Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 1

Now - Rather, “and.” The conjunction here probably has the same connecting force that it has at the opening of Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, etc., and implies that the historian regards his work as a continuation of a preceding history.

King David - The expression “king David,” instead of the simpler “David,” is characteristic of the writer of Kings (see the introduction to the Book of Kings). The phrase is comparatively rare in Chronicles and Samuel.

Stricken in years - David was perhaps now in his seventieth year. He was thirty years old when he was made king in Hebron (2 Samuel 5:4), reigned in Hebron for seven years and six months (2 Samuel 2:11; 1 Chronicles 3:4), and reigned thirty-three years at Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:5). Until now, this expression had only been used for persons over eighty (Genesis 18:11; Genesis 24:1; Joshua 13:1; Joshua 23:1), but the Jews at this time were not long-lived. No Jewish monarch after David, except Solomon and Manasseh, exceeded sixty years.

Clothes - This probably means “bed-clothes.” The king was evidently bedridden (1 Kings 1:47).

Since Jewish law allowed polygamy, David’s conduct in following what was reportedly a physician’s advice was blameless.

The narrative concerning Abishag the Shunammite is introduced as necessary for a proper understanding of Adonijah’s later history (1 Kings 2:13–25). As it stands, the account also considerably heightens the picture of the king’s weak and helpless condition, which Adonijah was not ashamed to exploit for his own aggrandizement.

Adonijah was born while David reigned at Hebron and was therefore now between thirty-three and forty years of age. He was David’s fourth son but had likely become the eldest after the death of his three older brothers. He claimed the crown by right of primogeniture (1 Kings 2:15) and secretly announced to his supporters his intention of assuming the sovereignty (compare to 1 Kings 1:10). It was well known to him, and perhaps to the people generally, that David intended to make Solomon his successor (1 Kings 1:13).

To run before him—that is, he assumed the same royal-like status as Absalom had done when he planned his rebellion (2 Samuel 15:1).

Had not displeased him - That is, “His father had never checked or thwarted him all his life.”

A very goodly man - Here, too, Adonijah resembled Absalom (2 Samuel 14:25). The Jews, like other ancient nations, considered the physical qualities of rulers to be very important and wanted their kings to be remarkable for strength, stature, and beauty (1 Samuel 9:2). Adonijah’s personal advantages no doubt helped to draw the people to him.

His mother... - This means Haggith bore Adonijah after Maacah bore Absalom (2 Samuel 3:3–4). The words supplied by translators (often shown in italics) are not in the original text; for this reason, some suggest a slight alteration to the text, which would read, “David fathered him.”

Joab’s defection on this occasion, after his faithful adherence to David during the troubles caused by Absalom (2 Samuel 18:2–17), may be accounted for by his fear that Solomon would be a man of rest (1 Chronicles 22:9) and by his preference for the character of Adonijah. He may also have thought that Adonijah, as the eldest son (1 Kings 1:5), had almost a right to succeed.

Abiathar’s defection is still more surprising than Joab’s. For his history, see the note on 1 Samuel 22:20. Until now, David and he had been the firmest of friends. It has been conjectured that he had grown jealous of Zadok and feared being supplanted by him.