The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 9

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. Canon Rawlinson. London, 1872. This, though perhaps somewhat meagre in its t.extU&l criticism and exegesis, iB especially rich, as might be expeoted from the well-known learning of its author, in historical referenoee, I have also oooasionally cited his "Historical Illustrations of the Old Testament" (S. P. 0. K.), and his "Ba.mpton Lectures." 7. The Histcry of Israel. By Heinricih Ewald. English Translation. London, 1878. Vols. ill and IV. 8. Syntaz of the Hebrew Language, By the same author. London, 1879. The oitations from this latter work are distinguished from those from the " History of Israel " by the sectional number and letter, thus: 280 b. 9. The Holy Bibk. Vol. ill. By Bishop Wordsworth. Oxford, 1877, The great feature of this co=entary, it is hardly necessary to say, in addition to the patristio learning which it reveals, and the piety which breathes through it, ie the moral and spiritual tee.ohing which the author never fe.ils to dmw from the text. There is perhaps a tendency to over-spiritue.lize, e.nd I have been unable to follow the writer in many of his mystical interpretations. 10. Lecturca on the Je'IDish Church. Vol. II. By Dean Stanley. London, 1865. Though differing repeatedly and vecy widely from his conolusions, I am very sensible of the great charm of picturesqueness and the graphio power which marks everything that this highly gifted author touches. 11. Sinai and PaT,ei;tine. By the same. Fifth Edition. London, 1858. 12. Biblical Besearche, in the Holy Land. By the Rev. Dr. Robinson. S vole. London, 1856. 13. Handbook for Trafleller, in Syria and Pal,estine. By the Bev. J. L. Porter. London, Murmy, 1858. 14. The Land and the Book. By the Rev. Dr. Thomson. 2 vole. London, 1859. 15. Tent-work in Palestine. By Lieut. Conder, R.E. Thie is by far the most reada.ble and valn.e.ble work which the recent Exploration of Palestine has produced. New Edition. London, 1880. 16. Haa<lbook to the Bible. By F. B. Conder and O. B. Conder, R.E. London, 1879. This is cited as" Conder, Handbook." "Conder" a.lone e.lwa.ys refers to the" Tent-work." 17. Narrative of a JO'Urney thrwgh Syria and Pal,estine. By Lieut. O. W. M. Van de Velde. 2 vole. Edinburgh and London, 1854. 18. Contemplation, on the Hiltorical Pa1Jsagu of the Old Testament, By Bishop Hall. S vols. S. P. C. K. 19. Manners and CU11tcm1 of th8 .dncient Egyptian,. By Sir J. Gardner Wilkinson. New Edition. London, 1880. 20. Elia.B der Thubiter. Von F. W. Krummacher. Elberfeld, 1835. 21. Gesenii Thesaunu Philologicu,, CriticUII Linguae Hebraeae Veteris Teltamenti. Lipsiae, 1835. 22. GesenitU1's Hebrew Chwamar, Fourteenth Edilion, enlarged and improved by E. Boediget. London, 1846.  THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS. -- EXPOSITION. CHAPTER I. ing force. It is co=only found at the be- THE REVOLT 01' A.DoNIJAB AND THE ACCES- ginning of a book (as in Exod., Levit., Josh., SION OF SoLOMON, - The first chapter of Judges, 2 Sam., Ruth, &c.), and that where this book is occupied with the accession there is no connection whatever with any earlier writing (as in Esther, Ezek., Jonah, of Solomon and with the circumstances &c.) It can hardly imply, therefore, " that which preceded, marked, and followed that the historian regards his work as a con- event. The author, or compiler, evidently tinuation of a preceding history" (Rawlin- considered that his work properly began son), nor is there any need to suppose that with the reign of Israel's third king, it" has been taken from a writing contain- and David's illness and death are only ing the earlier history of David." Keil] King [Heb. the king. The freqnent use of introduced into the narrative because this title "King David " "King Solomon " they necessitated a hasty and premature "King Asa," &c., is ~haracteristic of o~ coronation of Solomon, and exercised an author. The expression is not unknown in important influenoe on the beginning of 2 Sam., but it occurs so rarely as to con- his reign (eh. ii). In the natural order of stitute a distinction (not a link, as Words- worth) between that book and the Kings.] events, Solomon would not have succeeded David was old [yet 2 Sam. v. 4, 5, shows until his father's death, but Adonijah's that he cannot have been more than seventy. attempt to possess himself of the kingdom (He was thirty at his accession ; his reign required the immediate elevation of Solomon at Hebron lasted seven years and a half; at to the throne, and this attempt having been Jerusalem thirty-three years.) Rawlinson says, " the Jews at this time were not long snggested by David's extreme feebleness, lived." Certainly, the Jewish kings were the author is compelled to begin his history not. Only Dl\vid, Solomon, and Manasses with an account of David's decay and death. exceeded threescore] a.nd strlcken [Heb. In the opening verses, consequently, he in- gone, i.e., advanced) in years. [A co=on troduces us into the chamber of sickness. expression, only found with li?.t as in Gen. His materials for this part of the history xviii. 11; xxiv. 1; Josh. xiii. 1, &c.] And were no doubt derived from the "Book of they covered him With clothes [lit. covrr- ings. ,~~ is used of any covering, whether Nathan the prophet " (1 Chron. xxix. 29 ; of the pe1·~on (Gen. xxxix.12 ; 1 Kings xxii. 2 Chron. ix. 29). The date of these events 10), or the bed (1 Sam. xix. 13), or even a is B.o. 1016. table (Num. iv. 6). Indeed, the outer gar- Ver. 1.-Now [Heb. and, but "now" ment was used, at least by the poor, for a more nearly expresses the import of the covering at night (Exod. xxii. 27). The original, for , has here little or no connect- context (ver. 47) shows that bedclothes are ! KINGS, B 2 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. CR, I.1-58,