David as xix. 81, 38, but not …
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('' nullum tempus occurrit regi ") ; he can and the grandson of Benjamin (Gen. xlvi. deo.l with the blasphemer as the law directs, 21; cf. 1 Chron. vii. 6). Ehud, three 1LI1d this David now charges him to do. hundred years earlier, is also described as "a son of Gera," Judg. iii. 15], a Benjamite Ver. 8.-And, behold,…
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that wisdom and justice, not malice or execute the sentence of the law now, but passion, should be Solomon's guide], and for the safety of his people, for the security knowest what thou oughtest to [lit., shalt of his throne, it must be done, and there- or shou/d,,.•t] do to him; but [Heh. a.nd] his fore Solomon, who w…
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HOMILETICS. Vera. 1-11.-A Jewish deathbed. A brilliant poet and essayist once summoned his stepson, the young Earl of Warwick, to his bedside, and with perfect dignity and composure bade him mark "how a Christian man can die." In this section, one far greater, and yet in one sense far less, than Addison,-greater as a …
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it is the natural outcome, the good fruit from a good tree. Dming life, he has been very zealous for the Lord God of Israel. The ruling passion displays itself in death. The great desire of the man who has kept t\10 law is that his son may keep it. To die well, one must live well. The last struggle works no change in t…
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not all; that " God is patient because he is eternal," and that "the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain," at the judgment-seat of Christ. 8. There was no hope of a kingdom and a crown. David's idea was that he was leaving a kingdom ; St. Paul's that he was going to one. "Remove the diadem and ta…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-11.-Holy Scripture gives us many a touching and pathetic description of the death of the father of a family, showing how it at once sanctions and sancti- fies natural affection. The farewells of David remind us of those of Jacob. Death sometimes seems to :fill the men of God of …
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The more He reflects this image, the more truly manly He is. The religion of the Bible restores His manhood. II. THERE IS NO FACULTY IN MAN WHICH DOES NOT FIND ITS COMPLEMENT AND ITS DEVELOPMENT IN GoD. His reason finds in God a.lone the truth which it seeks. His heart only finds an object adequate to its power of lov…
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the grea.t principles of truth and righteousness, as illustrated by their own living history. Chart of the ocean of life in the children's bands; rocks and shoals and hidden currents traced by the care and toil and suffering of those who sailed befo1·e tLern. Let them use it wisely if they would have a safe and prosper…
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It is easy, natural, profitable to obey some commands. Disobedience will bring disease, or shame, or loss of reputation, and, fearing such penalties, some refrain from transgression. But there are other laws of God, obedience to which brings dishonour rather than glory, impoverishment and not advantage; and these also …
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CHAPTER II. 12-25. the k1ngdom wa.e mine [schon so gut wie mein (Bahr). Adonijah evidently me.de Ver. 12.-And Solomon sa.te on the throne much of the right of primogeniture (cf. ver. of David his father, and h1s k1ngdom [i.e., 22), which we.s not unreoognized amongst dominion, sway] was established greatly. the Jews.…
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to do with this request. It is not improb- uvii. 42; Exod. x. 8; and eapecially Nnm. able, on the contrary, that a passion for the uxii. 5; and see Gesen., Lex. s. v. n~, and beautiful Shunam.nite, perho.ps the fairest Ewald, Syntax, 295 b.J woman of her time, me.y have first given e. Ver. 22.-And king Solomon answered…
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Oriental monarchies that the harem of 11, cOflsilio f11entnt ille et Abiatha1·," &o. Keil sovereign descended to his successor. Thus well rema.l'ks that "the repetition of 1', the impostor Smerdis took possession of the answers entirely to the emotiono.l character ha.rem of Cambyses (Herod. iii. 68), while of the wo…
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[in the Eo.et the captain of the king's body-. found in him" he should die (1 Kings i. 52.) guard bas always been the II chief of the Hie first tree.son, consequently, wa.a not to executioners," the title given to Potiphar, be lost eight of, in case he were guilty of e. Gen. uxvii. 86, Heb. ; in 2 Kings uv. 8 to fresh …
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CHAPTER II. 26--35. xxiii. 6). Zadok e.nd Abiathar had borne the ark (not of course in person, but per TnE DEPOSITION OF ABIA'rHAB Al!D THE alios, viz., the Levites Urie!, Joel, &c.: 1 DEATH OF J Oil!. Chron. xv. 11), when David brought it up to Ver. 2G.-And unto Ablathar the priest Jerusalem, and also during his fl…
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port, &o. • Not nooeese.rily of Abiathar'e alte.r with blood." It was only the sanctity deposition, but certa,inly of Adonijah's of the altar which made it an asylum. death] ea.me to Joab, for Joab had turned There was strictly no" right of sanctuary"] , after [same expression as in Exod. xxiii. 2; Thus Ba.ith the king…
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" from 11po11 me." Solomon evidently be- yivo,ro] peace [i.e., prosperity] ror ever lieved that the guilt of blood we.s upon him from the Lord. [So persuaded is Solomon and his house so long 11s Abner's and that he is fulfilling a religious duty in de~ A.mnsa's blood remained unavenged (" The creeiug the exeoution o…
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give effect to them. No one can deny again that they havo often interfered to crood purpose. Witness the case of J ehoiada. It may sometimes be a dnty to interlere. But all the so.me, their planll is not the plane of politics. Their r.oAirwµ,a is the Chw·ch. And what is lawful, is not always expedient. Their meddling h…
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say as we ren,d, the history of J oab's death. After David, he was by fo.r the gi:eo.test man-the ablest general, the bravest soldier, the most capable statesman-of that age. He was " the Marlborough, the Belisarius of the Jewish empire." He had fought David's battles, won his conquests, captured his citadel, and twice…
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But he only comes to the altar because he is driven to it; because he can do nothing else. Yes, "it is too late to cry for mercy when it is the time of justice." Those who put off repentance till they can sin no longer find that such feigned repentance profits them nothing. There is a time when "the door is shut." 2. B…
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as my lord the klilg hath B&id, ao wtll thy for Shimei, a.nd said unto h1m. Did I not servant do. And Shimei dwelt [in obedience make thee swear by the Lord [it thus comes to this behest] in Jerusalem many days. out quite incidentally that Solomon bad Ver. 39.-And it ea.me to pass at the end bound Shimei by an oath. T…
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whole given more offence than that of Joab were other ways of recovering them; or, i1 or even Adonijah. He, at any rate, was he must pursue them in person, his proper not " a murderer whom vengeance suffereth course was evidently to ask the king's per- not to live," nor had he taken o.ny part in miBBion. That he did…
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make of blasphemy I But Shlmei had to pay for it with his life. 8. The sin o/ pe1-jmy. It was thls in the strict sense of the word. He broke through his oath. Though he said, "the Lord liveth,'' he swore falsely. He thus profaned the awful incommunicable name, and incurred the Divine clll'Se (Zech. v. 4). Perjuries …
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No escape from this retribution but in " the cross.'' "The blood of J esUB Christ his Son," &o. It will not wipe out all the effects of transgression, but it will arrest the eterna,l penalty, and perfectly cleanse the fountain from which the evil springs. II. THE NOBLENESS OF A TRUTHFUL AND FEARLESS DJSCIUBGE OF DUTY.…
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xii. 7, 8; of. xxii. 2, 9; xx.xi. 54)." And indeed accepted, by God (ver. 5) was not the use of high places for this purpose was strictly lawful and right. It was an igno- not distinctly condemned in the Law. It is rance that God winked at. The historian, true the Hebrews were commanded to have remembering what the wor…
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by night ; and God said, Ask what I shall been purely ''Judges" (C•~~~; compa.re give thee [cf. Matt. Yii. 7. This was the answer to the sacrifices. The night was the Cart~aginie.n name, su_ffetes.) When they desrred one who should lead their probably that which followed the le.st day !1-rmies, they still put his jud…
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HOMILETICS. Ver. 3.-The Grace and Place of Love. "And Solomon loved the Lord, walk- ing in all the statutes of David his father, only . . . . he sacrificed,'' &c. Of how many men, as well as of the wisest of men, may some such words be used. Of some few it may perhaps be averred that they have loved the Lord " with a…
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.