A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Volume 3 · Commentary on 1 and 2 Kings · Chapter 1
1 Kings CHAP. I.
THIS Chapter is an Introduction to Solomon's Inauguration before his Father David's Death: Some General preliminary Remarks may not here be altogether unſeaſonable.
The Firſt is, Though David was a Man after God's own Heart, yet muſt he not live for ever in this lower World, but muſt ſee corruption, Act. 13.22, 38. As the firſt Rank of the three firſt Names, [Adam, Cain, Abel,] according to their ſignifications do import thus much, that Earthly Poſſeſſions are but Vanity: So the ſecond Rank of the three firſt Names, [Adam, Sheth, Enoſh] do in like manner (according to their ſignifications) imply thus much, That Man is made Mortal and Mutable: Kol-Adam, Kol-Abel as is the Hebrew, Pſal. 39.5. Every Man is altogether Vanity: So was David (as he ſaid there of himſelf) at his best Estate. He was, though a Good, yet but a Mortal King, and had but a Mutable Kingdom; David muſt Die according to that grand Statute of the Parliament of Heaven: [It is appointed unto all Men once to Die,] Hebr. 9.27. and he muſt leave his Throne to his Son Solomon.
The Second General Remark is, The Kingdom of Iſrael was but in its Childhood in Saul's Reign, it grew up to the vigor and vivacity of its Youth in David's days, but it aſcended up to its higheſt foreign or moſt maturity of Manhood under Solomon's Soveraignty; and from his time began its deſcenſion and declination in the Diviſion of it, until it dwindled into Captivity. In the time of this dilaceration of the Kingdom, Grotius well obſerves, that Iſrael had all bad Kings, the cauſe of its declenſion, and Judah had ſome bad Kings, of a middle ſize many enough, but of good Kings no more than may be writ in a Finger-Ring.
The Third Remark is, Though ſome ſay that David's Numbering Iſrael (as above) was the laſt Act of the King before he betook himſelf to his Bed, and that he was ſo affrighted with his beholding the destroying Angel, having a drawn Sword in his hand, that he lay Bed-rid ever after; Yet others are of opinion and with more probability that all thoſe Hiſtorical paſſages recorded in the Eighth laſt Chapters of the Firſt of Chronicles (from the beginning of Chap. 22, to the end of chap. 29.) were tranſacted while David was able to walk abroad and to ſtand upon his Feet; as he is ſaid to do in that Parliament of Princes he had Aſſembled, 1 Chron. 28.2. where he was the Speaker; and ſo ſpake to that Aſſembly, as they all might well perceive, he was no whit decayed or defective in his Intellectuals, though now he was both Old and Cold: Dr. Lightfoot ſaith well, That though David was now become Cold and Benummed by Old Age, yet had he no Sickneſs therewith; he was both Heart-whole and Head-whole, though ſomewhat Paralytical: And therefore, though his moſt common and moſt commodious compoſure was in his Chamber, lying along upon his Couch; yet upon ſuch an occaſion as the Crowning his Son Solomon the ſecond time before all Iſrael, he could come forth, ſtand upon his Feet, make Orations and Order matters, &c.
The Fourth General Remark is, David did many Publick Actions after that of his Numbering the People, before he came to be ſtruck with a Cold-Palſie in the end of his Fortieth Year's Reign: As,
Firſt, His vaſt preparations for the Building of the Temple in that very place which God from Heaven had pointed out to him, by ſending Fire from Heaven to conſume his Sacrifice upon the Altar, 1 Chron. 21.26. whereby the Plague was ſtayed: Hereupon David ſaid, [This is that very place (foretold by Moſes, Deut. 12.11.) where the Temple of God is to be built] 1 Chron. 22.1. So provides he materials of all ſorts for it, Iron, &c. in abundance for his Son Solomon.
N. B. Thoſe are perverſe Parents that provide Iniquity in abundance for their Children, God laying up the Guilt thereof againſt them, Job 21.19. Moreover David ſetteth a many Proſelytes or Converted Gentiles, as Maſons to Hew Stones for the Building, &c. 1 Chron. 22.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. to Typifie the Goſpel Temple to be built up by Believing Gentiles under the New Teſtament, &c.
Secondly, David before his Death diſpoſed of all Chief Offices both of Church, State and Army, whereof we have an exact account in the following Chapters of the Firſt of Chronicles, there deſcribed.
Thirdly, David likewiſe compoſed all thoſe other Pſalms that bear no certain Date as the other already mentioned in the Series of the Hiſtory do: We find many of thoſe Undated Pſalms diſpoſed by David to Aſaph, Jeduthun and Heman (whom he had ſet up as Chief Singers in the Church) to be Sung by them, &c.
Now come we, after thoſe Generals, to make Particular Remarks upon this 1 Kings Chap. 1. which mentioneth a fourth Publick Action of David before his Death, namely, The Inthroning of Solomon.
The Firſt Particular Remark is, The time of it: which indeed is twofold: The firſt was done hastily and privately upon the emergent occaſion of Adonijah's Ambition and conſpiracy related here at large: But the ſecond time it was done after the former Plot was broken, in a more ſolemn Aſſembly of his Princes, Nobles, and Chief Commanders called together purpoſely for a more Publick Coronation; whereof we have a large Account in 1 Chron. 23.1. and 28.1, 2, 3, 4, &c. Wherein he makes an Oration to the Aſſembly, and then chargeth his Son in the firſt place, with the Building of an Houſe to the Lord. And more of this matter in, Chap. 29.
The time here ſpecified is David's Decay; with the Malady and Remedy, ver. 1, 2, 3, 4. Wherein Mark
Firſt, David was now but Seventy Years Old, yet is he ſaid to be Old and full of Days, or Emptied into Days Hebr. that is, near his departure, yet many others in his Day above Seventy Years Old, retained their Heat, Strength and Vigor, as Barzillai, 2 Sam. 19.32. and others.
N. B. Why David was now ſo Cold that no Cloaths can keep him Warm, there be many conjectures. That he was but Seventy appears plainly from, 2 Sam. 5.4. he was Thirty Years Old when he came to the Crown, and he Reigned Fourty Years more, and then this Cold Malady ſeized upon him, becauſe, ſaith Serrarius, he had loſt much Blood in his many Battles. (2.) He had many Wives and Children which had exhauſted both his Natural Heat and Radical Moiſture (ſaith Peter Martyr: And (3.) He ſaith, it might be a Cold Diſeaſe, or Cold Palſie, &c. (4.) Some Rabbins render a Reaſon near to Ridiculous, that it befel David for his cutting off Saul's Lap. But (5.) Better is that Opinion, that ſaith, He had been a Man of ſorrows from his Youth up, Pſal. 88.15. and 32. 4. and 38.3, 4, 5, 6, &c. and 119.83. This daily ſorrow for himſelf and for his Children, had dryed up David's bones, Prov. 17.22. If it work Death, 2 Cor. 7.10. much more Cold.
Mark Secondly, The Remedy to this Malady his Phyſicians preſcribed, he muſt marry a freſh young Damſel, Cloaths could not keep him warm: They may increaſe heat where any is, but they cannot beget heat where none is.
N. B. David would not have taken their Councel, had it not been in a medicinal way without ſin: They adviſe not to Wines, Spirits, Furs, &c. but the natural cauſe why they went this way to work (ſaith Valeſius) was becauſe her heat would be the likeſt to his both in ſubſtance and degree. Virgins alſo have more natural heat than Women who have born Children; and Galen gives the ſame Councel for the Cure of ſome cold dry Diſtempers.
The Second Remark, The occaſion of David's Crowning Solomon, was the praepoſterous Ambition of Adonijah the Eldeſt Son, v. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. wherein
Mark Firſt, This Ambitioniſt, a ſecond Abſalom, diſcerning how decrepit David was, and night his death, ſaid [I will be King] tho' David had declared that Solomon was deſigned to be King even by God himſelf, 1 Chron. 22.10. yet Abſolom-like he projects the like Pomp and Grandeur, v. 5. and reſolveth to diſpleaſe his Father who had never diſpleaſed him, v. 6. but had cocker'd him when he ſhould have corrected him, ſo ſmarts for his fondneſs.
Mark Secondly, Joab complies with the Conſpiracy here, tho' he had kept from Abſolom's, fearing ſtill an after-reckoning for his killing Abner and Amaſa, yea and Abſolom alſo, whoſe fatal fall in his Rebellion (one would think) might have been a cogent caution both to haughty Adonijah, and to conſcious Joab too; and Grotius ſaith, Joab did aſpire to have the Crown at his devotion and donation.
Mark Thirdly, Abiathar falls in alſo, being offended that Zadok was ſo much favoured, and fearing the fulfilling of that Propheſy concerning the overthrow of Eli's Houſe, whereof he was, ſaith Peter Martyr, who addeth, that David being now old, &c. committed his State-Concerns to other Councellors, Joab and Abiathar both being ſecluded, and theſe two deſpiſed Solomon, becauſe young and born of an Adultereſs.
Mark Fourthly, Here was a Sacrifice pretended, as had been before in Abſolom's Rebellion, that it might look with a better colour of religion, and that the Rebel himſelf (ſaith Peter Martyr) might ſeem to be Religious, and for a better Omen to his firſt entrance.
The Third Remark is, David's actual Crowning of Solomon hereupon, v. 11, to 37. wherein,
Mark Firſt, Nathan ſpake to Bathſheba, &c. See here (ſaith Peter Martyr) how God by weak means confoundeth the mighty projectors, and worketh by whom he will, for the accompliſhment of his own will: Old David the Rebels thought was now in his dotage, and could take no cognizance of their Conſpiracy: Nathan was neglected, not invited to the Rebels Feaſt, he ſends Bathſheba to the King to diſcover the Plot, and this ſpoiled all the ſport of the Conſpirators, &c.
Mark Secondly, Bathſheba goes at Nathan's inſtigation, who puts words into her mouth and promiſeth to back them, v. 12, 13, 14. Bathſheba comes (tho' uncalled) by her own right, as a Wife, v. 15. which was not allowed to Nathan 'till called in, v. 23. Bathſheba bows in a civil adoration to her Lord and King, v. 16. David admires her errand, being paſt having conjugal Society (ſaith Sanctius) therefore had done calling for either her, or any of his other Wives, &c.
Mark Thirdly, She challengeth David's Promiſe upon Oath to her for her Son Solomon to ſucceed him on the Throne, v. 17.
N. B. This probably David had done, 2 Sam. 12.24. when he comforted her about the death of her baſe begotten Child, ſhe refuſed at firſt his conſolatory words (ſaith Peter Martyr) fearing that both Man would abhor her for that wickedneſs, and that God alſo would kill all her Children born of her for it: David then anſwered that the matter was otherwiſe ordained of God, to wit, that a Son born of her ſhould reign, and leſt ſhe ſhould think he only courted her with words, he confirms the truth of it to her by an Oath: If it be asked how did David know this to be God's will? 'tis anſwered, that David did know it, appeareth from 1 Chron. 28. 5, 6, 10. and he might gather it from that promiſe of God to him [I will raiſe up thy ſeed which ſhall come out of thy loins, and will ſtabliſh his Kingdom] 2 Sam. 7.12. this Promiſe was not of any Son already born, but of one that was after to be born to him; and after this time he had none but Solomon, yea Adonijah himſelf grants, the Throne was Solomon's from the Lord, Chap. 2.15. much better might the Prophet Nathan know it.
Mark Fourthly, Bathſheba ſollicits David from four Topicks, or Heads of Arguments, as
Firſt, A juſto & ab honeſto, 'tis but equity and honeſty, that the King ſhould keep his word, and perform his Promiſe, more eſpecially that confirm'd by Oath, v. 17.
Secondly, Ab Officio Regis, 'tis the proper work of thy Regal as well as Paternal Authority to ſuppreſs the Uſurpation of an inſolent Son, that thus treaſonably invades the Crown without the Kng's conſent, or ſo much as knowledge, v. 18.
This ſhe ſaid, partly that ſhe might not ſeem to accuſe the King of Inconſtancy or of perjury (ſaith Peter Martyr) and partly to aggravate Adonijah's Crime, who, tho' his Title to the Crown had been never ſo good, yet to ſtep into the Throne while his Father was ſtill living, and without his knowledge and conſent, could not but be guilty of Treaſon.
Thirdly, She argues a Periculoſo, ſhewing the danger of her ſelf and her Son that David's death would expoſe them unto, v. 19, 21. ſaying, Adonijah then both can and will cut us both off, for he hath already got on his ſide a very ſtrong party, and then will he account us Mamzeres, no better than Whore and baſtard (ſaith Sanclius:) Adonijah having probably ſpoken baſely of Bathſheba as an Adultereſs, and of Solomon as Illegitimate, and therefore neither fit to be King, nor to be invited his Gueſt, &c.
Fourthly, She argues a facili, from the facility of ending the Controverſie, v. 20. 'tis thy Prerogative Royal to give the Crown to which of thy Sons thou pleaſeſt, hadſt thou not bound thy ſelf beforehand by Oath to Solomon: Do but now declare who ſhall ſucceed after thy death and the diſtraction is done, all the People waits only for thy declaring whether Adonijah who now uſurps the Throne while his Father liveth, or Solomon, who now behaveth himſelf humbly and ſubmiſſively both as thy Son, Servant, and Subject, do but ſay which of the two ſhall be thy Succeſſor, and all the People obeys, as they did, v. 40.
Mark Fifthly, No ſooner had Bathſheba told her whole tale, but Nathan comes to ſecond her (according to agreement between them, v. 14.) and (tho' ſo great a Prophet) came not in 'till called, nor without making his lowlieſt obeyſance, v. 22, 23.
N. B. This is more than the Falſe Prophet at Rome would have done, Nathan knew better, that a Prophetical Function doth not exempt from Civil ſubjection: When Nathan came in, Bathſheba goes out (as appeareth from v. 28. where ſhe is call'd in again) either for Civilitie's ſake, or to avoid ſuſpicion in David that this was their emergent contrivance, v. 14. or to negotiate her Son's intereſt among the Courtiers: Then Nathan the Prophet (who had before reprov'd David for his Sin, 2 Sam. 12.1, 2, &c.) now admoniſheth him of his duty, wherein after an abrupt exordium or Prologue [Durſt he attempt it without thee?] v. 24. then he confirms all that Bathſheba had related, v. 25, 26. his Epilogue is, ['Tis ſtrange thou ſhouldſt not acquaint me, who am the Lords Prophet, and one of thy Privy Council, if God have given thee any Countermand from Solomon to him,] v. 27.
Mark Sixthly, The effect of this pious contrivance of Nathan and Bathſheba, David calls in Bathſheba again, v. 28. to whom he ſweareth ſolemnly that he would faithfully perform what he had formerly ſworn to her, that Solomon ſhould be his Succeſſor, ver. 29, 30.
From whence it plainly appeareth that he had ſo ſworn to Bathſheba before this time, tho' the Hiſtory hitherto had not expreſſed it. Bathſheba hearing this, makes a very low Bow of homage, and gratefully profeſſed ſhe prefer'd David's Life and Reign before her Son's, that if it were poſſible, he might ſit upon the Throne for ever, v. 31. Hereupon David declares his Decree for an immediate Crowning of Solomon: This Royal Decree was delivered to Zadok the High Prieſt, to Nathan the Prophet, and to Benaiah the Chief Commander, as High Commiſſioners to tranſact the Coronation of Solomon, v. 32, 33, 34, 35. which Tranſaction was approved of and applauded by all the People with Prayers and Acclamations, from v. 36, to 40.
The Third Remark is, The diſſipation of the Conſpirators upon tidings hereof.
Firſt, In General, Jonathan brings the news of all, which Adonijah hoped was good, but it proved to him what the Hand-Writing upon the Wall was to Belſhazzar [thoſe knuckles made him knock his knees one againſt another] Dan. 5.5, 6. So the loud Acclamations at Solomon's Coronation proved a doleful Knell here, v. 41, to 49. thoſe Gueſts that had drunk many a jolly health to Adonijah, made many a boaſt of their own happy ſucceſs, and caſt many a ſcornful Squib at Solomon's Faction, &c. now ſneakingly ſlunk away, v. 49. The Triumph of the Wicked is ſhort, Job 20.5.
Secondly, In Special, and Adonijah, now creſt-faln, runs for refuge to the Altar, v. 50. as Exod. 21.13, 14. which haply hitherto he had deſpiſed: Suppoſing that Solomon's veneration to that Sacred place would not permit him to pollute it with his Elder Brother's blood, there would he capitulate with King Solomon to whom he now profeſſed himſelf a Subject, and of whom he begs a Pardon ſealed with an Oath, v. 51. This new King, jealous of a Corrival, grants it upon his good behaviour for the future, v. 52. This was the firſt evidence of King Solomon's Wiſdom, he founds not his Reign in his Elder Brother's blood: Now pardon'd Adonijah comes civilly to Adore this Riſing Sun, yet muſt his Ambition be puniſh'd with leading a private life, v. 53. he muſt not meddle with Affairs of Court of Kingdom.