The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 16

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 demonstmtion-and xi. 11, and xx. 6. Note: The latter passage, that whether En-Rogel is to be found at the which refers to the king, has the plur.; the Well of the Virgin or the Well of Job. former, referring to Joab, the sing.] a.nd Siloam is at no great distance from either, e&nee Solomon my son to ride upon mine a.nd quite within earshot, whereas the own mule; [lit., "the she-mule" (the most traditional Gihon is altogether out of the prized in the East. Cf. Judges v. 10, Heb.) way. It must be borne in mind that this "which is mine.'' This was not merely a mark procession to and from Gihon was ordained, of honour (cf. Gen. xli. 43; Esth. vi. 8, 9), not because there wo.s any specie.I reo.son but a pnblic and very significant indication for anointing Solomon there-for it was not of David's will respecting his successor. a holy place-but purely as a demonstration The populace would perceive at once who to the populace, and to checkmate the con- was destined to sit in David's seat. "The epire.tors. It was probably a public place, Rabbins tell us that it was death to ride on and would accommodate a large concourse the king's mule without his permission " (Poole). (Rawlinson). i117!:il, the fem. form is only Ver. 34.-And let Zadok the priest a.nd found here and in vers. 38, 44. The mule Nathan the prophet [Bahr sees in the fact wonld seem to have been a recent importa- that Nathan was associated with Zadok in tion into Palestine-we never ree.d of them the anointing, " the high significance before the time of David-and the Israelites David attributed to the prophetic office in were forbidden to breed them (Levit. x.i.x. Israel." But the prophets constantly per- l!J). Their use, consequently, was na.tumlly formed this ceremony. Ss.m.uel anointed restricted to royal or distinguished person- both Se.ul and David ; Elisha anointed J ehn ages (2 Ss.m.. xiii. 29). Wordsworth sees in (2 Kings iL 1), and was commissioned to the word a proof that David had not dis- anoint Hazael (1 Kings xix. 15, 16)] anoint vbeyed God by multiplying horses to himself] , him [the king, being a sacred personage, and bring h1m down to Glhon. [Not was set apart to the office, like the priest Gibeo:a, which Thenius most arbitrarily and prophet, by anointing. Saul was would substitute for the received text. probably anointed twice (1 Se.m. x. 1; xi. Where wa.s Gihon ? The popular belief 15. Cf. xii. 3). David was anointed (accepted by Bahr and Keil, as well as by thrice (1 Se.m. xvi. 13 ; 2 Sam. ii. 4; v. 3. some geographers) ie that it was in the Solomon was anointed twice (ver. 39; 1 Chron. valley of the Son of Hinnom, a part of xxix. 22). The Rabbins have always held which still bears then.a.me of Gihon, i.e., to that subsequent kings were not anointed, the west of Jerusalem, and not far from the where the succession wo.s regular. But Jafia gate. By mwy indeed the present this opinion must be ta.ken quantum val,t. Birket-es-Sultan is identified with the It is true that we only read of the anointing Lower Pool of Gihon. But others (Fergu- of Jehu (2 Kings ix. 6), Joash (ibid. xi. 12), son, Rawlinson, &c.) see in it the ancient and Jehoahaz (ibid. xxiii. 30), and that in name of the Tyropieon. Scripture does these three cases the accession was irregular. not speak of it as a spring, though the But it ie obvious that other kings may have "source of the waters of Gihon " is men- been anointed as well, though the fact is tioned 2 Chron. :u.xi.i. 30, Heb. The text not recorded. There would be no reason shows that it was below the city (" bring for recording it in ordinary cases It seems him down upon Gihon," ver. 33. Cf. also hardly likely, too, that any king would ver. 40). 2 Chron. xxxiii. H, speaks of readily dispense with an ordinance which "Gihon in the valley," where it ie very would so much strengthen his title] there noticeable that the word used ie Nachal king over Isra.el: and blow ye with the (i.e. Wady, watercourse). But this "is the trumpet [the sound of the trumpet would word always employed for the valley of the almost seem to have been a necessary nc- Kedron, eai;t of Jerusalem, the so-called companiment of coronations, or the procla- valley of Jehoshaphat; ge (ravine or glen) mation of a new king. See 2 So.m. xv. 10; being as constantly employed for the valley 2 Kings ix. 13; xi. 14], and say, God save of Hinnom, south and west of the town" king Solomon. [See on ver. 25.J (Grove," Diet. Bible,"art. Gihon). It is also Ver. 35.-Then ye shall come up (after to be noticed that the text last cited men- h1m [not in the LXX. Cod. Vat.] that he tions Gihon in connection with Ophel, which may [Heh. and he shall] come and sit upon lies south-ee.st of Jerusalem. The Che.Id., my throne [in every possible way his acces- Arab., and Syr. are probably right, there- sion was to be proclaimed and confirmed], fore, in identifying Gihon here with Siloam for he shall be king In my stead [David i.e.,  OB. I. 1-68.) TllE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 9