ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Kings 1

1:1–11:43 The Reign of King Solomon. First Kings 1–11 describes the reign of David’s son Solomon. Solomon was a great king when he obeyed God and depended on God for wisdom, but his reign ended tragically as he began worshiping other gods.

1 Kings 1:2–4 let her wait on the king and be in his service. . . . lie in your arms. The Hebrew words used here imply that David could have had sexual relations with Abishag. The fact that he did not do so (knew her not) probably led Adonijah to believe that the king was near death and could be easily overthrown.

1 Kings 1:5–6 Adonijah was David’s oldest surviving son. David had the right, with God’s guidance, to appoint his own successor. But Adonijah exalted himself by trying to make himself king. Apparently Adonijah was used to getting his way, for David had never held him accountable for anything (never asking, “Why have you done thus and so?”). This is also how David had treated Absalom, who also rebelled (see note on 2 Sam. 13:21).

1 Kings 1:7–9 The events of chs. 1–2 are related to tensions between Judah and Israel as already seen in the books of Samuel and soon to reappear in 1 Kings 12 (see 2 Sam. 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16). It was the royal officials of Judah who were invited to Adonijah’s feast, not those of Israel. Shimei was an opponent of David from the house of Saul (2 Sam. 16:5–14). The spring En-rogel was south of Jerusalem, at the juncture of the Hinnom and Kidron Valleys. It provided a water source for the city.

1 Kings 1:13 Did you not . . . swear? This oath is not mentioned anywhere else, and Nathan does not mention it to David when he later confronts him (vv. 24–27). Perhaps David had privately promised Bathsheba that her son Solomon would be the next king.

1 Kings 1:20–21 Bathsheba is concerned that, if David does not appoint Solomon as the next king, she and her son will be treated as rivals for the throne (counted offenders). Their lives will be at risk.

1 Kings 1:31 May my lord King David live forever! Bathsheba uses the conventional language for addressing a king (compare Dan. 3:9). She is reaffirming her loyalty to David.

1 Kings 1:33 my own mule. Solomon’s ride on David’s mule marks him as David’s favored son. The mule itself may have been regarded as a symbol of kingship (see Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:1–11).

1 Kings 1:38 Cherethites and . . . Pelethites. These are probably the “servants” of v. 33, apparently David’s own personal troops (see 2 Sam. 20:7, 23).

1 Kings 1:39 The tent might be the tabernacle, that is, “the tent of the Lord” (2:28–30). However, the text distinguishes between David’s tent in Jerusalem (the temporary location of the ark of the covenant) and the tabernacle in Gibeon.

1 Kings 1:41–49 Adonijah’s guests, who were in En-rogel (v. 9), were not able to directly observe Solomon’s anointing (vv. 38–40). However, they were close enough that they heard people celebrating. Therefore they trembled and rose (v. 49), knowing that siding with Adonijah could mean being considered rebels.

1 Kings 1:50 horns of the altar. Adonijah believes that the altar, as a holy place, will protect him from Solomon’s revenge. Many ancient Near Eastern cultures allowed people to seek asylum at shrines.