1 Kings 2:26

“And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, etc.] Who was either at court, or he sent for him, and thus addressed him: get thee to Anathoth; a city of the tribe of Benjamin, given to the priests, (<062118>Joshua 21:18); of which place Abiathar might be originally, and whither he is bid to return: unto thine own fields; which belonged to him there, either by inheritance or purchase; and these he was to mind, and not perform the functions of his office, however as high priest, and at Jerusalem, and the tabernacle there, and still less appear at court, or meddle with state affairs, only to attend to his private domestic concerns: for thou [art] worthy of death; in joining with Adonijah in the…”

“unto Abiathar the priest said the king--This functionary, as the counsellor or accomplice of Adonijah, had deserved to share his fate. But partly from regard to his priestly dignity, and partly from his long associations with the late king, Solomon pronounced on him the mitigated sentence of banishment to his country estate at Anathoth, and thereby, as God's vicegerent, deprived him of his office and its emoluments. The sacred writer notices the remarkable fulfilment, Abiathar's degradation from the high priesthood (see on Kg1 4:4), of the doom denounced against the house of Eli (Sa1 2:30).”

“For Anathoth and the allusions in this verse, see the margin reference. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Because, &c. - Thus Solomon shews respect to his sacred function. He mixes mercy with justice, and requites Abiathar's former kindness to David; hereby teaching princes, that they should not write injuries in marble, and benefits in sand, as they have been so often observed to do. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 2:27”

“2:26-35 Solomon presumed that Adonijah’s chief supporters, Abiathar and Joab, remained involved in Adonijah’s schemes, so Solomon dealt with them as well. 2:26-27 Abiathar had treasonously supported Adonijah (1:7, 25). But he was deposed rather than killed because he had carried the Ark (2 Sam 15:24, 29, 35), had supported David, and had shared all his hardships. Abiathar’s removal from the priesthood fulfilled the Lord’s word about the house of Eli in Ithamar’s line (1 Sam 2:30-35). Zadok’s appointment (1 Kgs 4:2) returned the high priesthood to Eleazar’s line as it had been before Eli (Num 20:22-28; 25:11-13; 2 Sam 8:17; 1 Chr 6:1-8, 50-53; Ezra 7:2-5) and as it continued throughout the…”

“Abiathar: Kg1 2:35, Kg1 1:7, Kg1 1:25 Anathoth: Jos 21:18; Isa 10:30; Jer 1:1 worthy of death: Heb. a man of death, Sa1 26:16; Sa2 12:5 \*marg. barest: Sa1 22:20-23, Sa1 23:6-9; Sa2 15:24, Sa2 15:29; Ch1 15:11, Ch1 15:12 hast been: Sa2 15:24-29; Mat 10:42; Luk 22:28; Gal 3:4 3 Kings (1 Kings) 2:27”