Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 1

Now king David.—“Now” is the simple illative conjunction “and,” found at the beginning of all the historical books (Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, etc.). It marks the general conception of the unity of the whole history, but implies nothing of special connection of time or authorship with the books of Samuel. In fact, although these books are in some sense the continuation of the former, yet the narrative is hardly continuous. The history passes at once to the closing scene of David’s life, leaving a comparative blank in the period succeeding the restoration after the defeat of Absalom—a blank which is partly filled up in the later books (1 Chronicles 22-29).

Stricken in years —about seventy years old. Since “clothes” mean “bed-clothes,” the meaning is that the King was now too feeble to rise from his bed. His life began its responsibilities early; it had been hard and trying; and, as the history shows, not wholly free from self-indulgence. Hence, at no excessive age, its complete decrepitude.

A Shunammite.—Shunem is in the territory of Issachar (Joshua 19:18), and in the plain of Jezreel (1 Samuel 28:4), near Mount Gilboa. As Eusebius, describing its position carefully, calls it “Sulem,” and as this variation of name is confirmed by its ready identification with the modern village of Solam, it has been conjectured (see Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible, SHULAMITE), ingeniously and not improbably, that Abishag is the “fair Shulamite” of the Song of Solomon (1 Kings 6:13). The conjecture certainly throws some light on the occurrences of 1 Kings 2:13–25. Probably the whole notice of Abishag is only introduced on account of her subsequent connection with the fate of Adonijah.

Adonijah (my Lord is Jehovah), David’s fourth son, born in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:4), at least thirty-three years before. From the words of Solomon in 1 Kings 2:22, we may gather that he claimed the throne as being now the eldest son. Hence it is probable that Chileab (or Daniel, see 2 Samuel 3:3; 1 Chronicles 3:1), the second son, was dead, as well as Amnon and Absalom. The similarity between Adonijah and Absalom, in respect of personal beauty, favor with a too-indulgent father, ambition, and trust in popularity, is evidently suggested by the narrative, which places them in close connection, although born of different mothers.

The means, moreover, which Adonijah employed—the bodyguard of fifty men and the maintenance of “chariots and horsemen”—are exactly imitated from the example of Absalom (2 Samuel 15:1); and we note that the festal sacrifice, with the support of two important leaders in peace and war, recalls the same model. But Adonijah hardly shows the craft and ruthless determination of the elder rebel. His attempt on the crown seems crude and ill-planned in conception, and wanting in promptness of action.

Joab. —The books of Samuel have clearly brought out the career and character of Joab. He was (in some degree like Abner) a professed soldier, raised to formidable and half-independent power by the incessant wars of Saul and David. He is consistently portrayed throughout as a bold, hard, and unscrupulous man. In his relations with the king, he was often imperious and disobedient. Nevertheless, he was an absolutely loyal servant to whom, in great degree, the establishment of David’s throne was due. Moreover, he was not without some right instincts of policy and of duty to God, as shown by his remonstrance against the numbering of the people (recorded in 2 Samuel 24:3; 1 Chronicles 21:3; 1 Chronicles 21:6).

Abiathar the priest.—Regarding Abiathar, we also know that he had been the companion of all David’s adversity and of his reign at Hebron (1 Samuel 22:20; 1 Samuel 23:6; 1 Samuel 23:9; 1 Samuel 30:7; 2 Samuel 2:1–4). He was also installed (with Zadok) as high priest at Jerusalem and remained faithful to David during the rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 8:17; 2 Samuel 15:24–29).

The adhesion of these two faithful servants of David, and also of “the king’s sons” and “the men of Judah, the king’s servants,” to the rash usurpation of Adonijah, seems strange at first sight. Probably Joab had never recovered his position in the king’s favour since the death of Absalom. It is also possible that the evident growth of despotic power and pomp in David’s latter years may have alienated from him the trusty friends of earlier and simpler days.

But the true explanation would seem to be that the attempt of Adonijah was not viewed as an actual rebellion. Solomon was young; David’s designation of him for the succession might be represented as the favouritism of dotage; and the assumption of the crown by the eldest son, a man in the prime of life and of popular qualities, might seem not only justifiable, but even right and expedient.

Zadok the priest (son of Ahitub) was the representative of the family of Eleazar, elder son of Aaron, as Abiathar of the family of Ithamar, the younger son (1 Chronicles 24:3). As a young man of valour, under Jehoiada, leader of the Aaronites, he joined David at Hebron with 3,700 men (1 Chronicles 12:28), and had been left in charge of the Tabernacle at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39) after the removal of the Ark to Jerusalem. On his relation to Abiathar, see 1 Kings 2:35.

Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest, and therefore of Levitical origin. (See 2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 23:20–23; 1 Chronicles 27:5–6.) His rank is given in 2 Samuel 23:23, as intermediate between the three mighty men and the thirty, and in 1 Chronicles 27:5, as the third captain of the host for the third month; but his command of the bodyguard gave him special importance, second only to that of Joab (2 Samuel 20:23), and perhaps of even greater importance for immediate action. (It is notable that there is no mention of Abishai, who is named as prior to Benaiah among the mighty men in 2 Samuel 23:18–22. It may be inferred that he was dead; otherwise he could hardly have been omitted here.)

Nathan the prophet.—See 2 Samuel 7:2; 2 Samuel 12:1; 2 Samuel 12:25. In the whole chapter he appears rather as a chief officer and counsellor of David, than in the loftier aspect of the prophetic character. He was also the royal chronicler of the reigns of David and Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29).

Shimei, and Rei.—Ewald conjectures that these were two brothers of David, called Shimma and Raddai in 1 Chronicles 2:13–14. These, however, being older than David, would now be in extreme old age. Of Rei, we have no mention elsewhere; but there is a Shimei (in 1 Kings 4:18), a high officer of Solomon; a Shimea, brother of Solomon (in 1 Chronicles 3:5), and a Shammah, one of the mighty men (in 2 Samuel 23:11).

The mighty men.—See 2 Samuel 23:8–39. The name Gibbôrim is a technical name, and is thought to designate a picked body of troops, the standing nucleus of the armies of Israel. It is commonly inferred that they were the successors of the six hundred men of David’s band during his life of wandering and exile, and that the three and the thirty (2 Samuel 23:0) were their officers. They are mentioned as attached to the person of David in 2 Samuel 10:7; 2 Samuel 16:6; 2 Samuel 20:7.