Verse 16. - And now I ask one petition of thee [Heb. request one request] deny me not [marg., "turn not away my face." Better, Turn not back, i.e., repulse not. Rawlinson paraphrases, "Make me not to hide my face through shame at being refused;" but this is not the idea of the original, which means, Reject me not; send me not away. In the Heb. "face" often stands for "person," for eyes (ver. 15), looks, mien]. And she said unto him, Say on.
2:12-25 Solomon received Bathsheba with all the respect that was owing to a mother; but let none be asked for that which they ought not to grant. It ill becomes a good man to prefer a bad request, or to appear in a bad cause. According to eastern customs it was plain that Adonijah sought to be king, by his asking for Abishag as his wife, and Solomon could not be safe while he lived. Ambitious, turbulent spirits commonly prepare death for themselves. Many a head has been lost by catching at a crown.
deny me not, or "turn not away my face" (t); with shame and sorrow, which would be the case should he be denied:
and she said unto him, say on; let me hear it.
(t) "ne avertere facias faciem meam", Pagninus.