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 1Ki_11:1Psa_18:1Mar_16:7; and partly lest the men of Judah, who were in a special manner invited by Adonijah, 1Ki_1:9, might think themselves exempted from his jurisdiction.