dite the execution of it, that it might not be ſpoiled by delays, as. frequently happens. .
42 And while he yet ſpake, behold, Jonathan the ſon of Abiathar t the prieſt came, and Adonijah ſaid unto him, Come in, for thou art a valiant man «, and bringeſt good tidings-
£ Who it ſeems was left at Jeruſalem for a Spy, as he had for- merly been under Abſalom. u Or, a man of wertue or worth, as this Hebrew word is uſed, Prov: 12: 4. and therefore an happy man and haſt good news for thy ſelfand us. - Compare 2 Sam: 18; 27.
And Jonathan anſwered and ſaid to Adonijah, Verily x,our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
n Or, but, or, nay but ; i, e. The matter is not as thou expetteſt, but quite contrary. : ;
44 And the king hath ſent with him Zadok the
prieſt, and Nathan che prophet,and Banaiah the ſon of
Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have cauſed him to ride upon the kings mule. 45 And Zadok the prieſt, and Nathan the prophet,
have anointed him king in Gihon : and they are come
up from thence rejoycing, ſo that the city rang again: this zs the noiſe that ye have heard.
46 And alſo Solomon fittech on che throne y of the
kingdom. | 9 7.e. Is put into aCtual poſſeſſion of the Kingdom.
47 And moreover the kings ſervants came to bleſs our lord king David z, ſaying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name,and make his throne
4 He owns Solomen as lus King, and himſelf-as-his Servant and W Subje& ; and being ſenſible of his grear guilt, and of the jealouſte K which Kings have of their Competitors,could nor be ſatisfied with- N out Solomons Oath. ;
52, And Solomon faid, If he will ſhew himſelf lf fa worthy man e, * there ſhall nor an haic of him fall + 1.4, 5 4
tothe earth f: but if wickedneſs ſhall be found in him fg, ſon of wire he ſhall die. tue, Or,u e Heb. a wan of ſtrength or courage © for it requires great ftrength lot. } of mind, and reſolution, to reſiſt all temptations of Vice, and'to 2 2:*14+ | do Virtuouſly. f Herein Solomon manifeſts his Clemency and Bro- 45: ? Sams | therly Affe&ion, and withal his prudence in ſparing him, whom, '4* 7 Þ being his Brother, and his eldeſt Brother too, it would have been Acts 27* invidious to have ſlain. g Not only if he ſhall be guilty of ſome 3+: capital Crime,bur of any great wickedneſs or evil deſtgn. For as this pardon was Solomons free a, fo he might juſtly qualific it as he pleaſed. 5350 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 þh.
þ Lead a private, or retired and quiet life, without noiſe and numerous attendants,and meddle not with the Afffairs of the Court
and Kingdom. SAaAP. IL David lying on his bed, giveth charge to Solomon of a Relizious L5fey I 4- Of Joab : Barzillai and Shimei, 5 -— 9g he ditth ; Solo< mon ſucceedeth, 10 ——=12. Adonijah ſuing for Abiſhag, is put to Death, 13 ---*= 25. Abiathar is deprived of the Priefthood, 26, 27. Joab flieth to the Horns of the Altar is ſlain there, 28 —— 34, Benaiah is put in foabs room, and Zadok in Abiathar's, 35. Shimei confined to Ferujalem, going thence to Gath tu put ts Death, 36w=46. | N OW the days of David drew nigh, that he ſhould die; and he charged Solomon his ſon, ſaying, 2 1 go the way of all the earth a: be thou ſtrong 6 therefore, and ſhew thy ſelf a man c. @ i« e. Of all men upon the Earth, Compare 7of. 23. 19. Heb. g. 27. 6 For, to govern his People according to the Law of God,as it here follows, requires great fortitude or ſtrength. of. Mind, to arm himſelf againit the ſubril divices and evaſions of ſome ; againſt the flatteries and importunities of others againſt terrors and dan= gers from revengeful Men, and eſpecially againſt himſelf and his own weakneſs, partiality, through fear or favour ; and againſt all thoſe evil thoughts and paſſions to which the temptations of their great wealth and glory,and uncontrollable power naturally expoſe them. See Prov. 16. 32, c In manly Wiidom, and Courage, and Conſtancy, though thou art but young in years, 1 Chron, 22.5. 3 And keep the charge of the LOR D thy God 4,
to walk in his ways, to keep his ſtatutes, and his com-
vreater than thy throne : And the king bowed himſeif | ma1ements, and his judgments, and his teftimonies,
upon the bed a.
z To praiſe and thank him for his great and good care,in-leaving | * || proſper f in all that thou doeſt, and whitherſoever , them in the hands of ſo excellent a Succetſor, under whom they might expe& Peace and all proſperity ; and to congratulate with him for God's great Mercy to him.in giving him ſuch a Son and Succeſſor, and that his Eyes had now feen the aQual accomplith- ment of Gods promiſe made to him concerning this thing. a A- doring God for this great Mercy,and thereby declaring his hearty
approbation and conſent to this aftion» Compare Gen: 47. 31.
48 And alſo thus faid the king, Bleited be the LORD God of Iſrael, which hath given one to ſit on
my throne this day, mine eyes even ſeeing r.
49 And all the gueſts that were with Adonijah,were | heed to their ways'b, to walk before me in truth &
afraid, and roſe up, and went eveiy man his way b.
b i.e, The way to his own Houſse,leſt they ſhould be diſcovered
and taken.
| Fo ©} And Adonijah feared, becauſe of Solomon. and aroſe, and went, and caught hold on the horns of | (pended being performed. þ x. e. Dillig
the altar c.
c Either, that which was at G/beon, as appears from + Chron: 16: 39. 2 Chron: 1: 3: and was made with four Horns Exoa: 38: 2. tc
as it is wfitten in the law of Moſes e, that thou mayeſt
tou turneſt thy ſelf : "Deur:.
d i. e: What God hath charged or commanded thee to do ; the Yo in. at being pur for the obje&, as is uſual. e Which the Prince was |, Or, do enjoyned to tranſcribe and read, Deut. 17. 18. that he might go- wiſely. vern his own and his Peoples actions by it. f Or, behave thy /elf- prudently : tor the word ſignifies both. Hereby he intimates, That Religion is the trueſt Reaſon of State, and that all true Wiſdom and good Succeſs depends upon Piety-
4 That the LORD may confirm his word g which