Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 1:9
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which [is] by En-rogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:
9. Adonijah slew &c.] The verb is that which is constantly used for sacrificing. And here there was no doubt intended to be a certain solemnity connected with the feast held in honour of Adonijah’s proclamation. Beside its use in this chapter, where it is rendered ‘to slay’ in 1Ki 1:19; 1Ki 1:25, the verb is only so translated in 1Ki 19:21 of Elisha’s slaughter of his oxen, and 2Ki 23:20 of Josiah’s slaughter of the priests of the high places, both which acts partook of the nature of a solemn sacrifice.
by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel ] The name En-rogel signifies the ‘fountain of the fuller,’ a name probably given to it from the use to which the water was applied. They washed by stamping on the clothes with the foot (Heb. regel). From the other places where it is mentioned (Jos 15:7; Jos 18:16; 2Sa 17:17) it is clear that En-rogel lay on the south-east of Jerusalem, and formed one of the landmarks between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Attempts have been made to identify it with the ‘fountain of Job (or Joab),’ which is situate at the junction of the valleys of Kedron and Hinnom; while others are in favour of the ‘fountain of the Virgin,’ as it is now called, from whence comes the water to the pool of Siloam. It is in favour of the latter, that women still resort to it as a place for washing clothes. Of the ‘stone of Zoheleth’ we have no notice but in this passage.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Adonijahs feast was probably of a sacrificial character, and intended to inaugurate him as king. Compare the sacrifices of Absalom 2Sa 15:12.
Zoheleth – No satisfactory explanation has been given of this name. Large blocks of stone always attract attention in the East, and receive names which are often drawn from some trivial circumstance. Sinai and Palestine are full of such Hajars, which correspond to the Ebens or stones of Holy Scripture. (Compare Gen 28:22; Jos 4:9; 1Sa 6:14.) For En-Rogel, see the margin reference.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. Slew sheep and oven] Making a royal feast, in reference to his inauguration. As he had Abiathar the priest with him, no doubt these animals were offered sacrificially, and then the guests fed on the flesh of the victims. He had not only a splendid feast, but a great sacrifice; and he gave by this a popular colour to his pretensions, by affecting to receive his authority from God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle; partly for a sacrifice; and partly for feasts, that he might engage God to be on his side, and draw a multitude of people after him.
By En-rogel, or, the fountain of Rogel, or, of the fuller; a place nigh to Jerusalem: see Jos 15:7; 18:16; 2Sa 17:17.
Called all his brethren the kings sons; either because he knew they envied and were discontented with Solomon, and therefore would favour him; or that he might engage them so to do.
All the men of Judah the kings servants; except these here excepted, 1Ki 1:10.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9, 10. En-rogelsituated (Jos15:7-10) east of Jerusalem, in a level place, just below thejunction of the valley of Hinnom with that of Jehoshaphat. It is avery deep well, measuring one hundred twenty-five feet in depth; thewater is sweet, but not very cold, and it is at times quite full tooverflowing. The Orientals are fond of enjoying festive repasts inthe open air at places which command the advantage of shade, water,and verdure; and those fetes champetres are not coldcollations, but magnificent entertainments, the animals being killedand dressed on the spot. Adonijah’s feast at En-rogel was one of thisOriental description, and it was on a large scale (2Sa 3:4;2Sa 3:5; 2Sa 5:14-16;1Ch 14:1-7). At theaccession of a new king there were sacrifices offered (1Sa11:15). But on such an occasion it was no less customary toentertain the grandees of the kingdom and even the populace in apublic manner (1Ch12:23-40). There is the strongest probability that Adonijah’sfeast was purely political, to court popularity and secure a party tosupport his claim to the crown.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle,…. To make a feast of for those that were of his party, which was numerous, and some of them persons of the first rank, and therefore a large and elegant entertainment was provided for them:
by the stone of Zoheleth, which [is] by Enrogel; or the fullers’ fountain, as the Targum, where the fullers washed their clothes, using their feet in doing it, from whence it had its name; and which they laid upon this stone for the water to drain out of them, “Zoheleth” signifying a slow motion of waters, or on which they beat them to get out the spots; the Targum calls it the stone of a watchtower, on which they could stand and look to a great distance; or, as Jarchi and Ben Gersom suggest, it was a large smooth stone, which young men used to come to, and cast to and fro to try and exercise their strength; it was, as Josephus e says, in or near the king’s gardens:
and called all his brethren the king’s sons: which David by his wives and concubines had in Hebron and Jerusalem; who were all younger than he, and so had not the pretension he had, and who might be displeased at the appointment of Solomon as well as he; see 1Ch 3:4;
and all the men of Judah the king’s servants; excepting those in 1Ki 1:8.
e Antiqu. l. 7. c. 14. sect. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) The stone of Zoheleth.The meaning is uncertain. The derivation seems to be from a root, meaning to crawl, or steal on. Some interpreters render, the stone of the serpents; the Targums make it the rolling stone; other authorities the stone of the conduit, which would suit well its position as here described.
En-rogel.The spring of the fuller. (See Jos. 15:7; Jos. 18:16; 2Sa. 17:17.) Its proximity would be useful for the purposes of sacrifice; for it appears to be the only natural spring near Jerusalem, situated not far from Siloam.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Adonijah slew sheep “Thus also imitating Absalom, who, in order to cover his sin with the cloak of religion, and to ingratiate himself with those whom he invited to the banquet, began his rebellion with a sacrificial feast. 2Sa 15:12.” Wordsworth.
Stone of Zoheleth Hebrew, stone of the serpent, perhaps so called from the slaughter of a serpent by it. Or, stone of the conduit, so called from its proximity to some conduit where water flowed. It is identified by Mr. Ganneau with a rock in the Kedron valley near to the Fountain of the Virgin, which the Arabs still call Zehwele. Like the stone Ezel, (1Sa 20:19,) it was a spot familiar to the writer and his contemporaries.
Enrogel Probably identical with the “Fountain of the Virgin,” in the valley of the Kedron. See note on Jos 15:7.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(9) And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants: (10) But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
It should seem that like Absalom his brother, he begun his iniquities with sacrifice. It is sad when men’s ambitious views stimulate them to evil. But it is awful indeed when such men begin their evil designs with professions of religion, as if they wished you to believe the Lord gave countenance to them. See 2Sa 15:7 , etc. The evil conduct of Adonijah in this usurpation was the more pointed, because the succession of the kingdom had been already fixed by God himself on Solomon, as Adonijah could not but know. The Reader will discover this also if he compares 2Sa 7:12-13 , with 1Ch 22:6-11 . But Reader! after having paid all due respect to the historical part of this subject, turn your thoughts to an infinitely more interesting part in the spiritual; and behold in Adonijah’s attempt to subvert the kingdom, the representation of those who will not have the Lord Jesus Christ to reign over them. Here an ample subject opens to our meditation, which the Reader will do well to enlarge upon and improve.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 1:9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which [is] by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:
Ver. 9. And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen. ] Hitherto all went ‘hail well’ with these gallants: and many a health, no doubt, was drunk to Adonijah: many a confident boast of their prosperous design, many a scorn of the despised faction of Solomon, &c. But the triumphing of the wicked is short. Job 20:5 See Trapp on “ Job 20:5 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
En-rogel = well or spring of Rogel. South side of Jerusalem, in the Kidron valley.
the king. Some codices with Syriac, read “and the”, &c.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Adonijah: The Oriental banquet, in consequence of the intense heat, is often spread upon the verdant turf, beneath the shade of a tree, where the streaming rivulet supplies the company with wholesome water, and excites a gentle breeze to cool their burning temples.
slew: 2Sa 15:12, Pro 15:8
Enrogel: or, the well Rogel, 2Sa 17:17
called: 2Sa 13:23-27, 2Sa 15:11
Reciprocal: Jos 15:7 – Enrogel Jos 18:16 – Enrogel 1Ki 1:25 – slain 2Ch 18:2 – Ahab