1 Kings 1:52-53 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 1:41-53

We have here, I. The tidings of Solomon's inauguration brought to Adonijah and his party, in the midst of their jollity: They had made an end of eating, and, it should seem, it was a great while before they made an end, for all the affair of Solomon's anointing was ordered and finished while they were at dinner, glutting themselves. Thus those who serve not our Lord Christ, but oppose him, are commonly such as serve their own belly (Rom. 16:18) and made a god of it, Phil. 3:19. Their long... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:52

And Solomon said, if he will show himself a worthy man ,.... Will behave himself well as a good subject, and be careful not to offend for the future, or appear to be one that fears sin, as the Targum; particularly the crimes of sedition, rebellion, and treason: there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth ; not the least harm should be done him: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die ; that is, if any crime worthy of death be committed by him, or any overt act of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 1:53

So King Solomon sent, and they brought down Adonijah from the altar ,.... It being built upon an hill, as both that at Gibeon, and in Araunah's threshing floor, were: and he came and bowed himself to King Solomon ; in a way of reverence and subjection, acknowledging him to be king, and himself his subject: and Solomon said to him, go to thine house ; in peace; signifying that he pardoned him, and he might go home, and enjoy his family and substance; and by this intimating that he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 1:52

If he will show himself a worthy man - If, from henceforth, he behave well, show himself to be contented, and not endeavor to make partisans, or stir up insurrections among the people, he shall be safe; but if wickedness be found in him - if he act at all contrary to this - he shall die; his blood shall be upon him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 1:53

Go to thine house - Intimating that he should have no place about the king's person, nor under the government. Adonijah must have seen that he stood continually on his good behavior. Friar Bacon's method of restoring and strengthening the Natural Heat "I have read many volumes of the wise: I find few things in physic which restore the natural heat , weakened by dissolution of the innate moisture, or increase of a foreign one. "But certain wise men have tacitly made mention... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 1:1-53

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 1:53

So King Solomon sent and they brought him down [The altar was elevated: probably a slope, not steps ( Exodus 20:26 ) led to it] from [Hebrew from upon. He was still clinging to it] the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon [ i.e; made obeisance to him as king. Cf. 1 Kings 1:16 , 1 Kings 1:23 , 1 Kings 1:31 ] and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house. This was not a sentence of banishment from court, but merely a dismissal to a private life, involving a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 1:52

There shalt not an hair ... - This was a proverbial expression, meaning “he shall suffer no hurt at all.” Solomon’s clemency in pardoning Adonijah is very remarkable. In the East not only are pretenders almost always punished with death, but it has often been the custom for each king upon his accession to put to death all his brothers as mere possible pretenders. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 1:52-53

1 Kings 1:52-53. And Solomon said, &c. Solomon did not swear unto him, as he desired, but only declared that he gave him a full pardon for what was past, on condition that he behaved himself as became a good subject for the time to come. But if wickedness be found in him, he shall die That is, if he did any thing in future which manifested that he had still a rebellious mind, the pardon, now granted, should signify nothing, because he had broken the condition of it. He came and bowed... read more

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