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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 2:12-25

Here is, I. Solomon's accession to the throne, 1 Kgs. 2:12. He came to it much more easily and peaceably than David did, and much sooner saw his government established. It is happy for a kingdom when the end of one good reign is the beginning of another, as it was here. II. His just and necessary removal of Adonijah his rival, in order to the establishment of his throne. Adonijah had made some bold pretensions to the crown, but was soon obliged to let them fail and throw himself upon Solomon's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 2:17

And he said, speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king ,.... He owns him to be king, and which he the rather did to engage her to take his suit in hand, and to cover his design: for he will not say thee nay ; or turn away thy face, or deny thy request; she being his mother, for whom he had a great affection, and to whom he was under obligation on all accounts: that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife ; which was contrary to the law of God, Leviticus 18:8 ; which surely... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 2:18

And Bathsheba said, well ,.... Very well spoken, the thing is good and right: I will speak for thee unto the king ; and use her interest with him, not seeing into his design, but pitying an unfortunate man. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 2:19

Bathsheba therefore went unto King Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah ,.... She went from her own house to the palace; for she might not live at court; or however had an apartment to herself, from whence she went to the king with her suit in favour of Adonijah: and the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her ; upon her entrance into the presence chamber, in honour to her as a parent, he rose up from his throne, and made his obeisance to her, as a dutiful son: and sat... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 2:20

Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee ,.... It was but one, and a little one, and therefore she hoped it would be granted: I pray thee , say me not nay ; do not refuse it, or deny it me, or turn away my thee with shame and disappointment: and the king said, ask on, my mother, for I will not say thee nay ; since it is a small one, as thou sayest, and provided it is fit and lawful to be granted. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 2:21

And she said, let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife. For so Adonijah was by his father's side; and Bathsheba makes use of the relation, the more to move upon him to grant the request. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 2:22

And King Solomon answered and said unto his mother ,.... With as much gentleness and mildness as he could, but inwardly fired at her request, and amazed at it, and could not forbear using some degree of tartness and resentment: and why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah ? is this a small petition? is this a fit and lawful one? ask for him the kingdom also ; for this is what he means by it, that by marrying the king's widow he may step into the throne whenever any... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 2:17

That he give me Abishag - to wife - He cheerfully gives up all right to the kingdom, and only desires to have this young woman, who, though she had been his father's wife or concubine, was still in a state of virginity. Some think that Joab and Abiathar had advised Adonijah to make this application, not doubting, if he got Abishag, that the popular tide would again turn in his favor, and that Solomon, whom they did not like, might soon be deposed; and that it was on this account... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 2:17

And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the ring; for he will not say thee nay, [will not repulse thee. Same words as 1 Kings 2:16 . There is a spice of flattery in these words. He now exaggerates her influence with the king] that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife. [We are hardly justified in concluding, as some commentators have done, that love had nothing to do with this request. It is not improbable, on the contrary, that a passion for the beautiful Shunamnite,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 2:18

And Bathsheba said, Well [there is no reason why the strict rendering "good," should not be preserved here. The A.V. follows the LXX . καλῶς . Similarly Luther, wohl; but Bähr, gut ] , I will speak for thee [ LXX . περὶ σοῦ ] unto the king. read more

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