The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 252

tive. It is quite possible that the levies of What portion have we ill Da;7id 7 [Same Amorites, Hittites (eh. ix. 20), &c., hacl been expression as 2 Sam. xx. 1. The words, in- kept at their toils by the la.sh] , but I wlll terpreted by this passage and 2 Sam. xix. 43, chastise you With scorpions. ['' The very mean, "Since we have no kindness or fair- wo1·ds have stings" (Hall). It is generally ness from David's seed, what is his house held tha,t there is here "no allusion what- to us ? Why render homage to his son ? ever to the animal, but to some instrument We receive nought from him, why yield of scourging-unless, indeed, the expression aught to him?"] neither have we inherit- is a mere figure" (Diet. Bib. iii. p. 1161). ance ill the son of Jesse [i.e., "his tribe is Perhaps it is safer to understand it as a not ours; his interests are not oars." Bii.hr figure of speech, although the scorpion, sees in the expression " son of Jesse " 11 an unlike the serpent, is little like, or adapted allusion to David's humbler descent," but to use as, a lash. Probably it was in the pain BUiely without reason. It is simply a peri- the whip caused that the resemblo.nce lay phrasis for the sake of the parallelism. The (Rev. ix. 5). All the commentators mention rhythm almost elevates the words to the rank that the later Romans used a, whip called of poetry]: to your tents, O Israel [lit., thy a " scorpio," and cite Isidore (Orig. 5, 27) tents, or dwellings; i.e., " Disperse to your in proof. Gesenius, Keil, al. understand homes (see eh. viii. 66 ; and cf. 2 Sam. xviii. "whips with barbed points, like the point 17; xix. 8; xx. 1), and prepare for war." of a scorpion's sting ; "the Rabbins, Virgae ~1:1~. which means primarily a II tent," has for spinis instructae; others, the thorny stem of the egg-plant, by some ca.lled the "scorpion it; secondary meaning, "habitation,"''home." plant." Compare our use of the word "cat." This cry-the Marseillaise of Israel-prob- " The yoke and whips go together, and are ably had its origin at a time when the people the signs of labouring service (Ecclus. xxx. dwelt in tents, viz., in the march through 26, or xniii. 27)" Bii.hr.] the desert (see Josh. xxii. 4; Num. i. 52; Ver. 12.-So Jeroboam and [LXX. omits] ix. 18 ; xvi. 26)]. Now see to thine own all the people came to Rehoboam the third house, David [i.e., let the seed of David day [" Three days' expectation had warmed henceforth reign over the tribe of Judah, if these smoking Israelites" (Ha.11) ], as the king it can. It shall govern the other tribes no had appointed, saying, Come to me agaill longer. "It is not a threat of war, but a, the third day. warning against interference" (RD.wlinson). Ver. 13.-And the king answered the 1"11$1 has the meaning of "look after," 11 care people [the omission of Jeroboam's name, for." "David, the tribe father, is mentioned though perhaps it cannot be pressed in in place of his family" (Keil)] . So Israel argument, is noticeable] roughly, and for- departed unto their [lit., his] tents [see sook the old men's counsel that they gave note on eh. viii. 66] . him. Ver. 17.-But as for the children of Ver. 14.-And spake to them after the Israel which dwelt ill the cities of Judah counsel of the young men, saying, My [i.e., "the Israelites proper or members of father made your yoke heayy, and I wlll other tribes, who happened to be settled add to your yoke : my father also chas- within the limits of the land of ,Judah" tised you With whips, but I wlll chastise (cf. ver. 23). A number of Simeonites were you With scorpions. (Rawlinson)certainlyo.mong them (Josh. xix. Ver. 15.-Wherefore the king hearkened 1-9). The term "children of Israel" is not unto the people, for the cause [or course henceforward to be understood in its re- of events ; lit., tum] was from the Lord stricted sense (see on var. 1). It cannot [" Quem Deus vult perdere, prius dementat." include the men of Judah], Rehoboam God did not inspire Rehoboam's proud cmd reigned over them. despotic reply, but used it for the accom- Ver. 18. - Then l!:1.Dg Rehoboam sent plishment of His purpose, the partition of Adora.m, who was over the tribute [Prob- the kingdom (cf. Exod. xiv. 4; Matt. xxvi. ably the same officer as the Adoniram of 24). God makes the wrath of man to praise eh. iv. 6. For II Adoram," the LX...'{. and Him] , that [Heh. in order that] he might other versions read '' Adonirnm" here. It perform his saying, which the Lord spake is curious that 11, person of the same no.me, by [Hcb. in the han<l of; cf. eh. xiv. 18; ii. 25, Adoro.m (LXX. Adoniram), was over David's note] Ahijah the Shllonlte [see on oh. xi. levy (2 Sam. xx. 24). That there was a 11] unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. relo.tionshi p, and that the office had de- Ver. 16.-So when all Israel saw that scended from father to son, can hardly be the king hearkened not unto them, the doubted, but whether two persons or three people answered [Heh. brought back word are indicated it is impossible to say. It is to ; probably after some consultation -of course just possible, though hardly likely amongst themselves] the l!:1.Dg, ea.yin&", that one and the same person (Ew11.ld) can  254 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [oH, xn. 1-24.