1 Kings 1:40 kjv
And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
1 Kings 1:40 nkjv
And all the people went up after him; and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth seemed to split with their sound.
1 Kings 1:40 niv
And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
1 Kings 1:40 esv
And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise.
1 Kings 1:40 nlt
And all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound.
1 Kings 1 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 1:34 | ...Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him... Then blow the trumpet... | Direct context: Solomon's anointing prior to the celebration. |
| 1 Kgs 1:45 | ...Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him... and they have gone up... rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. | Adonijah's men hearing the commotion, confirms the noise. |
| 2 Sam 5:3 | ...And all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron... and they anointed David king... | Public anointing and acclamation of King David. |
| 2 Sam 6:5 | ...David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps... with tambourines, castanets, and trumpets. | Joyous, musical procession in worship; emphasis on various instruments. |
| 2 Sam 6:15 | So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn. | Another instance of public, loud celebration for a sacred event. |
| Pss 98:4-6 | Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song... with trumpets and the sound of the horn... | Call to universal joy and musical praise, using instruments. |
| Pss 150:3-5 | Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with loud cymbals... | Exhortation to praise God with every kind of musical instrument, including pipes/flutes. |
| Isa 30:29 | You shall have songs as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute... | Flutes associated with festive processions and gladness. |
| Isa 52:7 | How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation... | Anticipation of joyous tidings of a king (Messiah) reigning. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder... Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end... | The joy of the Messiah's future reign and eternal kingdom. |
| Zec 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he... | Prophecy of a king coming with public rejoicing, fulfilled in Matt 21:5. |
| Neh 8:17 | And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths... And there was very great rejoicing. | An example of overwhelming "great rejoicing" in Israel's history. |
| Esth 8:16-17 | ...the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. And in every province and in every city... the Jews had joy and gladness... | Another instance of widespread and intense "joy and gladness." |
| Job 39:24-25 | With quivering excitement he devours the ground; he cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds... when he smells the battle from afar... | Mentions ground quivering or "devouring" due to intense sound (though military context). |
| Ps 18:7 | Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked... | Describes God's presence or action causing the earth to shake or "split." |
| Exod 19:18 | Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke... and the whole mountain trembled greatly. | The earth trembling/shaking in response to God's presence/power. |
| Judg 5:4-5 | LORD, when you went out from Seir... the earth trembled... the mountains quaked before the LORD... | God's action causing the ground to shake, associating great sound/event with nature's response. |
| Heb 12:26-27 | At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." | Refers to the earth-shaking sound at Sinai, and future shakings. |
| Ps 2:6 | "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." | God's appointment of His King, paralleling Solomon's divinely orchestrated enthronement. |
| Ps 20:5 | May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions! | Shouting for joy over God's salvation and victories, themes relevant to establishing a king. |
| Mt 21:8-9 | Most of the crowd spread their cloaks... Others cut branches... The crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" | Jesus' triumphal entry, a joyful public acclamation mirroring Solomon's procession. |
| Mk 11:8-10 | ...and those who went before and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" | Similar to Matthew, emphasizes the acclamation and connection to Davidic kingdom. |
| Acts 2:2-4 | And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit... | A powerful, overwhelming sound marking a divine event and the Spirit's arrival. |
| Rev 19:6 | Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns!" | Future cosmic celebration of God's reign with a thunderous sound. |
| Jn 1:49 | Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" | Acknowledgement of Jesus as King, linking to the concept of rightful sovereignty. |
1 Kings 1 verses
1 Kings 1 40 Meaning
First Kings 1:40 vividly portrays the overwhelming joy and widespread public acceptance of Solomon's anointing and ascent to the throne, ordained by God and decreed by King David. It marks the culmination of the coronation ceremony, contrasting sharply with Adonijah's failed attempt to usurp power. The verse emphasizes the immense celebratory sound, so profound it is hyperbolically stated that the very ground seemed to cleave from it, signifying the momentous and divinely sanctioned nature of this transfer of authority.
1 Kings 1 40 Context
The setting for 1 Kings 1:40 is the urgent and decisive enthronement of Solomon as king of Israel. King David is old and frail. His son Adonijah, without David's knowledge or consent, has attempted to seize the throne, gathering support from Joab, David's military commander, and Abiathar the priest, and hosting a celebratory feast outside Jerusalem. When informed by Bathsheba and Nathan, David acts swiftly to counter this usurpation. He commands Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah to take Solomon to Gihon, anoint him, proclaim him king, and then lead a procession back to Jerusalem. Verse 40 describes this very procession, highlighting the immediate and fervent public support for David’s chosen successor, Solomon, whose legitimate rule is being publicly affirmed with immense joy and boisterous celebration.
1 Kings 1 40 Word analysis
- And all the people: (וְכָל-הָעָם - v'khol-ha'am) This phrase underscores the comprehensive and unified support for Solomon. It signifies popular acclamation and broad consensus, standing in direct contrast to the more limited and factional support for Adonijah's attempted coup. The word "all" highlights the overwhelming public declaration of allegiance to Solomon, emphasizing his legitimacy over any rival claims.
- went up after him: (עֹלִים אַחֲרָיו - olim akharav) This indicates a procession, moving from the lower Gihon spring, where the anointing took place, up to the higher city of Jerusalem and the royal palace. "Went up after him" conveys following a leader in a parade-like fashion, signifying submission and loyalty.
- playing on flutes: (בַּחֲלִלִים - baḥalilim) "Flutes" (ḥalil) are wind instruments often used in joyful and festive occasions (e.g., Isa 30:29; Mt 9:23 where it is a professional musician, a piper). Their inclusion emphasizes the festive nature of the celebration, distinct from the war trumpets associated with a military coup or conquest. This choice of instrument suggests peace, joy, and harmonious accession rather than conflict.
- and rejoicing with great joy: (וּמְשַׂמְחִים שִׂמְחָה גְדוֹלָה - u'm'saḥḥim śimḥah g'dolah) This is an emphatic Hebrew construction known as a cognate accusative (verb and noun from the same root: śāmaḥ - to rejoice/make joyful; śimḥah - joy). "Making joy a great joy" or "rejoicing a great rejoicing" conveys overwhelming, exuberant, and unrestrained jubilation. It suggests a deep and collective happiness at Solomon's rightful installation, confirming widespread delight in God's chosen path.
- so that the earth was split by their noise: (וַתִּבָּקַע הָאָרֶץ בְּקוֹלָם - va'tibbāqa' hā'aretz b'qolam) This is hyperbole, a figure of speech used to exaggerate for effect. The verb "split" (bāqa') means to cleave, break open, or tear apart (used for ground opening in Num 16:31, or for a rock being split). It describes a noise of such incredible volume and intensity that it metaphorically caused the very ground beneath them to reverberate and crack. This imagery powerfully communicates the overwhelming nature of the acclamation, so loud that it seemed to shake the foundations of the world. It emphasizes the momentousness and cosmic significance of God establishing His chosen king.
- Words Group Analysis:
- "And all the people went up after him": This phrase sets the scene as a unified, enthusiastic popular movement behind Solomon. It immediately signifies widespread support and contrasts with any perceived fragmentation of loyalty. It represents the affirmation of the Davidic dynasty by the nation.
- "playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy": This group of words describes the specific character and emotional intensity of the celebration. It highlights instruments of festivity and peace, indicating that this was a moment of true happiness, not just a ceremonial formality. The repetition of "joy" amplifies the feeling of exultation.
- "so that the earth was split by their noise": This hyperbolic statement emphasizes the immense, uncontainable magnitude of the celebration. It signifies that the joy and acclaim were so immense they seemed to shake the very fabric of the world, making the event utterly unmistakable and undeniable. It gives the human celebration a cosmic echo, suggesting divine endorsement.
1 Kings 1 40 Bonus section
- The specific choice of "flutes" (Hebrew: ḥalil) for this celebration may also carry symbolic weight. While trumpets (shôphâr or ḥaṣôṣerâh) were used for official announcements, battle calls, and in priestly functions, flutes were more commonly associated with pastoral life, merrymaking, and popular festivities. Their presence underscores that this was a joy not just imposed from above, but genuinely expressed by the populace, indicative of widespread satisfaction with the transfer of power.
- The imagery of the earth splitting is also found in contexts of divine manifestation or judgment (e.g., Num 16:31; Ps 18:7). While here it is a hyperbole for sound, it implicitly links this intensely human celebration with divine action, suggesting that God Himself was behind this extraordinary display of sound and joy, firmly establishing His chosen king.
- The speed and intensity of this procession are crucial. It's not a gradual process but a swift, definitive action ordered by David and carried out by loyalists like Nathan and Zadok, ensuring the legitimacy and immediate public recognition of Solomon before Adonijah's faction could consolidate any real power.
- The event at Gihon, outside the city walls, was a place of purification and vitality due to its spring water. The journey back "up" to Jerusalem was a triumphal ascent to the royal city, culminating in this great acclamation. This geographical movement itself carries symbolic weight.
1 Kings 1 40 Commentary
First Kings 1:40 acts as a powerful capstone to Solomon's coronation narrative. The verse masterfully communicates the decisive and overwhelming nature of his ascension, a stark and immediate rebuttal to Adonijah's premature ambitions. The collective "all the people" underlines a divine endorsement, reflected in popular assent. The imagery of "flutes" over potential military trumpets subtly conveys the inauguration of a reign characterized by peace and stability rather than strife. The hyperbolic "earth was split by their noise" signifies that this was no ordinary celebration; it was a momentous event, so thunderous and joyful that it resounded throughout the land, making Solomon's kingship an undeniable fact for everyone. This vivid portrayal underscores that God's plan for the Davidic dynasty would be established, bringing immense gladness to His people.