1 Kings 2:23

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

¹²So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established. ¹³Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, who asked, "Do you come in peace?" "Yes, in peace," he replied. ¹⁴Then he said, "I have something to tell you." "Say it," she answered. ¹⁵"You know that the kingship was mine," he said. "All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD. ¹⁶So now I have just one request of you; do not deny me." "State your request," she told him. ¹⁷Adonijah replied, "Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife." ¹⁸"Very well," Bathsheba replied. "I will speak to the king for you." ¹⁹So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand. ²⁰"I have just one small request of you," she said. "Do not deny me." "Make your request, my mother," the king replied, "for I will not deny you." ²¹So Bathsheba said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

God: 1 Kings 20:10, Ruth 1:17, 1 Samuel 14:44, 2 Samuel 3:9, 2 Samuel 3:35, 2 Samuel 19:13, 2 Kings 6:31

if Adonijah: We have already seen, that the whole harem of an eastern monarch was a part of the regal succession - see note on 2 Samuel 16:23, and it was treason for a subject to claim any wife or virgin who had once formed a part of it. Solomon evidently considered the request of Adonijah in this light; and was convinced that he was still aiming to seize the crown, to which he considered this as one step. But it is very doubtful, how far the plea either of policy or state necessity can justify Solomon in thus embruing his hands in his brother's blood, whatever might have been his treasonable intentions or conduct.

spoken: Psalms 64:8, Psalms 140:9, Proverbs 18:6, Proverbs 18:7, Ecclesiastes 10:12, Luke 19:22

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:38 - sinners 2 Samuel 12:10 - the sword Proverbs 12:13 - wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips Proverbs 18:19 - brother Proverbs 20:2 - sinneth Habakkuk 2:10 - sinned

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, where He placed the man He had formed.

Genesis 2:9
Out of the ground the LORD God gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 29:14
Then Laban declared, "You are indeed my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him a month,

Judges 9:2
"Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, 'Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?' Remember that I am your own flesh and blood."

2 Samuel 5:1
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

2 Samuel 19:13
And say to Amasa, 'Aren't you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!'"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then King Solomon sware by the Lord,.... To prevent his mother pressing him to have her petition granted:

saying, God do so to me, and more also; lay such and such evils upon me, and more than I care to express:

if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life; to his own prejudice, and even to the loss of his life; in which Solomon suggests it would issue, being a fresh overt act of treason; he knew, from what Bathsheba said, that this was his petition, and that he had spoken of this to her, and put her upon making it for him; and who no doubt related to Solomon the whole of the conversation that passed between them, and to which he seems to have some respect in his answer.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Against his own life - Adonijah had forfeited his life by his former conduct, and his pardon had been merely conditional 1 Kings 1:52.