“Take my servants with you,” said the king.
This command is given by King David, who is nearing the end of his reign. The use of "servants" indicates trusted individuals who are loyal to David and his house. In the context of ancient Israel, servants often played crucial roles in carrying out royal decrees. This phrase underscores the importance of having reliable witnesses to the anointing of Solomon, ensuring the legitimacy of his claim to the throne. The presence of these servants would also serve as a public endorsement of Solomon's kingship, reflecting the communal and hierarchical nature of ancient Near Eastern societies.

“Set my son Solomon on my own mule”
The mule, a symbol of royal authority, was a significant choice for Solomon's procession. In ancient Israel, the king's mule was a prestigious animal, often associated with royalty and leadership. By instructing that Solomon be placed on his own mule, David is publicly declaring Solomon as his chosen successor. This act is reminiscent of other biblical instances where animals are used to signify divine or royal favor, such as Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (Matthew 21:1-11), which parallels Solomon's anointing as a type of Christ, foreshadowing the peaceful and wise reign of Jesus.

“and take him down to Gihon.”
Gihon, a significant water source located near Jerusalem, was a strategic location for Solomon's anointing. It was not only a practical site due to its proximity to the city but also held symbolic importance. Water sources in the Bible often represent life and blessing, and Gihon is one of the four rivers mentioned in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:13). The choice of Gihon for Solomon's anointing could symbolize the life-giving and sustaining nature of his future reign. Additionally, the public nature of this location would ensure that the anointing was witnessed by many, reinforcing Solomon's legitimate claim to the throne and fulfilling David's promise to Bathsheba regarding Solomon's succession (1 Kings 1:13).

1. David
The aging king of Israel who is orchestrating the succession of his son Solomon to the throne.

2. Solomon
The son of David, chosen to be the next king of Israel, representing wisdom and God's chosen leader.

3. Servants of David
Loyal followers of King David, tasked with ensuring Solomon's anointing and succession.

4. Mule
A symbol of royal authority and humility, as it was the king's own mule that Solomon was to ride.

5. Gihon
A significant location near Jerusalem, chosen for Solomon's anointing, symbolizing a place of life and blessing.Divine Appointment
God's plans are sovereign, and He appoints leaders according to His will. Solomon's anointing was not just a political move but a divine appointment.

Symbolism of Humility
Riding on a mule, rather than a horse, symbolizes humility and peace. As Christians, we are called to lead with humility, following the example of Christ.

Obedience to Authority
The servants' obedience to David's command reflects the importance of respecting and following God-ordained authority in our lives.

Significance of Location
Gihon, a place of life-giving water, symbolizes the life and blessing that come from following God's chosen path. We should seek to position ourselves in places where God's blessings flow.

Fulfillment of Prophecy
Solomon's anointing is a reminder of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. We can trust that God will fulfill His promises in our lives as well.(33) Gihon ("breaking forth") is clearly a place in the valley, under the walls of Jerusalem, mentioned as having a watercourse, or torrent, diverted by He?ekiah in his preparation of the city for siege (2Chronicles 32:30), and as forming one end of a new wall "up to the fish gate," built by Manasseh; but whether it is on the west of the city, near the present Jaffa gate, or (as seems more probable) on the south, at the end of the valley called the Tyrop?on, running through the city, has been doubted. The Targums here read Siloam; and this agrees with the latter supposition, which is also supported by the proximity to Adonijah's feast at En-rogel, implied in the narrative.

Verse 33. - The king also said [Heb. "And the king said," which is everyway preferable. The "also" is somewhat confusing], Take with you the servants [i.e., the Cherethites and Pelethites, ver. 38] of your lord, [Hebrews lords; probably a pluralis majestatis (cf. Genesis 39:2; Genesis 42:30; 2 Kings 2:3, 5, 16), suggested to David by the usus loquendi of the court. This expression seems at first a strange periphrasis for "my servants." But David naturally adopts the language those around him were always using. See ver. 43; also 2 Samuel 11:11, and 2 Sam 20:6. Note: The latter passage, which refers to the king, has the plur.; the former, referring to Joab, the sing.] and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, [lit., "the she mule" (the most prized in the East. Cf. Judges 5:10, Hebrews) "which is mine." This was not merely a mark of honour (cf. Genesis 41:43; Esther 6:8, 9), but a public and very significant indication of David's will respecting his successor. The populace would perceive at once who was destined to sit in David's seat. "The Rabbins tell us that it was death to ride on the king's mule without his permission" (Rawlinson). פִרְדָּה, the fem. form is only found here and in vers. 38, 44. The mule would seem to have been a recent importation into Palestine - we never read of them before the time of David - and the Israelites were forbidden to breed them (Leviticus 19:19). Their use, consequently, was naturally restricted to royal or distinguished personages (2 Samuel 13:29). Wordsworth sees in the word a proof that David had not disobeyed God by multiplying horses to himself], and bring him down to Gihon. [Not Gibeon, which Thenius most arbitrarily would substitute for the received text. Where was Gihon? The popular belief (accepted by Bahr and Keil, as well as by some geographers) is that it was in the valley of the Son of Hinnom, a part of which still bears the name of Gihon, i.e., to the west of Jerusalem, and not far from the Jaffa gate. By many indeed the present Birket-es-Sultan is identified with the Lower Pool of Gihon. But others (Ferguson, Rawlinson, etc.) see in it the ancient name of the Tyropaeon. Scripture does not speak of it as a spring, though the "source of the waters of Gihon" is mentioned 2 Chronicles 32:30, Hebrews The text shows that it was below the city ("bring him down upon Gihon," ver. 33. Cf. also ver. 40). 2 Chronicles 33:14, speaks of "Gihon in the valley," where it is very noticeable that the word used is Nachal (i.e. Wady, watercourse). But this "is the word always employed for the valley of the Kedron, east of Jerusalem, the so called valley of Jehoshaphat; ge (ravine or glen) being as constantly employed for the valley of Hinnom, south and west of the town" (Grove," Dict. Bible," art. Gihon). It is also to be noticed that the text last cited mentions Gihon in connection with Ophel, which lies southeast of Jerusalem.. The Chald., Arab., and Syr. are probably right, therefore, in identifying Gihon here with Siloam (which lies at the foot of Ophel), in favour of which it may further be said that it would be admirably suited for David's purpose - of a counter demonstration - and that whether En-Rogel is to be found at the Well of the Virgin or the Well of Job. Siloam is at no great distance from either, and quite within earshot, whereas the traditional Gihon is altogether out of the way. It must be borne in mind that this procession to and from Gihon was ordained, not because there was any special reason for anointing Solomon there ? for it was not a holy place - but purely as a demonstration to the populace, and to checkmate the conspirators. It was probably a public place, and would accommodate a large concourse (Poole).

Parallel Commentaries ...


“Take
קְח֤וּ (qə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

my servants
עַבְדֵ֣י (‘aḇ·ḏê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

with you,”
עִמָּכֶם֙ (‘im·mā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the king.
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

“Set
וְהִרְכַּבְתֶּם֙ (wə·hir·kaḇ·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7392: To ride, to place upon, to despatch

my son
בְנִ֔י (ḇə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

Solomon
שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה (šə·lō·mōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

my own mule
הַפִּרְדָּ֖ה (hap·pir·dāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6506: A female mule

and take him down
וְהוֹרַדְתֶּ֥ם (wə·hō·w·raḏ·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Gihon.
גִּחֽוֹן׃ (gi·ḥō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1521: Gihon -- 'a bursting forth', one of the rivers of Eden, also a spring near Jerusalem


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OT History: 1 Kings 1:33 The king said to them Take (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)