32 And king David saith, 'Call for me for Zadok the priest, and for Nathan the prophet, and for Benaiah son of Jehoiada;' and they come in before the king. 33 And the king saith to them, 'Take with you the servants of your lord, and ye have caused Solomon my son to ride on mine own mule, and caused him to go down unto Gihon, 34 and anointed him there hath Zadok the priest—and Nathan the prophet—for king over Israel, and ye have blown with a trumpet, and said, Let king Solomon live; 35 and ye have come up after him, and he hath come in and hath sat on my throne, and he doth reign in my stead, and him I have appointed to be leader over Israel, and over Judah.' 36 And Benaiah son of Jehoiada answereth the king, and saith, 'Amen! so doth Jehovah, God of my lord the king, say; 37 as Jehovah hath been with my lord the king, so is He with Solomon, and doth make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.' 38 And Zadok the priest goeth down, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethite, and the Pelethite, and they cause Solomon to ride on the mule of king David, and cause him to go unto Gihon, 39 and Zadok the priest taketh the horn of oil out of the tent, and anointeth Solomon, and they blow with a trumpet, and all the people say, 'Let king Solomon live.' 40 And all the people come up after him, and the people are piping with pipes, and rejoicing—great joy, and the earth rendeth with their voice.
41 And Adonijah heareth, and all those called, who 'are' with him, and they have finished to eat, and Joab heareth the noise of the trumpet, and saith, 'Wherefore 'is' the noise of the city roaring?' 42 He is yet speaking, and lo, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest hath come in, and Adonijah saith, 'Come in, for a man of valour thou 'art', and thou bearest good tidings.' 43 And Jonathan answereth and saith to Adonijah, 'Verily our lord king David hath caused Solomon to reign, 44 and the king sendeth with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethite, and the Pelethite, and they cause him to ride on the king's mule, 45 and they anoint him—Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet—for king in Gihon, and are come up thence rejoicing, and the city is moved; it 'is' the noise that ye have heard. 46 'And also Solomon hath sat on the throne of the kingdom, 47 and also the servants of the king have come into bless our lord king David, saying, Thy God doth make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and his throne greater than thy throne; and the king boweth himself on the bed, 48 and also thus hath the king said, Blessed 'is' Jehovah, God of Israel, who hath given to-day 'one' sitting on my throne, and mine eyes seeing.' 49 And they tremble, and rise—all those called who 'are' for Adonijah—and go, each on his way; 50 and Adonijah feareth because of Solomon, and riseth, and goeth, and layeth hold on the horns of the altar. 51 And it is declared to Solomon, saying, 'Lo, Adonijah feareth king Solomon, and lo, he hath laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me as to-day—he doth not put to death his servant by the sword.' 52 And Solomon saith, 'If he becometh a virtuous man—there doth not fall of his hair to the earth, and if evil is found in him—then he hath died.' 53 And king Solomon sendeth, and they bring him down from off the altar, and he cometh in and boweth himself to king Solomon, and Solomon saith to him, 'Go to thy house.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 1:32-53
Commentary on 1 Kings 1:32-53
(Read 1 Kings 1:32-53)
The people expressed great joy and satisfaction in the elevation of Solomon. Every true Israelite rejoices in the exaltation of the Son of David. Combinations formed upon evil principles will soon be dissolved, when self-interest calls another way. How can those who do evil deeds expect to have good tidings? Adonijah had despised Solomon, but soon dreaded him. We see here, as in a glass, Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God, exalted to the throne of glory, notwithstanding all his enemies. His kingdom is far greater than that of his father David, and therein all the true people of God cordially rejoice. The prosperity of his cause is vexation and terror to his enemies. No horns of the altar, nor forms of godliness, nor pretences to religion, can profit those who will not submit to His authority, and accept of his salvation; and if their submission be hypocritical, they shall perish without remedy.