1 Kings 1:25 - Exposition

For [proof that the king must have decreed that Adonijah should succeed him. There appears to be an undertone of reproof in these words. Nathan assumes that Adonijah cannot have done all this without David's knowledge and sanction, because "his father had not displeased him at any time" ( 1 Kings 1:6 ). This uprising was the result of David's over indulgence and. want of firmness] he is gone down this day, and hath slain [see on 1 Kings 1:9 ] oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host [Joab was the captain ( 1 Kings 1:19 ). The plural shows that other high officers had followed his lead. "Under the captains of the host ( 1 Kings 1:25 ), the servants of the king ( 1 Kings 1:10 ) are included" (Bähr). Bähr's accidental miscitation ( 1 Kings 1:10 for 1 Kings 1:9 ) has apparently led his American translator to the serious mistake of identifying these "captains of the host" with "the mighty men" (Gibborim) of 1 Kings 1:10 , who, it is distinctly said, "were not with Adonijah] and Abtathar the priest, and behold, they eat and drink before him [ convivia apta conjurationibus. Grotius] and say, God save king Adonijah. [Hebrews "let the king Adonijah live," or better, "live the king," etc. (comp. the vivat rex, and the vives and vivas of later days.) This was the customary acclamation wherewith the Jews greeted their kings (cf. verse 39; 1 Samuel 10:24 ; 2 Samuel 16:16 : 2 Kings 11:12 ; 2 Chronicles 23:11 ).