1 Kings 1:10

1Ki 1:10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

Ver. 10. But Nathan the prophet.] These were no whit the worse men for being thus neglected. The wise historian observed, that the statues of Brutus and Cassius {a} were the more glorious and illustrious, because they were not brought out with other images in a solemn procession at the funeral of Germanicus. Cato said he had rather men should question why he had no statue or monument erected to him, than why he had.

{a} Tacit.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

As the Cherethites and Pelethites.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

10. Solomon his brother] Doubtless Adonijah was well acquainted with David’s intention that Solomon should be his successor. But in those early times in most countries but especially in the East the right of hereditary succession was not thought of, the reigning monarch selecting for his successor that member of his family who was most in favour or who seemed most fit to rule. Moreover, in this case, Solomon was not the son of the first wife.

called] i.e. invited to be present at the feast which he was about to make.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. Did not invite them to this feast; not Nathan, who he might know had prophesied of Solomon's succession in the throne, and therefore it could not be thought he would be drawn over to him; nor "Benaiah and the mighty men"; David's bodyguards, over whom this officer was; and still less Solomon, his competitor and rival.

But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. Did not invite them to this feast; not Nathan, who he might know had prophesied of Solomon's succession in the throne, and therefore it could not be thought he would be drawn over to him; nor "Benaiah and the mighty men"; David's bodyguards, over whom this officer was; and still less Solomon, his competitor and rival.

1 Kings 1:11

kg1 1:11

kg1 1:11

kg1 1:11Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon,.... Who not only had an interest in the king, being his wife, and an easy access to him, but had a special concern in this affair, as it affected her son, to whom the succession of the kingdom was designed and promised:

saying, hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign? has usurped the throne, and is proclaimed king by a party, who at least have drank his health as such; has taken the title, and is about to exercise the power of a king; this Bathsheba might not have heard of, and which he expresses in this manner to quicken her to make an immediate application to the king:

and David our Lord knoweth it not; being so infirm, and in his bed, and nobody about him to inform him of it; it was done without his knowledge, and far from being with his consent and approbation.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Not. Out of contempt, (Calmet) and because he knew that they would oppose his measures. (Haydock)\

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Because he knew they favoured Solomon his competitor.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

10. He called not — For he well knew that they would not favour his plans, but would rather oppose and thwart them with a power not easy to resist.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. It is clear from this verse that Adonijah perfectly understood that he had in Solomon a rival. The intentions and promises (ver. 13) of his father can hardly have been unknown to him. The name "Jedidiah, too, bestowed upon Solomon by Nathan, (2Sa_12:25) taken in connexion with the prophecy of Nathan (ibid. 1Ki_7:12; cf., 1Ch_22:9, 1Ch_22:10) must have proved to him that Solomon was marked out for David"s successor. He seems to have been well aware also who were Solomon"s supporters. To some of them he may have made indirect overtures.

The historian having recorded Adonijah"s preparations for a coup d"etat, now relates the manner in which the plot was frustrated. The prophet, who had been the guardian and preceptor of Solomon"s youth, and who knew the Divine will respecting the succession, (1Ch_22:9, 1Ch_22:10) takes prompt and energetic measures to defeat the conspiracy. And the speech Heb. thing; same word as below pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing, Though in a dream the judgment and will were not suspended. Our dreams accord with our waking thoughts. This would have been Solomon"s choice at any time.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Called not - Because he knew they favoured Solomon his competitor.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

And his brother Shlomo, he did not invite. For he knew that the prophet had prophesied about him that he would reign.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.