And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
Study Helps
Interpretation
Solomon received Bathsheba with all the respect that was owing to a mother; but let none be asked for that which they ought not to grant. It ill becomes a good man to prefer a bad request, or to appear in a bad cause.
Read with
This thought runs through 1 Kings 2:19-23.
Glossary
- Joab Person
- Jehovah is his father. (1. ) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and “captain of the host” during the whole of David’s reign ( 2 Sam. 2:13 ; 10:7 ; 11:1 ; 1 Kings 11:15 ).
- Zeruiah Person
- Stricken of the Lord, David’s sister, and the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
- Adonijah Person
- My Lord is Jehovah. (1. ) The fourth son of David ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ). After the death of his elder brothers, Amnon and Absalom, he became heir-apparent to the throne. But Solomon, a younger brother, was preferred to him.
- Abishag Person
- Father of (i. e., “given to”) error, a young woman of Shunem, distinguished for her beauty. She was chosen to minister to David in his old age. She became his wife ( 1 Kings 1:3 , 4, 15).
- Abiathar Person
- Father of abundance, or my father excels, the son of Ahimelech the high priest. He was the tenth high priest, and the fourth in descent from Eli.