Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 2

Verse 1

charged. Compare Joshua 1:6-9 .

Verse 2

the way of all the earth. Compare Joshua 23:14 .

strong = resolute. Necessary advice for Solomon = the peaceable.

man. Hebrew. ish . App-14 .

Verse 3

charge. Compare Leviticus 8:35 ; Leviticus 18:30 .

the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim.

to keep. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "and to keep", thus enlarging the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in this verse.

as it is written. Compare Deuteronomy 17:18 , Deuteronomy 17:19 . Joshua 1:6-8 . Note the emphasis laid on God's Word written. See note on Exodus 17:14 , and App-47 .

prosper do wisely.

Verse 4

continue = establish.

children = sons. Compare 2 Samuel 7:8 , 2 Samuel 7:11-16 .

soul . Hebrew. nephesh . App-13 .

fail = be cut off from.

Verse 5

Joab. Zeruiah. David's own sister's son.

did to me. David does not mention the worst sin, the death of Absalom.

Abner. Compare 2 Samuel 3:27 , 2 Samuel 3:39 .

Amasa. Compare 2 Samuel 20:9-11 . 1 Chronicles 2:17 .

Verse 6

the grave. Hebrew. Sheol . App-35 . Note "the", not "a". Compare 1 Kings 2:9 .

Verse 7

Barzillai. Compare 2 Samuel 17:27 , 2 Samuel 17:29 ; 2 Samuel 19:31 , 2 Samuel 19:32 .

Verse 8

Shimei. Compare 2 Samuel 16:5-13 ; 2 Samuel 19:18-23 .

I sware. Compare 2Sa. 19-23.

Verse 9

for. Note the parenthesis as indicated. Figure of speech Epitrechon .

but = neither, as in Psalms 38:1 , the second negative being omitted, as is frequently the case. Literally "and [not]". See Psalms 9:18 (Revised Version nor); 1Ki 38:1 (neither); 1Ki 75:5 .Proverbs 24:12 ; Proverbs 25:27 . Isaiah 38:18 . The Ellipsis must be supplied here, as it is in the above passages. The Hebrew Vav (?) is disjunctive (as well as conjunctive), and is frequently translated "or" (see note on Judges 11:31 ), and with a negative "nor" and "neither", as it should be here, &c. Solomon obeyed David's former alternative and did not "hold him guiltless" (1 Kings 2:36 ); but punished him for a fresh offence (verses: 1 Kings 2:42-46 ).

Verse 14

she said. Some codices, with two early printed editions Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, add "unto him".

Verse 16

deny me not. Hebrew idiom = "turn not away my face": face being put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part) for the whole person. App-6 .

Verse 17

say thee nay = turn away thy face. See note above.

Verse 18

Well = good.

Verse 19

seat = throne.

Verse 21

be given. The verb is masculine, as it usually is when a woman acts a man's part.

Verse 23

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh . App-13 .

Verse 24

as = according as.

promised . Compare 2 Samuel 7:12 , 2 Samuel 7:13 .

Verse 26

Anathoth. Compare Joshua 21:18 .

fields . Some codices, with three early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "estate".

worthy of death. Hebrew idiom = "a man of death" = doomed to death. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Lord GOD = Adonai Jehovah. App-4 . (2).

Verse 27

fulfil . Compare 1 Samuel 2:31 , 1 Samuel 2:36 . Already partly fulfilled (1 Samuel 4:11 ; and now, wholly, in 1 Kings 2:35 ).

Shiloh. Compare 1 Samuel 2:35 .

Verse 28

Absalom. Syriac and Vulgate read "Solomon".

tabernacle. Hebrew. 'ohel , tent. See App-40 .

Verse 30

Nay; but. here. The famous Mugah codex quoted in the Massorah adds "to him". App-30 .

Verse 32

men. Hebrew. 'enosh . App-14 .

Verse 36

any whither. Figure of speech Paronomasia . App-6 . Hebrew. 'aneh va anah = hither and thither.

Verse 37

on the day. Same as Genesis 2:17 . Here several days must have elapsed.

shalt surely die. Figure of speech Polyptoton . App-6 . Hebrew "a dying thou shalt die", as in Genesis 2:17 .

thine own head = thyself, "head" being put by Fig, Synecdoche (of the Part) for the whole person. App-6 . See note on 1 Kings 2:9 .

Verse 39

Gath. Sixty-four miles away. Therefore the expression "in the day" must refer to a longer period.