20So Ahab said to Elijah, n“Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because oyou have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD:
21‘Behold, pI will bring calamity on you. I will take away your qposterity, and will cut off from Ahab revery male in Israel, both sbond and free.
22‘I will make your house like the house of tJeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of uBaasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.’
23“And vconcerning Jezebel the LORD also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the 2wall of Jezreel.’
24“The dogs shall eat wwhoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.”
25But xthere was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, ybecause Jezebel his wife 3stirred him up.
26And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all zthat the Amorites had done, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
27So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and aput sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.
28And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
29“See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he bhas humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. cIn the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.”
1 Kings 22
Micaiah Warns Ahab
(2 Chr. 18:1–27)
1Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel.
2Then it came to pass, in the third year, that aJehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel.
3And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that bRamoth in Gilead is ours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?”
4So he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, c“I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
5Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, d“Please inquire for the word of the LORD today.”
6Then the king of Israel egathered 1the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
7And fJehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of 2Him?”
8So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”
9Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly!”
10The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
11Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made ghorns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘With these you shall hgore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’ ”
12And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king’s hand.”
13Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”
14And Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, iwhatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak.”
15Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king!”
16So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?”
17Then he said, “I saw all Israel jscattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ”
18And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
19Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: kI saw the LORD sitting on His throne, land all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.
20“And the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.
21“Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’
22“The LORD said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the LORD said, m‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’
23n“Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.”
24Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and ostruck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, p“Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you?”
25And Micaiah said, “Indeed, you shall see on that day when you go into an qinner chamber to hide!”
26So the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son;
27“and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in rprison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.” ’ ”
28But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, sthe LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”
Ahab Dies in Battle
(2 Chr. 18:28–34)
29So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
30And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel tdisguised himself and went into battle.
31Now the uking of Syria had commanded the thirty-two vcaptains of his chariots, saying, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.”
32So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat wcried out.
33And it happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
34Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”
35The battle increased that day; and the king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and died at evening. The blood ran out from the wound onto the floor of the chariot.
36Then, as the sun was going down, a shout went throughout the army, saying, “Every man to his city, and every man to his own country!”
37So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria.
38Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while 3the harlots bathed, according xto the word of the LORD which He had spoken.
39Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, ythe ivory house which he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
40So Ahab 4rested with his fathers. Then zAhaziah his son reigned in his place.
Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah
(2 Chr. 20:31—21:1)
41aJehoshaphat t
he son of Asa had become king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
43And bhe walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless cthe high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
44Also dJehoshaphat made epeace with the king of Israel.
45Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, the might that he showed, and how he made war, are they not written fin the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
46gAnd the rest of the 5perverted persons, who remained in the days of his father Asa, he banished from the land.
47hThere was then no king in Edom, only a deputy of the king.
48iJehoshaphat jmade 6merchant ships to go to kOphir for gold; lbut they never sailed, for the ships were wrecked at mEzion Geber.
49Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not.
50And nJehoshaphat 7rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
Ahaziah Reigns in Israel
51oAhaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.
52He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and pwalked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin;
53for qhe served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, raccording8 to all that his father had done.
1 Kings Commentaries
1 Kings 1
1:1—11:43 The first division of Kings chronicles the reign of Solomon. The literary structure is centered around the building activities of Solomon (6:1–9:9) and climaxes with the failure of Solomon to follow the Lord wholeheartedly (11:1–43).
1:1 advanced in years. David was 70 years old (cf. 2 Sam. 5:4, 5).
1:2 the king may be warm. In his old age, circulatory problems plagued King David so he had trouble keeping warm. The royal staff proposed a solution that a young virgin nurse watch over him and, at night, warm him with her body heat. This was in harmony with the medical customs of that day; both the Jewish historian Josephus (first century A.D.) and the Greek physician Galen (second century A.D.) record such a practice.
1:3 Abishag the Shunammite. Abishag was a very beautiful teenager from the town of Shunem, in the territory of Issachar located 3 mi. N of Jezreel (Josh. 19:18; 1 Sam. 28:4; 2 Kin. 4:8). Though from the same town, she is not to be identified with the Shulamite in the Song of Solomon (6:13).
1:4 the king did not know her. Although apparently joining David’s harem (cf. 2:17, 22–24), Abishag remained a virgin.
1:5 Adonijah. Adonijah was the fourth son of David (2 Sam. 3:4) and probably the oldest living son, since Amnon (2 Sam. 13:28, 29) and Absalom (2 Sam. 18:14, 15) had been killed, and Chileab apparently died in his youth, since there is no mention of him beyond his birth. As David’s oldest surviving heir, Adonijah attempted to claim the kingship. chariots and horsemen. Like Absalom (2 Sam. 15:1), Adonijah sought to confirm and support his claim to kingship by raising a small army.
1:7 Joab. David’s nephew (1 Chr. 2:16), the commander of the army of Israel (2 Sam. 8:16) and a faithful supporter of David’s kingship (2 Sam. 18:2; 20:22). He was guilty of the illegal killings of Abner and Amasa (2:5; cf. 2 Sam. 3:39; 20:10). Adonijah wanted his support in his bid for the throne. Abiathar. One of the two High-Priests serving concurrently during David’s reign (2 Sam. 8:17), whose influence Adonijah sought.
1:8 Zadok. The other High-Priest serving during David’s reign (2 Sam. 8:17), whose ancestors will serve the millennial temple (see Ezek. 44:15). He had been High-Priest in the tabernacle at Gibeon under Saul (1 Chr. 16:39). Benaiah. The commander of the Cherethites and Pelethites (v. 44), David’s official guards distinguished for bravery (see 2 Sam. 23:20). See note on 1 Sam. 30:14. He was regarded by Joab as a rival. Nathan. The most influential prophet during David’s reign (2 Sam. 7:1–17; 12:1–15, 25). Shimei. Cf. 4:18. A different individual than the Shimei referred to in 2:8, 36–46; 2 Sam. 16:5–8. the mighty men. See 2 Sam. 23:8–39.
1:9 Zoheleth. Or “Serpent Stone,” a standard landmark identified with a previous Jebusite snake worship location. En Rogel. Lit. “the spring of the fuller.” Typically identified as being located at the N/W confluence of the Kidron and Hinnom Valleys. See marginal note for location. Here Adonijah held a political event to court popularity and secure his claim to the throne.
1:11–27 The revolt of Adonijah was defeated by Nathan, who knew the Lord’s will (see 2 Sam. 7:12; 1 Chr. 22:9) and acted quickly, by having Bathsheba go to David first to report what was happening, after which he would follow (v. 23).
1:11 Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. The mothers of the kings of the Davidic line are continually noted (2:13, 19; 14:21; 15:2; 2 Kin. 8:26; 12:1; 14:2; 15:2, 33; 18:2; 21:1, 19; 22:1; 23:31, 36; 24:8). The queen mother held an influential position in the royal court. For the story of how David sinfully took her, see 2 Sam. 11.
1:12 save…the life of your son. If Adonijah had become king, the lives of Bathsheba and Solomon would have been in jeopardy, because often in the ancient Near East potential claimants to the throne and their families were put to death (cf. 15:29; 16:11; 2 Kin. 10:11).
1:13 Did you not…swear. This oath was given privately (unrecorded in Scripture) by David, perhaps to both Nathan and Bathsheba. Solomon’s choice by the Lord was implicit in his name Jedidiah, meaning “loved by the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:24, 25) and explicit in David’s declaration to Solomon (1 Chr. 22:6–13). Cf. vv. 17, 20, 35.
1:28–53 See 1 Chr. 29:21–25.
1:29 the king took an oath. David swore another oath to carry out his earlier oath to make Solomon king, and he made good on it that very day.
1:33 my own mule. The riding of David’s royal mule showed Israel that Solomon was David’s chosen successor (see 2 Sam. 13:29). Gihon. This spring, which was Jerusalem’s main water supply (see marginal note), was located about one-half mi. N of En Rogel (v. 9) and hidden from it by an intervening hill. Thus, the sound of Solomon’s anointing ceremony could have been heard without being seen by Adonijah’s party.
1:34 anoint him king. Saul and David had been anointed by Samuel, the Lord’s priest and prophet (1 Sam. 10:1; 16:13); Solomon was also to be recognized by priest and prophet. The participation of the prophet Nathan gave Solomon’s coronation evidence of the Lord’s blessing. Throughout the book of Kings, God identified His chosen kings through prophets (11:37; 15:28, 29; 16:12; 2 Kin. 9:3). blow the horn. The blowing of the trumpet signaled a public assembly where the people corporately recognized Solomon’s new status as co-regent with and successor to David (vv. 39, 40).
1:35 Israel and Judah. The two major geographical components of David’s and Solomon’s kingdoms. Even while still unified these two separate entities, that would later divide (12:20), were clearly identifiable.
1:39 tabernacle. This was the tent David set up in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:17; 1 Chr. 15:1) to house the ark of the covenant, not the tabernacle of Moses (see 3:4).
1:41–49 Adonijah…heard it. The loud shouts hailing Solomon as king reached the ears of those at Adonijah’s feast at En Rogel nearby. A messenger came with the full report of the coronation of Solomon, so that the cause of Adonijah was lost and the party ended with the people leaving in fear.
1:42 Jonathan. The son of Abiathar the priest was an experienced messenger (2 Sam. 15:36; 17:17).
1:50 horns of the altar. Cf. 2:28. The “horns” were corner projections on the altar of burnt offering on which the priests smeared the blood of the sacrifices (Ex. 27:2; 29:12). By taking hold of the h
orns, Adonijah sought to place himself under the protection of God (see Ex. 21:13, 14).
1 Kings 2
2:1 he charged Solomon. Leaders typically exhorted their successors, e.g., Moses (Deut. 31:7, 8), Joshua (Josh. 23:1–6), and Samuel (1 Sam. 12:1–25). So also David gave Solomon a final exhortation.
2:2 the way of all the earth. An expression for death (Josh. 23:14; cf. Gen 3:19). be strong…prove yourself a man. An expression of encouragement (Deut. 31:7, 23; Josh. 1:6, 7, 9, 18; 1 Sam. 4:9) with which David sought to prepare Solomon for the difficult tasks and the battles in his future.
2:3 keep the charge of the LORD your God. David admonished Solomon to obey the Mosaic law so he could have a successful kingship (cf. Deut. 17:18–20).
2:4 His word. The unconditional Davidic Covenant was made by God with David in 2 Sam. 7:4–17 and confirmed to Solomon in 1 Kin. 9:5, promising the perpetuation of the Davidic dynasty over Israel. If your sons take heed to their way. David declared that the king’s obedience to the law of Moses was a necessary condition for the fulfillment of the divine promise. The book of Kings demonstrates that none of the descendants of David remained faithful to God’s law; none of them met the conditions for the fulfillment of the divine promise. Rather, David’s words provided a basis for explaining the Exile. Thus, the ultimate and final King of Israel would appear at a later, undesignated time.
2:5 Abner…Amasa. These were victims of Joab’s jealousy and vengeance, who were killed after warfare had ceased (2 Sam. 3:27; 20:10), thus bringing Joab’s punishment as a murderer (Deut. 19:11–13).
2:7 sons of Barzillai. David told Solomon to repay Barzillai’s kindness to David (2 Sam. 17:27–29) by showing similar kindness to Barzillai’s sons. eat at your table. A position of honor that could include a royal stipend (2 Sam. 9:7; 1 Kin. 18:19; 2 Kin. 25:29).
2:8 Shimei. He had angrily stoned and vehemently cursed David when David was escaping from Absalom (2 Sam. 16:5–13). Shimei’s actions were worthy of death (Ex. 22:28), and David counseled Solomon through subtle means to arrange for his just punishment (vv. 36–46).
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 173