Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 1:42
And while he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou [art] a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
42. Jonathan the son of Abiathar ] They had left in the city some who should bring them word of any stir which their doings might cause. Jonathan had discharged the same office of watchman and newsbringer at the time of Absalom’s revolt. See 2Sa 15:27 ; 2Sa 17:17. But then he was to bring word to David.
a valiant man ] Perhaps rather, a worthy man. The same word, which is often translated by ‘valour,’ ‘wealth,’ ‘might,’ is also used of any special excellence. Thus Pro 12:4; Pro 31:10 it is used in the description of ‘the virtuous woman’; also in this chapter, 1Ki 1:52, we have the word translated worthy; and in 1Ch 9:13 it is used of those who were ‘very able men’ for the work of the service of the house of the Lord. In the present case it was not so much a man of valour as of discretion who was needed in the messenger.
and bringest good tidings ] The expression is somewhat redundant in the Hebrew, and might be rendered ‘bringest good tidings of good’. The same words are thus translated Isa 52:7.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jonathan had acted in a similar capacity, as a carrier of intelligence, in the time of Absaloms attempt 2Sa 15:36; 2Sa 17:17; but at that time, like his father, he was faithful to David, and a valiant man, a virtuous man, or a man of worth. (See 1Ki 1:52; Pro 12:4.)
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Jonathan it seems was left at Jerusalem for a spy, as he had formerly been under Absalom.
Thou art a valiant man; or,
a man of virtue or worth, as this Hebrew word is used, Pro 12:4; and therefore a happy man, and hast good news for thyself and us. Compare 2Sa 18:27.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came,…. Whom his father had left in the city, to observe what passed there, and give him notice of it:
and Adonijah said unto him, come in, for thou [art] a valiant man, and bringest good tidings; which seems to be not a very wise speech, as if there was a connection between being valiant, and bringing good news, or that the one had any influence upon the other; though perhaps it means no more than a good man, “a man of virtue” i, as it may be rendered; one that fears sin, as the Targum, and so would report nothing but what was true, and therefore might be depended on; see
2Sa 18:27; the same phrase is rendered “a worthy man”, 1Ki 1:52.
i “vir virtutis”, Montanus, Vatablus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(42) Jonathan the son of Abiathar.See 2Sa. 15:27; 2Sa. 17:17-21, where he is named, with Ahimaaz, as a swift runner, fit to be a messenger. It is curious that a similar greeting to his companion Ahimaaz is used by David in 2Sa. 18:27possibly as a kind of omen of good fortune.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
42. Jonathan the son of Abiathar The fleet messenger that in the time of Absalom’s rebellion had been the bearer of important tidings. See 2Sa 15:27-28; 2Sa 15:36; 2Sa 17:16-21. He announces his tidings most vividly, and with greatest accuracy of detail.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 1:42. For thou art a valiant man His being a valiant man was no great argument of recommendation in the present case. The original word is rendered virtuous in Pro 12:4 and would be so rendered with much greater propriety here. The Targum has it, thou art a man who fearest to sin. The marginal reference confirms this interpretation.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(42) And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
Good tidings indeed, to poor sinners, even rebellious sinners, that Jesus reigneth. Oh! that the proclamation would cause every poor sinner to cast down the weapons of sin out of his hands, and bend the knee to Jesus. Reader! depend upon it, the knee that will not bow in love and duty, shall break in terror and dismay! Isa 45:23 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 1:42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou [art] a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
Ver. 42. And bringest good tidings. ] So Adonijah would have had it; but the expectation of the wicked shall perish; when they are at the height of their joys and hopes, God oft confoundeth all their devices, and layeth them open to the scorn of the world, and to the anguish of their own guilty hearts.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jonathan: 2Sa 15:36, 2Sa 17:17
a valiant: 1Ki 22:18, 2Sa 18:27, 2Ki 9:22, Isa 57:21, 1Th 5:2, 1Th 5:3
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou [art] a valiant man, and bringest {q} good tidings.
(q) He praised Jonathan, thinking to have heard good news but God wrought things contrary to his expectation, and so beat down his pride.