1 Kings 1:35

1:32-53 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.

Then ye shall come up after him,.... When anointed, proclaimed, and cheered, then he was to mount the mule, and ride before them as their king, at the head of them; they following after, in token of their subjection to him: that he may come and sit upon my throne; at Jerusalem, in the king's palace, and there exercise his kingly power he would now be invested with: for he shall be king in my stead; even during David's life, as well as after his decease: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel, and over Judah; that is, over all the twelve tribes of Israel Judah may be particularly mentioned, though included in Israel, because Adonijah had invited the men of Judah to his feast and party, 1 Kings 1:9; and therefore had they not been named, might think he had no power over them.

1 Kings 1:35-36 . Then ye shall come up after him, that he may sit on my throne — Ye shall attend upon him to Jerusalem, and give him actual possession of the throne. For he shall be king in my stead — My deputy and vice-king while I live, and absolutely king when I die. Over Israel and over Judah — The latter clause is added, lest the men of Judah, who were in a special manner invited by Adonijah, ( 1 Kings 1:9 ,) should think themselves exempted from his jurisdiction. And Benaiah said, Amen — They all said the same, ( 1 Kings 1:47 ,) not doubting but God would establish his authority.

(35) Over Israel and over Judah. —The phrase clearly refers to the distinction, already tending to become a division, between Israel and Judah in relation to the monarchy. In the case of David himself, it may be observed that the record of his accession to royalty over Israel contains the notice of “a league” made by him with the elders of Israel ( 2Samuel 5:3 ), to which there is nothing to correspond in the account of his becoming king over Judah ( 2Samuel 2:4 ). This perhaps indicates from the beginning a less absolute rule over the other tribes. Certainly the history of the rebellion of Absalom ( 2Samuel 15:10 ; 2Samuel 15:13 ; 2Samuel 18:6-7 ), the disputes about the restoration of David ( 2Samuel 19:41-43 ), and the attempt of Sheba to take advantage of them ( 2Samuel 20:1-2 ), show a looser allegiance of Israel than of Judah to the house of David.

35 . come up after him ] That is, as his supporters and body-guard, just as in 1 Kings 1:7 above, the conspirators ‘helped after Adonijah.’ Cf. also below, 1 Kings 1:40 . to be ruler over Israel ] A better rendering is ‘prince’. The title was that given by God specially to those who should lead His people. Thus Saul is first so called ( 1 Samuel 9:16 . A.V. ‘captain’ as in 1 Samuel 10:1 . In 2 Chronicles 11:22 A.V. has ‘ruler,’ R.V. ‘prince’), then David ( 1 Samuel 25:30 , A. V. ‘leader’). It is used also of Hezekiah ( 2 Kings 20:5 ), and in Daniel ( 1 Kings 9:25 ) of Him who was to be greater than all these, ‘Messiah the Prince .’

King in my stead; my deputy and vice-king whilst I live, and absolutely king when I die. Or if David and Solomon were joint kings, it is no more than was afterwards frequent at Rome, where the father and son, or two other persons, were not seldom joint emperors. I have appointed, and that by Divine direction. And over Judah: this is added, partly as being the most eminent and royal tribe; it being frequent, together with the general distinction, to mention one of the most eminent particulars, as 1 Kings 11:1 Psalm 18:1 Mark 16:7 ; and partly lest the men of Judah, who were in a special manner invited by Adonijah, 1 Kings 1:9 , might think themselves exempted from his jurisdiction.

Verse 35. - Then ye shall come up (after him [not in the LXX. Cod. Vat.] that he may [Hebrews and he shall ] come and sit upon my throne [in every possible way his accession was to be proclaimed and confirmed], for he shall be king in my stead [David i.e., virtually abdicates in Solomon's favour. Cf. vers. 46, 51, 53; 1 Chronicles 29:23, 26 ], and I have appointed him [he and him are emphasised in the original] to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. It is possible, as Bahr thinks, that Israel and Judah were severally mentioned because David had once been king over Judah only, and because Israel had gone over to the side of Absalom. It is more probable, however, that "Israel and Judah" was even then the current designation of the two component parts of the realm (see 2 Samuel 2:9, 10 ; 2 Samuel 19:11, 41 , etc.). Besides, we can hardly suppose that the historian has in every case, though he probably has in this, preserved the exact words of the speaker; and it need cause us no surprise had he put into David's mouth the phraseology of a later age. In the nature of things he can only give us the substance of conversations such as these. 1 Kings 1:35

After the anointing they were to conduct Solomon up to Zion again; Solomon was then to ascend the throne, as David was about to appoint him prince over Israel and Judah in his own stead. Both the anointing and the appointment of Solomon as prince over the whole of the covenant nation were necessary, because the succession to the throne had been rendered doubtful through Adonijah's attempt, and the aged king was still alive. In cases where there was no question, and the son followed the father after his death, the unanimous opinion of the Rabbins is, that there was no anointing at all. Israel and Judah are mentioned, because David had been the first to unite all the tribes under his sceptre, and after the death of Solomon Israel fell away from the house of David.