1 Kings 2:26

EXPOSITION

THE DEPOSITION OF ABIATHAR AND THE DEATH OF JOAB .

And unto Abiathar the priest [see note on 1 Kings 1:8 . The historian now relates the end of Adonijah's confederates] said the king, get thee to Anathoth [The Heb. is extremely curt and authoritative, corresponding well with the anger and determination of the speaker. Anathoth, the home of Abiathar, was also the residence of another high priest, Hilkiah ( Jeremiah 1:1 ). It was in Benjamin, a priests' city, and had suburbs ( Jeremiah 21:1-14 :18, 17, 18). It has been identified by Robinson with Anita, a village 1.25 hrs. N.N.E, of Jerns. The name (= Answers) according to Gesenius, means, "answers to prayer," but according to the Talmud, "echoes"], unto [ עַל is here almost the equivalent of אֶל . Cf. 2 Samuel 15:4 , 2 Samuel 15:20 , Hebrews etc.] thine own fields [the patrimony of his family] for thou art worthy of death; [Heb. a man of death; LXX . ἀνὴρ θανάτου , i.e; ἔνοχος θανάτου , Matthew 26:66 .] but I will not at this time [Heb. in this day ] put thee to death [ i.e; the sentence of death was deferred during good behaviour. It is hardly correct to say that Abiathar was "spared for a time, but only for a time" (Stanley). More correctly Corn. a Lapide: "Misit eum in patriam ut ibi vitam, quam ei condonabat, quiete traduceret." For aught we know, he died in peace because thou barest the ark of the Lord God before David my father [Thenius, quite needlessly would read for "ark," .... "ephod" ( 1 Samuel 23:6 ). Zadok and Abiathar had borne the ark (not of course in person, but per altos, viz; the Levites Uriel, Joel, etc.: 1 Chronicles 15:11 ), when David brought it up to Jerusalem, and also during his flight from Absalom ( 2 Samuel 15:24-29 ). Abiathar had thus been associated both with David's joys and sorrows] and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. [See 1 Samuel 22:17-23 ; 2 Samuel 15:24 , etc.]