Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Kings
Book: 1 Kings
Chapter: 1
Overview:
David's declining
Age.
(1-4) Adonijah aspires to the
Throne.
(5-10) David makes
Solomon King.
(11-31) Solomon is anointed
King, and
Adonijah's usurpation stopped.
(32-53)
1-4 We have
David sinking under infirmities. He was chastised
for his recent sins, and felt the effects of his former toils
and hardships.
5-10 Indulgent parents are often chastised with disobedient
children, who are anxious to possess their estates.
No worldly
Wisdom, nor experience, nor sacredness of character, can insure
the continuance in any former course of those who remain under
the power of self-
Love. But we may
Well wonder
By what arts
Joab
and
Abiathar could be drawn aside.
11-31 Observe
Nathan's address to Bathsheba. Let me give thee
counsel how to save thy own
Life, and the
Life of thy son. Such
as this is the counsel
Christ's ministers give us in his name,
to give all diligence, not only that
No Man take our
Crown, Re
3:11, but that we save our lives, even the lives of our souls.
David made a solemn declaration of his firm cleaving to his
former resolution, that
Solomon should be his successor. Even
the recollection of the distresses from which the
Lord redeemed
him, increased his comfort, inspired his hopes, and animated him
to his duty, under the decays of nature and the approach of
Death.
32-53 The people expressed great joy and satisfaction in the
elevation of
Solomon. Every true Israelite rejoices in the
exaltation of the Son of
David. Combinations formed upon evil
principles will soon be dissolved, when self-interest calls
another way. How can those who do evil deeds expect to have good
tidings?
Adonijah had despised
Solomon, but soon dreaded him. We
see here, as in a
Glass,
Jesus, the Son of
David and the Son of
God, exalted to the
Throne of
Glory, notwithstanding all his
enemies. His kingdom is far greater than that of his
Father
David, and therein all the true people of
God cordially rejoice.
The prosperity of his cause is vexation and terror to his
enemies.
No horns of the
Altar, nor forms of
Godliness, nor
pretences to religion, can profit those who will not submit to
His authority, and accept of his
Salvation; and if their
submission be hypocritical, they shall perish without remedy.