1 Kings 1:11-27
New English Translation
11 Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Has it been reported to you[a] that Haggith’s son Adonijah has become king behind our master David’s back?[b] 12 Now[c] let me give you some advice as to how[d] you can save your life and your son Solomon’s life. 13 Visit[e] King David and say to him, ‘My master, O king, did you not solemnly promise[f] your servant, “Surely your son Solomon will be king after me; he will sit on my throne”? So why has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While[g] you are still there speaking to the king, I will arrive[h] and verify your report.”[i]
15 So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters.[j] (The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.) 16 Bathsheba bowed down on the floor before[k] the king. The king said, “What do you want?” 17 She replied to him, “My master, you swore an oath to your servant by the Lord your God, ‘Solomon your son will be king after me and he will sit on my throne.’ 18 But now, look, Adonijah has become king! But you,[l] my master the king, are not even aware of it![m] 19 He has sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon. 20 Now,[n] my master, O king, all Israel is watching anxiously to see who is named to succeed my master the king on the throne.[o] 21 If a decision is not made,[p] when my master the king is buried with his ancestors,[q] my son Solomon and I[r] will be considered state criminals.”[s]
22 Just then,[t] while she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 The king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” Nathan entered and bowed before the king with his face to the floor.[u] 24 Nathan said, “My master, O king, did you announce, ‘Adonijah will be king after me; he will sit on my throne’? 25 For today he has gone down and sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king’s sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. At this moment[v] they are having a feast[w] in his presence, and they have declared, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’[x] 26 But he did not invite me—your servant—or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon. 27 Has my master the king authorized this without informing your servants[y] who should succeed my master the king on his throne?”[z]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 1:11 tn Heb “Have you not heard?”
- 1 Kings 1:11 tn Heb “and our master David does not know.”
- 1 Kings 1:12 tn Heb “now, come.” The imperative of הָלַךְ (halakh) is here used as an introductory interjection. See BDB 234 s.v. חָלַךְ.
- 1 Kings 1:12 tn Or “so that.”
- 1 Kings 1:13 tn Heb “come, go to.” The imperative of הָלַךְ (halakh) is here used as an introductory interjection. See BDB 234 s.v. חָלַךְ.
- 1 Kings 1:13 tn Or “swear an oath to.”
- 1 Kings 1:14 tn In the Hebrew text the sentence is introduced by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”), which here draws attention to Nathan’s concluding word of assurance and support. For this use of the word, see HALOT 252 s.v. הִנֵּה.
- 1 Kings 1:14 tc The Hebrew text reads, “I will come after you.”
- 1 Kings 1:14 tn Heb “fill up [i.e., confirm] your words.”
- 1 Kings 1:15 tn Or “bedroom.”
- 1 Kings 1:16 tn Heb “bowed low and bowed down to.”
- 1 Kings 1:18 tc Instead of עַתָּה (ʿattah, “now”) many Hebrew mss, along with the Old Greek, Syriac Peshitta, and Latin Vulgate, have the similar sounding independent pronoun אַתָּה (ʾattah, “you”). This reading is followed in the present translation.
- 1 Kings 1:18 tn Heb “you do not know [about it].”
- 1 Kings 1:20 tc Many Hebrew mss have עַתָּה (ʿattah, “now”) rather than the similar sounding independent pronoun אַתָּה (ʾattah, “you”).
- 1 Kings 1:20 tn Heb “the eyes of all Israel are upon you to declare to them who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him.”
- 1 Kings 1:21 tn The words “if a decision is not made” are added for clarification.
- 1 Kings 1:21 tn Heb “lies down with his fathers.”
- 1 Kings 1:21 tn Heb “I and my son Solomon.” The order has been reversed in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- 1 Kings 1:21 tn Heb “will be guilty”; NASB “considered offenders”; TEV “treated as traitors.”
- 1 Kings 1:22 tn Heb “look.” The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) here draws attention to Nathan’s arrival and invites the audience to view the scene through the eyes of the participants.
- 1 Kings 1:23 tn Heb “ground.” Since this was indoors, “floor” is more appropriate than “ground.”
- 1 Kings 1:25 tn Heb “look.”
- 1 Kings 1:25 tn Heb “eating and drinking.”
- 1 Kings 1:25 tn Heb “let the king, Adonijah, live!”
- 1 Kings 1:27 tc Many Hebrew mss and ancient textual witnesses agree with the Qere in reading this as singular, “your servant.”
- 1 Kings 1:27 tn Heb “From my master the king is this thing done, and you did not make known to your servants who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him?”
1 Kings 1:11-27
Christian Standard Bible
Nathan’s and Bathsheba’s Appeals
11 Then Nathan(A) said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother,(B) “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king(C) and our lord David does not know it?(D) 12 Now please come and let me advise you.(E) Save your life and the life of your son Solomon.(F) 13 Go, approach King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your servant: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne?(G) So why has Adonijah become king?’ 14 At that moment, while you are still there speaking with the king, I’ll come in after you and confirm your words.”(H)
15 So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was attending to him.(I) 16 Bathsheba knelt low and paid homage to the king, and he asked, “What do you want?”
17 She replied, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God, ‘Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne.’ 18 Now look, Adonijah has become king. And,[a] my lord the king, you didn’t know it. 19 He has lavishly sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. He invited all the king’s sons, the priest Abiathar, and Joab the commander of the army, but he did not invite your servant Solomon. 20 Now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his ancestors,(J) I and my son Solomon will be regarded as criminals.”(K)
22 At that moment, while she was still speaking with the king, the prophet Nathan arrived,(L) 23 and it was announced to the king, “The prophet Nathan is here.” He came into the king’s presence and paid homage to him with his face to the ground.
24 “My lord the king,” Nathan said, “did you say, ‘Adonijah is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne’? 25 For today he went down and lavishly sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. He invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and the priest Abiathar. And look! They’re eating and drinking in his presence, and they’re saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But he did not invite me—me, your servant—or the priest Zadok or Benaiah son of Jehoiada or your servant Solomon. 27 I’m certain my lord the king would not have let this happen without letting your servant[b] know who will sit on my lord the king’s throne after him.”
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