1 Kings 2 26

1 Kings 2:26 kjv

And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the LORD God before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.

1 Kings 2:26 nkjv

And to Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted."

1 Kings 2:26 niv

To Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign LORD before my father David and shared all my father's hardships."

1 Kings 2:26 esv

And to Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because you shared in all my father's affliction."

1 Kings 2:26 nlt

Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, "Go back to your home in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not kill you now, because you carried the Ark of the Sovereign LORD for David my father and you shared all his hardships."

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 26 Meaning

1 Kings 2:26 records King Solomon's pronouncement concerning Abiathar the high priest, who had supported Adonijah's attempted usurpation of the throne. Solomon banishes Abiathar to Anathoth and strips him of his priestly duties, asserting that Abiathar is worthy of death due to his treasonous actions. However, Solomon spares his life, attributing this act of clemency to Abiathar's past faithful service to King David, specifically his role in carrying the Ark of the Lord GOD and his endurance of the hardships David faced. This act solidifies Solomon's throne by removing a key supporter of the rival claimant, while also fulfilling ancient prophecies regarding the priestly line.

1 Kings 2 26 Context

The immediate context of 1 Kings 2:26 is Solomon's swift and decisive consolidation of his reign. Upon assuming the throne after David, Solomon, guided by his father's final instructions, systematically neutralizes all potential threats and rewards those who were loyal. Adonijah, his half-brother, had attempted to usurp the throne even before David's death, garnering support from Joab, David's military commander, and Abiathar, the high priest. Solomon had initially shown leniency towards Adonijah (1 Ki 1:50-53). However, Adonijah's subsequent request for Abishag, David's concubine, was perceived by Solomon as a veiled attempt to reclaim the throne. This triggered a series of judgments by Solomon, beginning with Adonijah's execution and continuing with Abiathar's removal and Joab's execution. Abiathar's removal marks a significant turning point, ending the priestly line of Eli, as prophesied generations earlier, and establishing Zadok as the sole high priest. Historically, this event signifies the establishment of a centralized, secure monarchy under Solomon, free from the factions that plagued David's later reign.

1 Kings 2 26 Word analysis

• And to Abiathar the priest:

  • Abiathar (Hebrew: אֶבְיָתָר, ʼEvyatar, meaning "father of abundance" or "my father is excellent"). He was a descendant of Eli, through Ahitub and Ahimelech, whom Saul massacred. Abiathar escaped and fled to David (1 Sam 22:20-23), becoming a loyal high priest and companion during David's years of tribulation and reign. His pivotal role in David's life, though marred by his support for Adonijah, is what granted him leniency.
  • The priest: Highlights his office, which inherently carried authority and sacred responsibility. His failure was not just against a king but also as a consecrated minister of the LORD.

• the king said:

  • The king: Refers to Solomon, whose authority is now undisputed and absolute, as confirmed by God (1 Ki 1:30; 1 Chr 29:23). His word is law, showing his supreme judicial power.

• 'Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you deserve death;

  • Go to Anathoth: Anathoth (Hebrew: עֲנָתוֹת, ʻAnatot), a Levitical city in the territory of Benjamin (Josh 21:18), was designated for priests. This was not merely an exile but a banishment from sacred service in Jerusalem to a lesser priestly settlement. It signifies a demotion and isolation from the center of power and worship.
  • To your own fields: Suggests his land or family inheritance, indicating he still had means but would be relegated to private life, stripped of public office.
  • for you deserve death: Hebrew: בֶּן־מָוֶת (ben-maweth), literally "son of death." This is a legal declaration, meaning he was lawfully liable for execution for treason, having conspired against the anointed king. It underlines the gravity of his offense.

• but I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David,

  • but I will not at this time put you to death: Solomon demonstrates mercy, balancing strict justice with leniency for past fidelity. This restraint showcases Solomon's wisdom in not merely acting on vengeance but considering all factors.
  • because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD: The Ark of the Covenant was the holiest object in Israel, representing God's presence and covenant with His people (Exod 25:10-22). Carrying it was a sacred, privileged duty performed only by Levites or priests. Abiathar's personal role in ensuring the Ark's safety and presence with David (2 Sam 15:24-29) was a high honor and a profound act of service to God and David. This association with the divine and a faithful past outweighed his current treason in Solomon's judgment.
  • before my father David: This phrase emphasizes Abiathar's long and arduous loyalty to David, particularly during the turbulent years of Absalom's rebellion, signifying shared leadership and unwavering support.

• and because you were afflicted in all that my father was afflicted.'

  • and because you were afflicted in all that my father was afflicted: This highlights Abiathar's unwavering loyalty and shared suffering with David, including exile, flight from Saul, and Absalom's rebellion (1 Sam 22:20-23; 2 Sam 15). Solomon acknowledges the deep personal bond and Abiathar's enduring faithfulness during times of hardship. It points to a loyalty born not of convenience, but of enduring commitment through tribulation.

1 Kings 2 26 Bonus section

The removal of Abiathar also serves as a polemic against the notion that priestly office grants immunity from divine or divinely-ordained justice when one acts contrary to God's established order. His demotion emphasizes the hierarchical structure of authority God established – with the king, God's anointed, at the pinnacle of human governance in Israel. The event powerfully illustrates God's faithfulness to His prophetic word; what He declared against Eli's house generations prior is meticulously fulfilled, highlighting His sovereignty over human history and lineage. Furthermore, Abiathar's relocation to Anathoth is significant as it ties his family's diminished role to a prophetic location, later notable as the home of the prophet Jeremiah, another figure who would endure suffering for his prophetic calling (Jer 11:21).

1 Kings 2 26 Commentary

1 Kings 2:26 is a pivotal verse in Solomon's consolidation of power, showcasing his balanced approach to justice and mercy while also demonstrating divine providence. Abiathar, as the high priest and a senior figure in David's court, lent significant legitimacy to Adonijah's usurpation attempt. His banishment and deposition effectively ended his public career and, more importantly, served as the fulfillment of the divine judgment against the house of Eli pronounced in 1 Samuel 2 and 3. God's word declared that Eli's descendants would be cut off from the priesthood, and Abiathar, being of that lineage, finally experiences that fate through Solomon's actions.

Solomon's decision not to execute Abiathar, despite his deserving "death" for treason, is presented as an act of profound respect for Abiathar's past service to David and his involvement with the sacred Ark. This mercy is not weakness but strategic wisdom; it honors God's covenant with David and those who served him faithfully, even as it decisively deals with present threats. This event marks the shift of the high priesthood definitively to Zadok, as per God's will (1 Sam 2:35), cementing the legitimacy of Solomon's rule under a divinely appointed priestly line. It demonstrates that even a priest's position is not immune to the consequences of disloyalty to God's anointed king, yet God's memory of past faithfulness can extend grace.