1 Chronicles 29:24

And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(24) And all the princes (sārîm).—The grandees of 1Chronicles 27:1-34; 1Chronicles 28:1; 1Chronicles 29:6; not members of the royal house, who are designated as “the king’s sons.”

Submitted themselves.—See marginal rendering. The Vulg. has the exegetical expansion, “dederunt manum et subjeeti fuerunt Salomoni regi.” The Hebrew phrase “put (nāthan) hand under . . .” is not met with elsewhere. (Comp. Genesis 24:2; Genesis 24:9.) It appears to be different from “give hand to . . .” in token of good faith or submission. (Comp. 2Chronicles 30:8; Lamentations 5:6; Ezekiel 17:18.) An ancient mode of doing homage may be intended. The whole sentence may contain an allusive reference to the attempt of Adonijah (1Kings 1:5-53).

Benson Commentary

1 Chronicles 29:24. And all the sons likewise of David submitted themselves unto Solomon — Hebrew, gave, or put the hand under Solomon, that is, owned him for their king, and themselves for his subjects, and bound themselves by oath to be true to him, which they possibly did, according to the ancient ceremony used in swearing, mentioned Genesis 24:2; Genesis 47:29; or rather, the thing is signified by a phrase, taken from that practice formerly used, though now neglected: it being usual in all nations and languages to express present things by phrases taken from ancient customs. Though, by seniority, the title of David’s other sons to the crown was prior to that of Solomon, and they might think themselves wronged by his advancement; yet, because God was pleased to make him king, and had qualified him for that high office, they all submitted themselves to him, God doubtless inclining their hearts to do so, that Solomon’s reign might from the first be peaceable.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

29:20-25 This great assembly joined with David in adoring God. Whoever is the mouth of the congregation, those only have the benefit who join him, not by bowing down the head, so much as by lifting up the soul. Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord. Solomon's kingdom typified the kingdom of the Messiah, whose throne is the throne of the Lord.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The throne of David is called here "the throne of the Lord," as in 1 Chronicles 28:5 it is called "the throne of the kingdom of the Lord," because God had set it up and had promised to establish it.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

24. submitted themselves—Hebrew, "put their hands under Solomon," according to the custom still practised in the East of putting a hand under the king's extended hand and kissing the back of it (2Ki 10:15).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Heb. Put their hands under Solomon, i.e. they owned him for their king, and themselves for his subjects, and swore fealty to him; which possibly they now did after the ancient manner, with that ceremony of putting their hands under his thigh, which was used in swearing, Genesis 24:2 47:29; or at least the thing is signified by a phrase taken from that practice formerly used, though now neglected; it being usual in all nations and languages to signify present things by phrases taken from ancient customs.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And all the princes and the mighty men,.... The princes of the tribes, and the officers of the army:

and all the sons likewise of King David; as many as were living: and though they were elder than Solomon:

they submitted to Solomon the king; or "gave the hand under" (t) him, promised obedience, and swore allegiance to him, see Genesis 24:2.

(t) "dederunt manum sub Selomoh", Pagninus, Montanus, Michaelis.

Geneva Study Bible

And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

24. the mighty men] Cp. 1 Kings 1:10; 1 Kings 1:38, from which it is clear that the faithfulness of Benaiah and the Cherethites and Pelethites was the main factor in the elevation of Solomon.

all the sons] The Chronicler glances at the submission of Adonijah (1 Kings 1:53).

1 Chronicles 29:24

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Solomon's accession and David's death, with a statement as to the length of his reign and the sources of the history. - 1 Chronicles 29:23-25. The remarks on Solomon's accession and reign contained in these verses are necessary to the complete conclusion of a history of David's reign, for they show how David's wishes for his son Solomon, whom Jahve chose to be his successor, were fulfilled. On יהוה על־כּסּא see the commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:5. ויּצלח, he was prosperous, corresponds to the hope expressed by David (1 Chronicles 22:13), which was also fulfilled by the submission of all princes and heroes, and also of all the king's sons, to King Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:24). There can hardly, however, be in these last words a reference to the frustrating of Adonijah's attempted usurpation of the throne (cf. 1 Kings 1:15.). תּחת יד נתן equals to submit. But this meaning is not derived (Rashi) from the custom of taking oaths of fidelity by clasping of hands, for this custom cannot be certainly proved to have existed among the Israelites; still less can it have arisen from the ancient custom mentioned in Genesis 24:2, Genesis 24:9; Genesis 47:29, of laying the hand under the thigh of the person to whom one swore in making promises with oath. The hand, as the instrument of all activity, is here simply a symbol of power.