The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 44

CHAPTER II. 12-25. the k1ngdom wa.e mine [schon so gut wie mein (Bahr). Adonijah evidently me.de Ver. 12.-And Solomon sa.te on the throne much of the right of primogeniture (cf. ver. of David his father, and h1s k1ngdom [i.e., 22), which we.s not unreoognized amongst dominion, sway] was established greatly. the Jews. There is possibly in these words, [Cf. 2 Chron. i. I, 2. This verse serves as too, a hint at the part Bathshebe. bad to.ken a lind of heading or introduction to the in defeating his claims] and that aJl Israel rest of the chapter. It was principally by set their faces [i.e., eyes] upon me that I the removal of ri'l'als and disaffected persons should reign [Heh. upon me all Israel set, that his sway was established. &c. The II me II is emphatic by its position, Ver. 13.-A.nd Adonijah, the son of Elag- So is the II mine " just before used. Severe.I gith, came to Bathsheba, the mother of Solo- co=entators remark that Adonijah's words mon. [The LXX. adds ,cal 1rpotr€1CVV7Jtr€v ai,rp, were not strictly true. But we hardly expect but tile words are probably inserted from ver. to find truth on such an occasion. Adonijah 19. The historian now relates the plot of was adroit and diploma.tic, and puts the case Adonijah e.nd its defe.a.t. Foiled in his pur- as it best serves his purpose. In order to pose to mount the throne by direct means, propitiate Bathsheba, he exe.ggere.tes his Adonijah and his advisers have recourse to loss and disappointment, just as in the next intrigue and subtlety. By the aid of Abishag, words, in order to put her off her guard, he he hopes to accomplish what his chariots plays the saint and obtrudes his piety e.nd and horsemen (eh. i. 5) had failed to effect. resigne.tion J: howbeit [lit., and] the king- And he first addresses himself to the queen dom 1s turned about and is become my mother ("Aggreditur mulierem, ut regnandi brother's, for it was h1s from the Lord. ignaram ita amoribus facilem." Grotius). [This verse shows pretty clearly that Adoni- The position of the queen dowager in the jah had not renounced his pretensions to Hebrew kingdom was e.n influential one; the throne. Despite the pitiful failure of not unlike that of the Valide sultana his first conspiracy, and notwithstanding amongst the Ottomans. Hence the con- Solomon's generous condonation of his stant mention of each king's mother (1 tree.son, he cannot forget the.t he was, and Kings riv. 31 ; xv. 10, where notice ver. is, the eldes~ surviving son, and had been 13; 2 Kings xi. l; xii. 1; xiv. 2; xv. 2, very near the throne. And as to the king- &c. ; hence, too, the part which such a dom being his brother's by Divine e.ppoint- queen mother as Athaliah found it pos- ment, he cannot have been ignorant of the.t sible to take. This pre-eminence was a long ago (2 Se.m. xii. 25), yet he conspired all natural result of the polygamy of Ee.stem the same. And it is not difficult to read sovereigns (and the consequent intrigues of here between the lines, that he he.a not re- the harem), coupled with the high estima- linquished his hopes, and does not acqui- tion in which the mother was held in the esce in Solomon's supremacy.] East.J And she eaid, Comest thou peace- Ver. 16.-And now I ask one petition of ably. [Heb. IB it peace thy coming 1 Be.th, thee [Heb. request one request] deny me not shebe. was evidently surprised by his visit. [marg., "turn not away my face." Better, Owing to the part he had taken e.gainst her Turn not back, i.e., repulse not. Rawlinson son, there would naturally he.ve been but paraphrases, 11 Make me not to hide my few dealings, if not positive alienation, face through shame at being refused ; 11 but between them. Her first thought, conse- this is not the ide.a. or the origine.1, which quently, is, " What can this coming mean?" means, Reject me not; send me not a.way, The prominence of the ide.a. of peace in all In the Heb. 11 face" ofLcn stands for II per, Ee.stem salutations has often been noticed. son," for eyes (ver. 15), looks, rnienl, Ant Cf. 1 Sam. xvi. 4 ; 2 Kings ix. 22 ; iv. 26 ; she said unto him, Say on. v. 21; Lukex. 5; John xx.19-21, &c.] And Vcr.17.-Andhe said, Speak, I pray thee, he said, Peaceably [Heb. peace.] unto Solomon the king ; for he w1ll not say Ver. 14.-He saJ.d moreover [Heb. And thee nay, [will not repulse thee. Bame words he said] I have somewhat to say unto as ver. 16. There is a epioe of flattery in thee [lit., 11 a word to me (cf. est mihi) for these words. He now exaggerates her in- thee." This expression throws some light fluence with the king] that he may give me on the New Testament phrase, ri iµo, irai Abishag the Shunammite to wife, [We a.re •oi, John ii 4, &c.] And she saJ.d, Say OD. hardly justified in concluding, as some oom- Ver. 15.-And he sald, Thou Jmoweat that mentators have done, the.t love had nothing CB, Il, 12-25.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 37