1 Kings 1 13

1 Kings 1:13 kjv

Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

1 Kings 1:13 nkjv

Go immediately to King David and say to him, 'Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, "Assuredly your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?'

1 Kings 1:13 niv

Go in to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?'

1 Kings 1:13 esv

Go in at once to King David, and say to him, 'Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, "Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne"? Why then is Adonijah king?'

1 Kings 1:13 nlt

Go at once to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, didn't you make a vow and say to me, "Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?'

1 Kings 1 verses

1 Kings 1 13 Meaning

Nathan the prophet advises Bathsheba to immediately approach King David, her husband, and remind him of his solemn oath concerning Solomon succeeding him as king. This counsel is given out of urgent necessity, as it is the critical action needed to secure their lives – Bathsheba's own and that of her son, Solomon – which are severely imperiled by Adonijah's premature and unauthorized claim to the throne.

1 Kings 1 13 Context

First Kings Chapter 1 opens with David, the venerable king of Israel, in his extreme old age, weak and near death. This physical vulnerability precipitates a crisis of succession. His fourth son, Adonijah, exploits the situation by unilaterally declaring himself king, gathering supporters like Joab, the commander of the army, and Abiathar the priest, without consulting David, the rightful authority, or key figures like Nathan the prophet, Benaiah (commander of David’s bodyguard), or Zadok the priest, all of whom remained loyal to David. This action directly contradicted God's clear intention and David's own oath concerning Solomon. Nathan's counsel to Bathsheba is a pivotal moment to circumvent Adonijah's usurpation and ensure God's established plan for Solomon to reign is realized. Historically, in ancient Near Eastern monarchies, the succession was often a tumultuous period, and competing claimants often eliminated rivals and their immediate families. Nathan's urgency is rooted in this harsh reality; should Adonijah succeed, Bathsheba and Solomon, as potent rivals and symbols of an alternative succession, would likely face execution. The immediate context of 1 Kings 1:13 is Nathan's quick-witted, decisive intervention to enlist Bathsheba in correcting this dire situation before it becomes irreversible.

1 Kings 1 13 Word analysis

• Now therefore come (וְעַתָּה לְכִי - wəʿattāh ləḵî):

  • וְעַתָּה (wəʿattāh - "And now"): This conjunction serves as a strong transitional marker, emphasizing immediate action in light of the preceding events (Adonijah's self-proclamation as king). It conveys urgency and the critical nature of the present moment.
  • לְכִי (ləḵî - "go/come," imperative feminine singular): A direct, imperative command from Nathan to Bathsheba, underscoring the necessity for swift and decisive movement. It means to "proceed" or "go forth."

• please let me give you counsel (אִיעָצֵךְ - îʿaṣēḵ):

  • אִיעָצֵךְ (îʿaṣēḵ - "I will counsel you"): Derived from the root יָעַץ (yaʿats), meaning "to advise, counsel, plan, consult." Nathan isn't just offering advice, but strategic guidance based on wisdom and prophetic insight, highlighting the grave situation and the need for a precise plan. The "please" (implied in the English translation, or as a polite form within the Hebrew structure) suggests a compassionate and urgent offering of help rather than a demand.

• that you may save (וּמַלְּטִי - ūmalṭî):

  • וּמַלְּטִי (ūmalṭî - "and cause to escape/deliver"): A Hifil imperative feminine singular from the verb מָלַט (mālaṭ), which means "to escape," "to slip away," or "to be delivered." The Hifil stem signifies causation – Bathsheba is to cause or bring about the deliverance/salvation. This is an active and deliberate act of preservation against a specific threat. It implies extricating them from grave danger.

• your own life (נַפְשֵׁךְ - nafšeḵ):

  • נַפְשֵׁךְ (nafšeḵ - "your soul/life"): Hebrew word nefesh often translated as "soul," but here it refers to the entirety of the living person, indicating their very existence and physical life. The immediate threat to Bathsheba's personal survival is made clear.

• and the life of your son Solomon (וְנֶפֶשׁ שְׁלֹמֹה בְנֵךְ - wənefeš šəlōmōh bənēḵ):

  • וְנֶפֶשׁ (wənefeš - "and the life/soul"): Same as nafšeḵ, reinforcing the parallel threat to Solomon's existence.
  • שְׁלֹמֹה בְנֵךְ (šəlōmōh bənēḵ - "Solomon your son"): Specifically names Solomon, whose divine appointment to the throne made him a direct threat to Adonijah's illegitimate claim, thereby endangering his life. The succession of a new king in the ancient world frequently meant the elimination of all rivals or potential contenders, especially from royal lineage, to secure the new reign.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel": This opening emphasizes the urgency and the necessity of the upcoming plan. Nathan's role as a trusted prophet and wise advisor is central. He is not just predicting, but actively orchestrating God's will to unfold through human action, demonstrating the interplay of divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
  • "that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon": This phrase starkly highlights the immediate stakes involved. The threat is existential. It connects Bathsheba's survival directly to Solomon's, demonstrating their interconnected fates in the succession struggle. The motivation for action is clearly framed as self-preservation, which aligns with prudent, strategic action in a crisis.

1 Kings 1 13 Bonus section

• The parallel accounts in 1 Chronicles sometimes provide more details about David's previous promises regarding Solomon. In 1 Chron 22:9-10, David recounts God's direct instruction about Solomon being the next king and building the Temple, indicating that David was aware of the divine choice. This deepens the meaning of Nathan prompting Bathsheba to remind David of his own promise.
• Nathan's strategy in this verse is a masterclass in diplomacy and effective communication, choosing the right person (Bathsheba, with direct access to the king), the right time (amidst Adonijah's coup), and the right message (reminding David of his solemn oath and the mortal threat).
• The immediate danger posed by Adonijah's actions goes beyond simple political maneuvering; it challenges the divine blueprint for Israel's future leadership, hence Nathan's strong prophetic intervention. God's faithfulness to His covenant with David (2 Sam 7) is implicitly upheld through the human agency prompted in this verse.

1 Kings 1 13 Commentary

1 Kings 1:13 is the strategic fulcrum upon which the resolution of the succession crisis hinges. Nathan's counsel to Bathsheba is not merely good advice but a divinely guided, politically astute maneuver. He understood the precarious nature of King David's health, Adonijah's audacity, and the absolute necessity of prompt, decisive action to ensure God's established plan for Solomon. The "counsel" offered by Nathan is precise and actionable, detailing how Bathsheba should approach David, reminding him of his oath concerning Solomon, which David had likely made privately to Bathsheba, confirming God's choice (1 Chron 22:9-10; 28:5-6).

The motivation cited—to "save your own life and the life of your son Solomon"—is a powerful one, reflecting the harsh political realities of ancient monarchies where rivals for the throne, once usurped, would almost certainly be eliminated. This verse underlines that God often works through human agents who act with wisdom and urgency in critical moments. Nathan did not merely pray; he instructed, mobilized, and orchestrated human effort in alignment with divine will. It illustrates prudence, timely intervention, and strategic collaboration in fulfilling God's overarching purpose of establishing Solomon's reign. The passage underscores the significance of oaths and promises, both human and divine, as a basis for legitimacy and right action within a crisis of authority.