1 Kings 1:47

1Ki 1:47 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 bed.

Ver. 47. Better than thy name, and his throne greater.] This wish of his servants was no grief of heart to the old king, but a matter of joy. So they prayed for Hector’s son in Homer,

“πατρος δ ογε πολλον αμεινων.”

And Claudian thus bespeaketh Honorius the emperor -

“ Aspice, completur votum; iam natus adaequat

Te meritis, et quod magis est optabile, vincit. ”

And the king bowed himself upon the bed.] Worshipping God, as Gen 47:31, and joining in prayer with his servants for his son. Some think he bowed himself to his son now crowned king: what, then, would he have done to his Lord, if present?, {Psa 110:1} quos non honores in illum supplex ac venerabundus certatim contulisset? {a}

{a} Bucholcer.

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.

He gave God thanks for the good success.

To salute him, and to pray and praise God for him.

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

Verse 47. Moreover, the king's servants came] The king himself was at this time confined to his own house, and probably to his bed, and could not possibly see these ceremonies; therefore his confidential servants came and told him. We know not how Jonathan, in so short a time, possessed himself of so much information.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(47) The king bowed himself, that is, in worship (comp. Gen_47:31), at once joining in the prayer of his servants, and thanking God for the fulfilment of His promise.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

47. the king’s servants] i.e. The general public of Jerusalem who gathered themselves to offer congratulations to David on the commencement of the reign of his son. That a son should begin to reign during his father’s lifetime was no uncommon occurrence in the East.

the king bowed himself upon the bed] The verb is that commonly used of an act of worship, and the language of the next verse shews that David’s bowing was of this nature. He prayed that the good wishes he had just heard might be fulfilled, and thanked God for what had already happened. The action and intention is similar to that of Jacob described Gen_47:31.

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.

The king bowed himself - The king worshipped God and prayed that it might be so. Compare Gen 47:31, with margin reference, Heb 11:21.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Blessed. Congratulating him on the exaltation of Solomon. --- Bed. Shewing respect to the new king, as Jacob had done to Joseph; (Genesis xlvii. 31.; Sanctius) or laying himself down again; (Calmet) or rather giving thanks to God, (Menochius) whom he adored, in gratitude for the favour of a successor being granted to him. (Worthington)

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).

To bless our lord king David; to praise and thank him for his great and good care, in leaving them in the hands of so excellent a successor, under whom they might expect peace and all prosperity; and to congratulate with him for God’s great mercy to him, in giving him such a son and successor, and that his eyes had now seen the actual accomplishment of God’s promise made to him concerning this thing.

The king bowed himself upon the bed; adoring God for this great mercy, and thereby declaring his hearty approbation and consent to this action. Compare Gen 47:31.

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

And moreover as before the king"s servants see on ver. 33 came to bless our lord king David Jonathan here refers in all probability to the words of Benaiah, vers. 36, 37. He does not know the exact particulars, and ascribes to the "servants" the words of their commander. Of course it is possible that "the bodyguard took up the words of Jehoiada (Benaiah?) their captain and repeated them with some slight alteration." (Rawlinson) saying, God so the Keri. The Cethib has "thy God" make the name of Solomon better than thy name and make his throne greater than thy throne This prayer was fulfilled. (1Ki_3:12 1Ki_4:21-24) And the king bowed himself in worship. Cf. Gen_47:31 upon the bed.

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

Bowed himself - Adoring God for this great mercy, and thereby declaring his hearty consent to this action.

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