And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he [is] mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
Ver. 22. Ask for him the kingdom also.] For that is it he gapes after, and seeks to strengthen his cracked title by marrying the late king's concubine, see 2Sa 3:7 ; 2 Samuel 12:8 ; 2Sa 16:21 who was likely grown very gracious with the great ones, and as potent at court, as was once here Dame Alice Pierce, King Edward III's concubine, who did whatsoever she pleased.
And for Abiathar the priest and for Joab.] Who are his counsellors, and fellow conspirators. This he knew, by a specal instinct of the Spirit.