1 Kings 1 (JND) - Bible Truth Library

Verse 2

Articles on

1 Kings 1

1 Kings 1:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

Now king David was old and βstricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

entered into days.

More on:

David,

King,

Year

Cross References

Ministry on This Verse

The First Book of the KINGS, commonly called The Third Book of the KINGS.

1-4: Abishag cherishes David in his extreme age.

5-10: Adonijah, David's darling, usurps the kingdom.

11-14: By the council of Nathan,

15-21: Bath-sheba moves the king,

22-27: and Nathan seconds her.

28-31: David renews his oath to Bath-sheba.

32-40: Solomon, by David's appointment, being anointed king by Zadok and Nathan, the people triumph.

41-49: Jonathan bringing the news, Adonijah's guests fly.

50-53: Adonijah, flying to the horns of the altar, upon his good behaviour, is dismissed by Solomon.old.David was probably now about sixty-nine years of age.

He was thirty years old when he began to reign, reigned forty, and died in his seventieth year; and the transactions mentioned here are supposed to have taken place about a year before his death.

Sixty-nine was not an advanced age; but he had been exhausted with various fatigues, and especially family afflictions, so that he was much older in constitution than in years.

2 Sam. 5:4• ⁴David was thirty years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years. (2 Sam. 5:4)

;

1 Chron. 23:1• ¹And David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel. (1 Chron. 23:1)

;

1 Chron. 29:27‑28• ²⁷And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
²⁸And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour; and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. (1 Chron. 29:27‑28)

;

Psa. 90:10• ¹⁰The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if, by reason of strength, they be fourscore years, yet their pride is labour and vanity, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psa. 90:10)

and stricken in years.

Heb. and entered into days.

Gen. 18:11• ¹¹Now Abraham and Sarah were old and advanced in age: it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. (Gen. 18:11)

;

Gen. 24:1• ¹And Abraham was old, and advanced in age; and Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things. (Gen. 24:1)

;

Josh. 23:1‑2• ¹And it came to pass a long time after that Jehovah had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua had become old, advanced in age,
²that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am become old, advanced in age; (Josh. 23:1‑2)

;

Luke 1:7• ⁷And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. (Luke 1:7)

• The king established by God is a responsible man. This responsibility, which will rest upon Christ with all its glorious and blessed consequences, leads necessarily to the ruin of weak, sinful men when placed in their hands. The two Books of Kings therefore present the ruin of royalty in the hands of man and its definitive judgment. (“Meditations on 1 Kings-Introduction: Introduction” by H.L. Rossier)

• The two Books of Chronicles show us the royalty in another aspect. They narrate the history of the house of David from the point of view of grace. (“Meditations on 1 Kings-Introduction: Introduction” by H.L. Rossier)

• In contrast, the two Books of Kings retrace the history of the kings of Israel, introducing those of Judah only as landmarks in the account, or to bring out the mutual relationships of the two dynasties. (“Meditations on 1 Kings-Introduction: Introduction” by H.L. Rossier)

• Samuel inaugurated the series of prophets whom we see laboring in the books before us (Acts 3:24). In these dark days the prophet became, in place of the king, the link between the people and God. He was the messenger of the Word; to him were confided the thoughts of God. (“Meditations on 1 Kings-Introduction: Introduction” by H.L. Rossier)

• Second Samuel presents the establishment of the kingdom of Israel by David; the opening of First Kings shows us this kingdom definitely established by Solomon. It should be noted that the rule of Solomon forms one continuous whole with that of David. The death of the aged king did not cause even a momentary interruption, Solomon having sat upon the throne of his father during David’s lifetime. (“Meditations on 1 Kings-Introduction: Introduction” by H.L. Rossier)

• Apart from the period of David’s afflictions these counsels have not yet been fully realized, but they shall be during the Millennium when the Lord shall be established upon His throne as King of Israel and of the nations. (“Meditations on 1 Kings-Introduction: Introduction” by H.L. Rossier)

• At the time our account begins, King David was about seventy years old. He was far from having reached extreme old age, but a life of sufferings, conflict, and grief wears at the strength of even the most robust of men, so that the king “was old and advanced in age.” (“Solomon: Adonijah?s Rebellion: 1 Kings 1” by H.L. Rossier)

J. N. Darby Translation

And king David was old and advanced in agea; and they covered him with clothes, but he obtained no warmth.

JND Translation Notes

Lit. "days."