1 Kings, Volume 12

Simon DeVries, Bruce M. Metzger, David Allen Hubbard, Glenn W. Barker, John D. W. Watts, James W. Watts, Ralph P. Martin, Lynn Allan Losie

• Publisher: Zondervan Academic
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9780310588634
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.

Overview of Commentary Organization

• Introduction—covers issues pertaining to the whole book, including context, date, authorship, composition, interpretive issues, purpose, and theology.
• Each section of the commentary includes:
• Pericope Bibliography—a helpful resource containing the most important works that pertain to each particular pericope.
• Translation—the author's own translation of the biblical text, reflecting the end result of exegesis and attending to Hebrew and Greek idiomatic usage of words, phrases, and tenses, yet in reasonably good English.
• Notes—the author's notes to the translation that address any textual variants, grammatical forms, syntactical constructions, basic meanings of words, and problems of translation.
• Form/Structure/Setting—a discussion of redaction, genre, sources, and tradition as they concern the origin of the pericope, its canonical form, and its relation to the biblical and extra-biblical contexts in order to illuminate the structure and character of the pericope. Rhetorical or compositional features important to understanding the passage are also introduced here.
• Comment—verse-by-verse interpretation of the text and dialogue with other interpreters, engaging with current opinion and scholarly research.
• Explanation—brings together all the results of the discussion in previous sections to expose the meaning and intention of the text at several levels: (1) within the context of the book itself; (2) its meaning in the OT or NT; (3) its place in the entire canon; (4) theological relevance to broader OT or NT issues.

General Bibliography—occurring at the end of each volume, this extensive bibliography contains all sources used anywhere in the commentary.

Conclusion to the Throne-Succession Narrative Chapters 1-2

Solomon Becomes King (1:1-53)

Bibliography

Ackroyd, P. R. “The Succession Narrative (so-called).” Int 35 (1981) 383–96. Ball, E. “The Co-regency of David and Solomon (1 Kings I).” VT 27 (1977) 268–79. Bar-Ephrat, S. “Literary Modes and Methods in the Biblical Narrative.” Immanuel 8 (1978) 19–31. Brueggemann, W. “David and his Theologian.” CBQ 30 (1968) 156–81. ———. “On Trust and Freedom. A Study of Faith in the Succession Narrative.” Int 36 (1972) 3–19. ———. “Life and Death in Tenth Century Israel.” JAAR 40 (1972) 96–109. Delekat, L. “Tendenz und Theologie der David-Salomo-Erzählung.” Das ferne und nahe Wort (L. Rost Fs). BZAW 105. Berlin: Töpelmann, 1967. Flanagan, J. W. “Court History or Succession Document? A Study of 2 Samuel 9–20 and I Kings 1–2.” JBL 91 (1972) 172–81. Fokkelman, J. P. Narrative Art and Poetry in the Books of Samuel. A Full Interpretation Based on Stylistic and Structural Analyses. Vol. I, King David (II Sam. 9–20 and I Kings 1–2). StSemNed. Assen: van Gorcum, 1981 (on I Kgs 1–2, 345–410). Gunn, D. L. “David and the Gift of the Kingdom (2 Sam. 2–4, 9–10, 1 Kgs. 1–2).” Sem. 3 (1975) 14–45. Long, B. O. “A Darkness Between Brothers.” JSOT 19 (1981) 79–94. McCarter, Jr., P. K. “ ‘Plots, True or False’: The Succession Narrative as Court Apologetic.” Int 35 (1981) 355–67. Mettinger, T. N. D. King and Messiah. The Civil and Sacral Legitimation of the Israelite Kings. Lund: C. W. K. Gleerup, 1976 (on I Kgs 1:5–31, 119–24). von Rad, G. “Das judäische Königsritual.” TLZ 72 (1947) 211–16. Rost, L. Die Überlieferung von der Thronnachfolge Davids. BWANT, III 6. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer, 1926. Smith, M. “The So-called ‘Biography of David’ in the Books of Samuel and Kings.” HTR 44 (1951) 167–69. Veijola, T. Die ewige Dynastie. David und die Entstehung seiner Dynastie nach der deuteronomistischen Darstellung. Helsinki 1975 (on 1 Kgs 1–2, 16–26). Waterman, L. “Some Historical and Literary Consequences of Probable Displacement in I Kings 1–2.” JAOS 60 (1940) 383–90. Wharton, J. A. “A Plausible Tale: Story and Theology in II Samuel 9–20, I Kings 1–2.” Int 35 (1981) 341–54. Whybray, R. N. The Succession Narrative. A Study of II Samuel 9–20; I Kings 1 and 2. SBT II, 9. Naperville-London: A. R. Alienson, 1968. Würthwein, E. Die Erzählung von der Thronfolge Davids-theologische oder politische Geschichtsschreibung? ThS 115. Zurich: Theologischer Verlag, 1977. Zalewski, S. “The Struggle Between Adonijah and Solomon over the Kingdom” (Heb). BMik 63 (1975) 490–510.

Translation

1Now King David had becomea old, well advanced in years, so that even when they covered him with blankets he could not get warm. 2So his servants said,a “Let us seek outb for cthe kingc a pure young woman to attend the king,d lie ein his bosom,e and warmf the king.” 3Then they looked for a beautiful young woman throughout aall Israela and found Abishag, a Shunemite, and brought her to the king. 4Now the young woman was extremely beautifula and became his bedfellow. waiting on his desires, but the king had no intercourse with her.

5Now Adonijaha son of Haggithb took airs, saying, “I want to be king”; so he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run before him. 6But his father had never chideda him, saying; “Why did you do this?”b What is more, he was exceedingly good-looking: she bad borne him after Absalom was born. 7His confidants were Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest, and they asupported Adonijah.a 8But Zadok the priest and Benaiah son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei, and the warriors who were associated with David, were not witha Adonijah. 9So Adonijah sacrificed aoxen and sheepa at the sliding stoneb which is near Rogel spring,c having invited alld his brotherse the king’s sonse andf the Judahites who were groyal officials:g 10but Nathan the prophet and Benaiah and the warriors and Solomona he did not invite.

11Then Nathan saida to Bathsheba Solomon s mother, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah Haggith’s son reigns, while our lord David is unaware of it? 12So now come,a let me offer you counsel to save you life and the life of your son.b 13Go enter in to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord king, sweara to your maidservant as follows: “Surely bSolomon your sonb shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?” So why does Adonijah reign?’ 14Whilea you are still there speaking with the king, I will followb and confirm your words.”

15So Bathsheba entered in to the king in the bedchamber. Now the king was very, old, and Abishag the Shunemite was ministering to the king: 16And Bathsheba bowed to show homage to the king. And the king said,a “What is it?” 17And shea said,b “My lord,c you swore byd your god to your maidservant, ‘Surely eSolomon your sone shallf reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18But now, behold, Adonijah reigns, and you,a my lord the king, do not know about it! 19And he has sacrificed asheep and oxena and has invited all the king’s sons and Abiathar the priest and Joab, general of the army bbut Solomon your servantc he has not invited,b 20aAs for you, my lord king,a the eyes of all Israelb are on you to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him; 21and it may be that when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers I will be—with amy son Solomon a—reckoned as guilty.”

22And behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet entered. 23And they told the king, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And he entered into athe king’sa presence and prostrated himself on his face to the king, all the way to the ground. 24And Nathana s...