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Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:1-53

1:1-4:34 SOLOMON ESTABLISHES HIS KINGDOMSolomon becomes king (1:1-53)David was old and his health was failing. He needed a nurse with him continually, one of her duties being to lie with him in bed to give him warmth. Although this nurse, Abishag, was not David’s concubine, many people apparently thought she was (1:1-4; see note on 2:22).Adonijah, David’s oldest surviving son, decided to establish himself as king while David was still alive, and so prevent any possible claim to the throne by... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Kings 1:50

1 Kings 1:50. And Adonijah—went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar— Conscious that he had committed a crime worthy of death, in usurping the kingdom without his father's consent, and against the known design of God, (chap. 1 Kings 2:15.) he fled for safety and protection to the altar, which was a privileged place, not by the appointment of the law, but in conformity to the custom of all nations. It is a question, to what altar Adonijah fled: but, as the horns of the altar are mentioned,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 1:50

50-53. Adonijah . . . went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar—most probably the altar of burnt offering which had been erected on Mount Zion, where Abiathar, one of his partisans, presided as high priest. The horns or projections at the four corners of the altar, to which the sacrifices were bound, and which were tipped with the blood of the victim, were symbols of grace and salvation to the sinner. Hence the altar was regarded as a sanctuary (Exodus 21:14), but not to murderers,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 1:5-53

2. Adonijah’s attempt to seize the throne 1:5-53Adonijah ("Yahweh is lord") was David’s fourth son (2 Samuel 3:4) and the eldest one living at this time. Evidently he believed it was more important that the eldest son succeed David, as was customary in the Near East, than that the king of Yahweh’s anointing occupy that position. God had identified Solomon as David’s successor even before Solomon was born (1 Chronicles 22:9-10). Adonijah’s revolt was primarily against the revealed will of God,... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 1:1-53

An Intrigue for the SuccessionThis chapter relates Adonijah’s attempt to obtain the succession, its defeat through the agency of Nathan, and the enthronement of Solomon. The history contained in it is omitted in 1 Ch, where, however, mention is made of Solomon’s having been crowned not once only but twice (1 Chronicles 29:22). Probably the second occasion corresponds to what is related in 1 Kings 1:39 (cp. 1 Chronicles 29:24 with 1 Kings 1:53).1. Now] better, ’and,’ connecting this book with... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 1:50

(50) The horns of the altar.—The horns were projections from the altar, to which (see Psalms 118:27) the victims were fastened, and on which the blood was sprinkled (Exodus 29:12). To take hold of them was, of course, to claim the right of sanctuary—a right, however, which the Law, ruled as usual by moral considerations, formally denied to wilful murder (Exodus 21:14), and which accordingly (see 1 Kings 2:30-31) was refused hereafter to Joab. Adonijah, by the acknowledgment of “King Solomon,”... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:1-53

AN EASTERN COURT AND HOME1 Kings 1:1-53"Pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness."Ezekiel 16:49A MAN does not choose his own destiny; it is ordained for higher ends than his own personal happiness. If David could have made his choice, he might, indeed, have been dazzled by the glittering lure of royalty; yet he would have been in all probability happier and nobler had he never risen above the simple life of his forefathers. Our saintly king in Shakespeare’s tragedy says:-"My crown is... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:5-53

ADONIJAH’S REBELLION1 Kings 1:5-53"The king’s word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?"- Ecclesiastes 8:4THE fate of Amnon and of Absalom might have warned the son who was now the eldest, and who had succeeded to their claims.Adonijah was the son of Haggith, "the dancer." His father had piously given him the name, which means "Jehovah is my Lord." He too, was "a very goodly man," treated by David with foolish indulgence, and humored in all his wishes. Although the rights of... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Kings 1:28-53

2. The Anointing of Solomon and Adonijah’s Submission CHAPTER 1:28-53 1. The renewed promise to Bath-sheba (1 Kings 1:28-31 ) 2. The anointing of Solomon commanded (1 Kings 1:32-37 ) 3. Solomon made king (1 Kings 1:38-40 ) 4. The consternation of Adonijah (1 Kings 1:41-49 ) 5. Adonijah’s fear and submission (1 Kings 1:50-53 ) Bath-sheba had withdrawn while Nathan was before the king. She is called back and David once more assures her that Solomon her son should reign after him. Then... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Kings 1:50

1:50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the {t} altar.(t) Which David his father had built in the floor of Araunah, 2 Samuel 24:25. read more

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