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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Kings 1:41 - 1:53
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Adonijah's Life Spared
v. 41. And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating, for the noise sounded down from Zion as far as their place of assembly. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, knowing the significance of its signals, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar? What is the meaning of this sound of warlike noises?
v. 42. And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar, the priest, came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant, reliable, man and bringest good tidings. He had been left behind in the city to serve as messenger, to bring the report of anything which he might observe.
v. 43. And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily, literally, "true indeed," but our lord, King David, hath made Solomon king.
v. 44. And the king hath sent with him Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule;
v. 45. and Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again, with joyful excitement. This is the noise that ye have heard.
v. 46. And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom, established and accepted as rightful king.
v. 47. And moreover, the king's servants, represented by Benaiah, came to bless our lord, King David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed, he arose from his lying posture and bent forward as far as he could, in an attitude of prayer.
v. 48. And also thus said the king, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it. Cf Gen_47:31.
v. 49. And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, every added statement served to make their messenger's report more unwelcome to the conspirators, and rose up, and went every man his way.
v. 50. And Adonijah, the chief conspirator, feared because of Solomon, and arose, having been abandoned by his panic-stricken followers, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar, for this was considered a place of refuge, since his action signified that he appealed to the pardoning power and grace of Jehovah.
v. 51. And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth King Solomon; for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon swear unto me to-day that he will not slay his servant with the sword. He was in a panic lest he receive the reward of his transgression.
v. 52. And Solomon said, if he will show himself a worthy man, honorable and trustworthy, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth, he would not be harmed; but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die, another crime of a similar nature would cost him his life.
v. 53. So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. "Solomon regarded Adonijah's flight to the horns of the altar as a confession of his guilt and repentance, and he exercised an act of clemency which could only produce the most favorable impression upon the people. " (Lange. ) And he came and bowed himself to King Solomon, acknowledging him as rightful king; and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house. He was granted life and freedom. Note: All those who have left the kingdom of Christ, but return to Him while the-time of grace is still upon them, will not be cast out by Him; for with Him there is mercy and forgiveness.