Poole on 1 Kings 2:1-4: David's Death-bed Charge to Solomon, Part 1

Verse 1:[1]  Now (Gen. 47:29; Deut. 31:14) the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying…

Verse 2:[2]  (Josh. 23:14) I go the way of all the earth:  (Deut. 17:19, 20) be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man…

[I go the way of all the earth[3] (similarly all interpreters)]  Of all the earth’s inhabitants (Arabic, thus Vatablus).  That is to say, I sense that I am going to die soon, just like all the rest (Vatablus).  A Paraphrasis of the verb to die.  Plautus[4] in the Prologue of Casina, who have now departed to the common place; and in Trinummus, he has gone to the majority (Drusius’[5] Concerning Inquiries by Epistle[6] 2:34).  The exit of all is the same, but also the same dwelling-place, Petronius’ Satyricon[7] 2:3 (Gataker).  We are all driven to the same place, etc., Horace’s[8] Odes 2:3 (Martyr).

Of all the earth, that is, of all men upon the earth.  Compare Joshua 23:14; Hebrews 9:27.

[Be strong and play the man]  That is to say, Even if thou art tender in age, make sure that thou showest thyself a man in strength of thy character (Martyr).  With me yet surviving, it was permitted to thee to act the part of a youth; now thou must show thyself a man in fortitude and wisdom (Menochius).  Constancy and fortitude of soul are necessary to all that strive to live by the law of God, especially to Kings:  For a great many impediments present themselves to them; flatterers, wealth, and power are at hand:  they appear unbound by laws; they do not have avengers, who might set them right when they slip.  It belongs to them, not only to keep the law of God, but to take care that others fulfill it; to encourage the good with reward, and to restrain the wicked with punishments; which is certainly very difficult.  And so, with good reason does David especially require fortitude of his son (Martyr).

Be thou strong; for to govern his people according to the law of God, as it here follows, requires great fortitude or strength of mind; to arm himself against the subtle devices and evasions of some; against the flatteries and importunities of others; against terrors and dangers from revengeful men, and especially against himself and his own weakness, partiality, through fear or favour; and against all those evil thoughts and passions to which the temptations of their great wealth, and glory, and uncontrollable power naturally expose them.  See Proverbs 16:32.  Show thyself a man, in manly wisdom, and courage, and constancy, though thou art but young in years, 1 Chronicles 22:5.

Verse 3:[9]  And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest (Deut. 29:9; Josh. 1:7; 1 Chron. 22:12, 13) prosper (or, do wisely;[10] 1 Sam. 18:5,[11] 14,[12] 30[13]) in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself…

[And observe the charges of the Lord, ‎אֶת־מִשְׁמֶרֶת]  The observance (Vatablus, Piscator, Junius and Tremellius), that is, what things God has commanded to be heeded and kept, namely, His precepts (Vatablus, thus Menochius, Tirinus, Sanchez).  An action is often put for its effect or object; as fear is for a dreadful thing; neither fear ye their fear.[14]  Thus vision for a thing seen;[15] hearing for speech[16] (Sanchez).  The observance of the law is called keeping/charge, either because it is our job to keep the precepts; because by this obedience to Him we are kept and corrected (Martyr).

The charge of the Lord thy God, that is, what God hath charged or commanded thee to do; the act being put for the object; as is usual.

[That thou mightest walk in His ways]  That is, imitate Him, by keeping His decrees, etc. (Vatablus).  The way is the form, plan, and manner of living revealed to us by God (Vatablus).

[That thou mightest keep His ceremonies, ‎חֻקֹּתָיו]  His statutes (Munster, Vatablus, Junius and Tremellius), or decrees (Vatablus).  Thus are called, either, 1.  those things the reason for which is not known (Munster, Hebrews in Vatablus), like thou shalt not sow with divers seeds,[17] etc. (Munster).  Or, 2.  the ceremonial precepts (Lyra, Menochius, similarly Martyr).

[His precepts (thus Munster, Vatablus, Junius and Tremellius), ‎מִצְוֹתָיו]  Thus they call, either, 1.  those things to which is added a word of instruction (Munster); which have a reason given (Vatablus).  Or, 2.  Moral precepts (Menochius, Lyra, thus Martyr).

[And His judgments (thus Munster, Vatablus, Junius and Tremellius), ‎וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו]  That is, Laws (Vatablus).  Which are accommodated to judgments (Martyr).  Judicial precepts (Menochius out of Lyra).  Which are settled between a man and his neighbor (Munster).

[And His testimonies (thus Munster, Vatablus, Junius and Tremellius), ‎וְעֵדְוֹתָיו]  They are those things that bear witness to something, or make a remembrance of some event; as is the Sabbath, the Passover, etc. (Munster); which recall into our memory those things that God has done, as are the Sabbath, etc. (Vatablus).  Covenants and laws prescribed by the Lord (Menochius).  Those three sorts of precepts he calls the testimonies of God.  For they are attestations, whereby both God attests His will; and men bear witness that they are the children of God (Martyr).  Or testimonies are promises in the Law concerning Christ to come (Lyra).  [Others thus:]  Charge, ways, ceremonies, precepts, judgments, and testimonies mean the same thing in this place, as often elsewhere (Sanchez, Tirinus).

[In the law of Moses]  Deuteronomy 17:18 (Grotius).  He sends his son back to the most ancient norm of life, which is prescribed to Kings in Deuteronomy.  He does not set himself forth for imitation; for he is mindful that he is a man, and had sometimes grievously lapsed; but he sets forth a more consistent rule (Martyr).

In the law of Moses; which the prince was enjoined to transcribe and read, Deuteronomy 17:18, that he might govern his own and his people’s actions by it.

[So that thou mightest understand all that thou doest (thus the Septuagint),‎ לְמַ֣עַן תַּשְׂכִּ֗יל אֵ֚ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה]  So that thou mightest prudently perform all things that thou wilt have done (Montanus, Tigurinus).  Hence thou shalt easily learn what things are to be done, and unto what end they are to be directed; just how important the doing of this is is able to be learned from this, that many occasionally travel through various regions, so that they might learn their institution and manners of life.  Hence also thou shalt judge of thy works, whether they be unjust or just (Martyr).  [Others thus:]  So that thou mightest prosper (or so that it might turn out prosperously to thee [Munster]), whatever thou doest (Junius and Tremellius, Munster, Piscator, similarly Pagnine, Jonathan, Syriac, Arabic).  This is said in the same sense as that in Exodus 20:12, that thy days may be long (Piscator out of Junius).

That thou mayest prosper; or, behave thyself prudently; for the word signifies both.  Hereby he intimates that religion is the truest reason of state, and that all true wisdom and good success depends upon piety.

[And withersoever thou turnest thyself (thus the Arabic, Junius and Tremellius, Piscator, similarly Pagnine, Tigurinus), ‎וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּפְנֶ֖ה שָֽׁם׃]  And in every place to which thou turnest thyself; they maintain that אֶת [18] is taken in the place of ב/in (certain interpreters in Vatablus).  And every place to which thou hast regard (Jonathan); and withersoever thou goest, be thou blessed (Syriac).  And in all to which thou hast regard (Munster, similarly Montanus).

Verse 4:[19]  That the LORD may (2 Sam. 7:25) continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, (Ps. 132:12) If thy children take heed to their way, to (2 Kings 20:3) walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, (2 Sam. 7:12, 13; 1 Kings 8:25) there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne (Heb. be cut off from thee from the throne[20]) of Israel.

[So that the Lord might confirm, ‎יָקִים [21]]  So that He might hold it as ratified, that is, so that He might fulfill His promise, etc. (Vatablus).  So that He might fulfill (Junius and Tremellius, Piscator).  Hebrew:  He might raise, or set up (Piscator).

Continue his word, that is, fulfil his promise, the condition upon which it was suspended being performed.

[He spoke concerning me[22]]  Or over me (Piscator), to me (Pagnine).

[Saying, ‎לֵאמֹר]  In saying.  It is a Pleonasm of repetition of the same thing, with respect to words,[23] which sort is found in Exodus 12:50, and the children of Israel did…so they did[24] (Glassius’ “Grammar” 729).

Take heed to their ways, that is, diligently observe all their actions, to order them according to God’s word.

[And they walk before me in truth]  That is, in simplicity, not feignedly and hypocritically, in such a way that they seek, not their own, but the unadulterated honor of God (Martyr, similarly Sanchez).  But some have taken it in this way, that life is to be lived according to the law, and not according to foreign customs (Martyr).

To walk before me; to live as those that have God before their eyes, and endeavour to approve themselves to him.  In truth; not only in pretence and show, but truly and sincerely.

[In all their heart, and in all their soul]  David took these words from the law, Deuteronomy 6.  If these be duly expounded, works of supererogation are undone, and all regard of our own merits.  For, what is left to us that is not already due to God? (Martyr).

With all their heart, and with all their soul, that is, universally, freely, and fervently.

[Not shall be removed a man, ‎לֹא־יִכָּרֵת]  He shall not be cut off (Pagnine); that is, thou shalt always have someone of thy descendants to sit, etc. (Vatablus).  It is to be observed that the promises to David are two:  1.  Absolute, namely, that Messiah is going to be born of him, even if his sons were evil.  2.  Conditional, that is, that the kingdom is going to be preserved in his family, if his posterity conduct themselves holily (Martyr).

There shall not fail thee a man on the throne of Israel; the succession shall be continued in thy line without any interruption.

[1] Hebrew:  ‎וַיִּקְרְב֥וּ יְמֵֽי־דָוִ֖ד לָמ֑וּת וַיְצַ֛ו אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃

[2] Hebrew:  ‎אָנֹכִ֣י הֹלֵ֔ךְ בְּדֶ֖רֶךְ כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְחָזַקְתָּ֖ וְהָיִ֥יתָֽ לְאִֽישׁ׃

[3] Hebrew:  ‎אָנֹכִ֣י הֹלֵ֔ךְ בְּדֶ֖רֶךְ כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ.

[4] Titus Maccius Plautus (254-184 BC) was a Roman playwright.  Only twenty-one of his nearly one hundred and thirty comedies survive.

[5] John Drusius (1550-1616) was a Protestant scholar; he excelled in Oriental studies, Biblical exegesis, and critical interpretation, as is evident from his Annotationes in Pentateuchum, Josuam, Judices, Ruth, Samuelem, Estheram, Jobum, Coheleth, seu Ecclesiasten, Prophetas Minores, Ecclesiasticum, Tobit, 1 Librum Machabæorum and Notæ Majores in Genesin, Exodum, Leviticum, et Priora 18 Capita Numerorum.  He served as Professor of Oriental Languages at Oxford (1572), at Leiden (1577), and at Franeker (1585).

[6] De Quæsitis per Epistolam.

[7] Petronius (c. 27-66) was a Roman satirist.  Only his Satyricon survives.

[8] Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65 BC-8 AD) was a Roman poet, perhaps the greatest of his day.

[9] Hebrew: ‎וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֞ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ לָלֶ֤כֶת בִּדְרָכָיו֙ לִשְׁמֹ֙ר חֻקֹּתָ֤יו מִצְוֹתָיו֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו וְעֵדְוֹתָ֔יו כַּכָּת֖וּב בְּתוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֑ה לְמַ֣עַן תַּשְׂכִּ֗יל אֵ֚ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּפְנֶ֖ה שָֽׁם׃

[10] Hebrew:  ‎תַּשְׂכִּיל.

[11] 1 Samuel 18:5:  “And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely (‎יַשְׂכִּיל):  and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.”

[12] 1 Samuel 18:14:  “And David behaved himself wisely (‎מַשְׂכִּיל) in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.”

[13] 1 Samuel 18:30:  “Then the princes of the Philistines went forth:  and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely (‎שָׂכַל) than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.”

[14] Isaiah 8:12:  “Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear (‎וְאֶת־מוֹרָאוֹ לֹא־תִירְאוּ), nor be afraid.”

[15] See, for example, Isaiah 1:1; Daniel 8:1.

[16] See, for example, Job 42:5; Romans 10:17.

[17] Deuteronomy 22:9.  Leviticus 19:19:  “Ye shall keep my statutes (‎אֶֽת־חֻקֹּתַי֘ תִּשְׁמֹרוּ֒).  Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind:  thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed:  neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.”

[18] The Direct Object marker.

[19] Hebrew: ‎לְמַעַן֩ יָקִ֙ים יְהוָ֜ה אֶת־דְּבָר֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֙ר דִּבֶּ֣ר עָלַי֘ לֵאמֹר֒ אִם־יִשְׁמְר֙וּ בָנֶ֜יךָ אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֗ם לָלֶ֤כֶת לְפָנַי֙ בֶּאֱמֶ֔ת בְּכָל־לְבָבָ֖ם וּבְכָל־נַפְשָׁ֑ם לֵאמֹ֕ר לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֤ת לְךָ֙ אִ֔ישׁ מֵעַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

[20] Hebrew:  ‎יִכָּרֵ֤ת לְךָ֙ אִ֔ישׁ מֵעַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֥א.

[21] קוּם, in the Hiphil conjugation, signifies to cause to rise, to establish, to cause to stand.

[22] Hebrew:  ‎דִּבֶּ֣ר עָלַי֘.

[23] 1 Kings 2:4:  “That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying (‎לֵאמֹר), If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul; saying (‎לֵאמֹר), there shall not fail thee a man on the throne of Israel.”

[24] Exodus 12:50:  “Thus did all the children of Israel (‎וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֖וּ כָּל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל); as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they (‎כֵּ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ׃).”