1 Kings 1:1-53

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:6

And his father had not displeased him at any time ,.... Always humoured him in everything, let him have his own way and will, and granted him what he desired, and never corrected him for his faults, or made him ashamed, as the Targum, by telling him of them, and chastising him for them; this was not to the credit of David, being guilty of the same sin with Eli; and on this Adonijah presumed much, that he would not contradict and countermand in this as he had not in other things before: in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:7

And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest ,.... About getting the kingdom into his hands: and they were very proper persons to consult with, who, if gained to his interest, might be of great service, the one being the general of the army, and so had a great interest in the soldiery, with whom he could make way for him, and defend him, and the other was the high priest, who might be thought to have a great share in the affections of the people, and whose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:8

But Zadok the priest ,.... Who bid fair to be the high priest on Solomon's coming to the throne as he was: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada ; who was near David's person, and over his bodyguards, the Cherethites and Pelethites: and Nathan the prophet ; a very great intimate of David's, and his seer, whom he consulted on all occasions: and Shimei ; who, according to Abarbinel, was Shimei the son of Gera, who had cursed David, and was afraid of entering into the conspiracy, lest he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:9

And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle ,.... To make a feast of for those that were of his party, which was numerous, and some of them persons of the first rank, and therefore a large and elegant entertainment was provided for them: by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel ; or the fullers' fountain, as the Targum, where the fullers washed their clothes, using their feet in doing it, from whence it had its name; and which they laid upon this stone for the water to drain... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:10

But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. Did not invite them to this feast; not Nathan, who he might know had prophesied of Solomon's succession in the throne, and therefore it could not be thought he would be drawn over to him; nor "Benaiah and the mighty men"; David's bodyguards, over whom this officer was; and still less Solomon, his competitor and rival. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:11

Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon ,.... Who not only had an interest in the king, being his wife, and an easy access to him, but had a special concern in this affair, as it affected her son, to whom the succession of the kingdom was designed and promised: saying, hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign ? has usurped the throne, and is proclaimed king by a party, who at least have drank his health as such; has taken the title, and is about... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:12

Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel ,.... How to conduct in this affair, which she being a woman, and no doubt surprised and confounded at this relation, might be at a loss what to do; wherefore Nathan, being a wise man, and a faithful friend, offers to give the best advice he could, and desires her attention to it: says he, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon ; which would be the usurper's first care to take away, that he might... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:13

Go and get thee in unto King David ,.... That is, go into the chamber where the king lay, at once, without any ceremony: and say unto him, didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne ? though no mention is elsewhere made of such an oath, there undoubtedly was one, of which Nathan had knowledge, either from David or Bathsheba, or from them both, or might be present himself at the making... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:14

Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king ,.... Before, or by the time she could deliver the above words to him, or such as she should think fit to use, to awaken the king to a concern for the interest of her and her son: I will also come in after thee ; directly into the king's chamber: and confirm thy words ; as he could very well do, if he was present as a witness of the oath he had made to her, as well as he could confirm the truth of Adonijah's usurpation; nay, could... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:15

And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber ,.... Where he lay, being bedridden; she took Nathan's advice, and directly went to the king's apartment: and the king was very old : and decrepit, borne down with the infirmities of old age, though but seventy years of age: and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king ; she was then waiting upon the king, and serving him with what was necessary and proper for him; and perhaps there was no other in the chamber at that time. read more

Group of Brands