The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 13

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.thsheba'P his brother, he called not. [It is clear fate. from this verse that Adonijah perfectly Ver. 13.-Go and get thee in [Heb. come] understood that he had in Solomon a rival. unto king David, and say unto him, Didst The intentions and promises (ver.13)of his not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine father can hardly have been unknown to handmaid [this oa.th of David's to Bathsheba. him. The name "Jedidiah,'' too, bestowed (see vers. 17, 30) is not elsewhere recorded, upon Solomon by Nathan (2 Sam. xii. 25), but it was evidently well known to Na.than, taken in connexion with the prophecy of and probably, therefore, to others e.lso] Nathan (ibid. vii. 12; cf. 1 Chron. xxii. 9, saying, Assuredly [Heb. that, •:;i, recitantis] 10), must have proved to him that Solomon Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and was marked out for David's successor. He he [emphatic] shall sit upon my throne? seems to have been well aware also who why therefore doth Adonijah reign? were Solomon's supporters. To some of Ver. 14.-Behold, while thou yet talkesi them he may have made indirect overtures. there [the original is more graphic, "thou a.rt yet ta.lking . . . and I "J with the king, The historian having recorded Adonijah's I also w1ll come after thee and confirm preparations for a coup d'etat, now relates [marg., "fill np," cf. ,r~71pwcrw, LXX. Still an the manner in which the plot was frustrated. idiom of the East. Roberts (quoted in the "Biblical Museum") cites many illustrations. The prophet, who had been the gnardian The meaning is, not to add to, amplify, but and preceptor of Solomon's youth, and who to corroborate. See eh. ii. 27; viii. 15, 24) knew the Divine will respecting the succes- thy words. sion (1 Chron. xxii. 9, 10), takes prompt and Ver. 15.-And Bathsheba went 1n unto energetic measures to defeat the conspiracy. the king into the chamber [lit., inner chll.ID- ber, (!a).aµo,, c-ubic-uli1m penetrale, Bnxtorf_ Ver. 11.-Wherefore Nathan spake unto Same word 2 Sam. iv. 7 ; xiii. 10] and the Bathsheba. the mother of Solomon [the per- king was very old [the repetition (seeTer.1) son after Solomon most directly concerned is not idle or unmeaning. Here the word and also best fitted to approe.ch the king] refers to feebleness rather than age. It is saying, Hast thou not heard that Adon.ljah mentioned to explain David's confinement the son of Haggith [possibly there is a touch to his cho.mber] and Abishag the Shunam- of worldly wisdom here, as Rawlinson sug- m1te ministered unto the king. [This is gests, "Haggith, thy rival." We may be introduced to show the king's helplessness. sure David's harem was not without its fierce It does not prove that " there was e. dis- jealousies. But (see ver. 5, and eh. ii. 13) interested witness present" (Rawlinson), for the patronymio is so co=on in Heb. that she may have withdrawn, ns Bathsheba did we cannot safely found an argument upon it. presently (ver. 23), and Ne.than (ver. 32). See on chap. ii. 6] doth reign [Heb. did It is I\ graphic touch, painted probably from reign. LXX. ,f3aa,">.rocrw, aor. = "suc- the life, and by the hand of Na.than, from ceeded." " Schon so gut wie Konig geworden whom this narrative is derived. ist." Biihr and Keil] and David our Lord Ver. 16.-And Bathsheba bowed, and did Jmoweth it not. obeisance [cf. 2 Sam. xiv. 4. But we nre Ver. 12.-Now therefore come, let me hardly justifietl in seeing here " more than give [Heb. counsel] thee counsel, that thou the ordinary Eastern s,tlutntion " (Rr,wlin- ma.yest save [Heh. and save, i.e., by acting son). The Jewish court seems to h,w~ been upon it] thine own life, and the life of thy very ceremonious and stately (1 Sam. xxiv. eon Solomon. The custom of Eastern 8; 2 Sam. xi:!f. 24). The king was the repre- kings-to secure their thrones by a massacre sentative of Heaven]. And the king ea.id, of their rivals-has received many illustra- What wouldest thou [marg., What to thee? tions, notably o.mong the Ottomans, and is Not necessarily, What thy supplication? (as receiving one in Burmah at the present Rawlinson). It rather me:i.ns genere.lly, moment (May, 1879). We have Soripture "What thy business?" Q11id tibi, not quill instances in Judges ix. 6; 1 Kings xv. 29; petis. 2 Kings x. 7, 14; xi. 1 (of. 1 Sam. xxiv. 21). Ver. 17.-And ehe said unto him, My To put a royal mother to death, along with Lord, thou swarest by the Lord thy God unto her offspring, though perhaps unusual, was thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon not unknown. Rawlinson cites the instances thy son shall reign after me, and he shall of Cleopatra, widow of Philip of Mn.cedon, sit upon my throne. )Vho was mm:dered with her infant son Ver. 18. -And now, behold, Adon.lJah  6 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [ea. 1. 1-58.