9 5. e In thy power, as that Phraſe is oft uſed. z Or, reproach- ed me with bitter reproaches, 2 Sams 16. 7, 8: which David could not but deeply reſent from him, chough,as it was an affliction ſent from God, he patiently ſubmitted to it- - Queſt, How then could David lawfully c11gage So/omon to puniſh him for it; And did David upon his Death-bed bear malice againſt Shimei ? Anſ. Firſt, David was not a private Perſon which might remit ſuch Offences without any ;nconvenience ; but a publick Magiſtrate, who for the bonour and mainrenance of Government was oblidged to puniſh ſuch inſolent and opprobrious Speeches, if the neceſſity of his Affairs had not then engaged. him to paſs it by. Ottierwile it appears from divers
aflages of the Pſaims, and of this Hiſtory, how free David was how a Tancorous and revengeful ſpirit even towards his Enemies. Secondly, The foilowing advice is not contrary to Dawvias Oath,both becauic that was only perſonal,that David would not kill him either at thar time, as Abiſhai deſired him, or whilſt he lived ; and did not oblidge his Succeilors ; »nd eſpecially,becauſe it was not Davids mind thar Shemei ſhould be pur to death for that fault ( as is evi- dent, for then there was no need of Solomons Wiſdom to find out an occaſion,but only of his Juſtice to puniſh him for the old crime) bur for ſome other competent crime, which Solomons Wiſdom nar- rowiy prying into all his ations, would eaſily fiad out. And if the condition which Solomon impoſed upon Shimei, v, 36, 37. ſeem hard. it muſt be remembred, that David only ſwore that he would Pardon him as to life, but not that he would exempt him from all puniſhment or confinement. =_ 9 Now therefore hold him not guiltleſs b : for thou art a wiſe man c, and knoweſt what thou oughteſt to do unto him 4d, but his hoar head bring thou down to
the grave with biood e.
þ Though I have ſpared his life, do not treat him as an inno- cent Perſon, neither Jet him go wholly unpunithed, c And there. fore v iltſt eaſily find out juſr occaſions to chaſtiſe him, eſpecially conſidering his perverſe and wicked diſpoſition. 4 How to puniſh him, not withour juſt cauſe, and yet without any violation of my Oath, or refleftion upon me,or upon Religion tor my or thy ſake. e 7. e. With the effuiion of his blood ; with a bloody or violent
. death. : *AQ-2.29 10 © So David ſlept with his fathers f, and was bu- #n413-36- ied in the city of David g. f See of this Phraſe Devz. 31.16 16. 1 Kings 1. 21- g 7. e. In that part of Jer«ſalem which was called by his name, becauſe he took it from the Jebuſires. See 2 Sam. 5.7. 1Chron. L1.5. 2Chron. 5. 2.
*2S2ms- 12 And the days that David * reigned over Iſrael, 4. 1Chro« ,yere forty years : ſeven years h reigned he in Hebron, 29-26,27- rd thirty and three years reigned he in Jeruſalem.
h More preciſely,7 Years and 6 Moneths,2 Sam: 5: 5: but ſmaller
ſums are oft neg'ected in Scripture-computations.
*, Chron: 12 © * Then fate Selomon upon' the throne of 29 -3 © David his father, and his kingdom was eſtabliſhed 2 Chr.#1- oreatly 5.
# Being ſettled upon him with univerſal conſent and approba-
tion, and with the hearty affections of his People, which all wiſe Men know to be a Prince's beſt and ſureſt Eſtabliſhmenr.
13 And Adonijah the ſon of Haggith came to Bath- ſheba the mother of Solomon, and ſhe ſaid, Comeſt thou peaceabiy &? and he ſaid, peaceably.
k Or, with ſome Evil deiign upon me or my Son ; which ſhe might well ſurmile,knowing his ambition and envy at Selowon, and his hatred againſt her, as the chief occaſion of his dejection.
14 He ſaid moreover, I have ſomewhat to ſay unto thee. And ſhe ſaid, Say on.
15 And he ſaid, Thou knoweft that the kingdom was mine /, and 7hat all Uragl fe theis faces on fas,
| $Heb:hele So Gr.
® 2 Sam- 19. 31.
® 2 Sam, 16: 5.
Tt Heb. frrong.
T 2 Sam. 19. 23.
K 1 N G S.
- Chap. tj
that I ſhould reign m : howbeit, the kingdom is turned | about z, and is become my brothers : for * ic was his *iCh.;.... from the LORD e«. 9. andzs,
7 Both by Birthright,and by actual Inauguration. Ir ſeems he could not yet, forget his pretence to the Crown,nor his ambition for it, but continues his claim: Which,it ſeems,Solomon did apprehend and reſent, though Bathſheba did not : the Wives and Concubines of the late King being reputed to appertain to the Succeſſor. See 2 Sam. 12, 8 mm They looked upon me as their King, and Davids Succeſſor, expecting that David ſhould confirm my Election, 2 Tranſlated trom me to him by the viciſſitude of human Affairs and the changeable humour of the People. o Either, Firſt, By God's Providence ſo diſpofing Davids Mind, and the Peoples Hearts. Or rather,Secondly,By God's appointment and particular deſignationzwherein he would ſeem to acquicſce. Which he men= tions, not that he made any Conſcience of it, or had any regard to it; but only that by this pretence he might deceive both her and Sol:mon,as if he were far from any deſign of uſurping the Kingdom,
16 And now II ask one petition of thee ; |} deny me + Heb, not p. And ſhe ſaid unto him, Say on. FUr10 10t
Þ Heb. do not turn away my face, i e, do not ſend me out of thy 7) ty preſence ſad or aſhamed. Compare 2 Chroz, 6. 42. Pſal. 132: 10. 1%:
I7 And he ſaid, ſpeak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king ( for he will nor | fay chee nay ) that he give +4 4,4, me Abiſhag the Shunamite to wife q. rury awoj
q Which, though it was againſt a poſitive Law of God, Levit: 1 face, 18: 7. yet either Adonijah might be ignorant of it, being a man more ſrudied in the Afffairs of the Court, than in the Book of God; or might think her not concerned in it, becauſe David knew her not, Chap. I. 4.
18 And Bathſheba ſaid, Well, I will ſpeak for thee
unto the king.
19 © Bathſheba therefore went unto king Solomon
co ſpeak unto him for Adonijah : and the king roſe up to meet her,and bowed himſelf unto her, and fat down on his throne, and cauſed a Þ ſeat ro be ſer for the q py, kings mother, and ſhe ſat on his right hand r. Time,
r The moſt honourable Place next to the Kings ; See 2 Chrox. 18, So Gr, 18. Neh: 8:4. Pſal. 45: 9. Mat: 20: 21. .