The Geneva Bible Translation Notes, [1599], at sacred-texts.com
3 Kings (1 Kings) Chapter 1
Now king David was (a) old [and] stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no (b) heat.
The Argument - Because the children of God should expect no continual rest and quietness in this world, the Holy Spirit sets before our eyes in this book the variety and change of things, which came to the people of Israel from the death of David, Solomon, and the rest of the kings, to the death of Ahab. Declaring that flourishing kingdoms, unless they are preserved by God's protection, (who then favours them when his word is truly set forth, virtue esteemed, vice punished, and concord maintained) fall to decay and come to nothing as appears by the dividing of the kingdom under Rehoboam and Jeroboam, who were one people before and now by the just punishment of God were made two. Judah and Benjamin were under Rehoboam, and this was called the kingdom of Judah. The other ten tribes held with Jeroboam, and this was called the kingdom of Israel. The king of Judah had his throne in Jerusalem, and the king of Israel in Samaria, after it was built by Omri Ahab's father. Because our Saviour Christ according to the flesh, comes from the stock of David, the genealogy of the kings of Judah is here described, from Solomon to Joram the son of Jehoshaphat, who reigned over Judah in Jerusalem as Ahab did over Israel in Samaria.
(a) He was about 70 years old, (Sa2 5:4).
(b) For his natural heat was worn away with travels.
So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag (c) a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
(c) A city in the tribe of Issachar, (Jos 19:18).
Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and (d) fifty men to run before him.
(d) Read (Sa2 15:1).
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah (e) helped [him].
(e) They took his part and followed him.
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and (f) the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
(f) As the Cherethites and Pelethites.
Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own (g) life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
(g) For Adonijah will destroy you and your son, if he reigns.
Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and (h) confirm thy words.
(h) By declaring such things, as may further the same.
And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest (i) [it] not:
(i) The king being worn with age, could not attend to the affairs of the realm, and also Adonijah had many who kept it from the king.
Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be (k) counted offenders.
(k) And so put to death as wicked transgressors.
And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face (l) to the ground.
(l) Acknowledging him to be the true and worthy king appointed by God, as the figure of his Christ.
Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed [it] unto thy (m) servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
(m) Meaning, that in such affairs he should undertake nothing unless he had consulted with the Lord.
Even as I (n) sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
(n) Moved by the Spirit of God to do so, because he foresaw that Solomon would be the figure of Christ.
The king also said unto them, Take with you the (o) servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
(o) Meaning, the king's servants and such as were of his guard.
And Zadok the priest took an horn of (p) oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
(p) With which they were accustomed to anoint the priests and the holy instruments, (Exo 30:23).
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 man, and bringest (q) good tidings.
(q) He praised Jonathan, thinking to have heard good news but God wrought things contrary to his expectation, and so beat down his pride.
And moreover the king's servants 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 (f) bed.
(f) He gave God thanks for the good success.
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the (t) altar.
(t) Which David his father had built in the floor of Araunah, (Sa2 24:25).