1 Kings 1:6 - Exposition

And his father had not displeased [or pained, afflicted. The LXX . has ἀπεκώλυσεν ] him at any time [Hebrews from his days, i.e; all his days, LXX . οὐδέποτε , Vulg. a diebus ejus. Sein Lebtage (Bähr). Some (Seb. Schmiat, e.g. ) would understand since the days of his ambition and display"] in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also [ i.e; he also, as well as Absalom, mentioned presently; or, possibly, he as well as Abishag just mentioned. Bähr's rendering, "Und dazu war er sehr schon," etc. "And moreover he " was, etc. will not stand] was a very goodly man [cf. 2 Samuel 14:25 . This accounted in part not only for his ambition, but also for his following]; and his mother [the two last words are not in the original, which simply has "and she bare, " יָלְדָה . There is no need, Thenius, to read, יָלַד genuit, or with others, הוֹלִיד . We have a similar ellipsis in Numbers 26:59 . The meaning is quite clear, viz; that Haggith bare Adonijah to David next after Maachah bore him Absalom. This fact is mentioned to show that he was the eldest surviving son; and it shows therefore that seniority counted for something (cf. 1 Kings if. 25)] bare him after Absalom.