1 Kings 1:40

“And all the people came up after him, etc.] Following him from the fountain to the city, with their loud acclamations: and the people piped with pipes; which were hollow instruments, and full of holes which they blew with their mouths, and upon with their fingers; Jarchi says they were and very probably: and rejoiced with great joy; which they expressed by such loud shouts: so that the earth rent with the sound thereof; an hyperbolical expression, showing the great numbers gathered together on this occasion, and the sonorous acclamations they made.”

“all the people came up after him--that is, from the valley to the citadel of Zion.”

“Piped with pipes - Some prefer “danced with dances” - a meaning which the Hebrew would give by a change in the pointing, and the alteration of one letter. But the change is unnecessary. (Flutepipes were known to the Israelites 1 Samuel 10:5; they were very ancient in Egypt, and were known also to the Assyrians. The earth rent - If the present Hebrew text is correct we have here a strong instance of Oriental hyperbole. But it is suspected that there is a slight corruption, and that the verb really used meant “resounded.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“1:40-41 Those attending Adonijah’s banquet at En-rogel could not see the celebration, but it was so joyously noisy that they could hear it.”

“pipes: or, flutes, Dan 3:5 rejoiced: Sa1 11:15; Kg2 11:14, Kg2 11:20; Ch1 12:38-40; Psa 97:1; Zac 9:9; Luk 19:37; Rev 11:15-18 the earth rent: We use a similar expression in precisely the same sense: "They rent the air with their cries. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 1:41”

“All the people, i.e., the crowd which was present at the anointing, went up after him, i.e., accompanied Solomon to the citadel of Zion, with flutes and loud acclamation, so that the earth nearly burst with their shouting. תּבּקע, "to burst in pieces" (as in Ch2 25:12), is a hyperbolical expression for quaking. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 1:41”