1 Kings 1 15

1 Kings 1:15 kjv

And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

1 Kings 1:15 nkjv

So Bathsheba went into the chamber to the king. (Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.)

1 Kings 1:15 niv

So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him.

1 Kings 1:15 esv

So Bathsheba went to the king in his chamber (now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to the king).

1 Kings 1:15 nlt

So Bathsheba went into the king's bedroom. (He was very old now, and Abishag was taking care of him.)

1 Kings 1 verses

1 Kings 1 15 Meaning

This verse describes Bathsheba's immediate action of entering the king's private chambers to address the critical matter of succession. It explicitly notes King David's extreme old age and physical weakness, highlighting the precarious state of the monarchy, and confirms Abishag the Shunammite's continuous presence and role as the king's dedicated caregiver within this private setting. This moment sets the scene for Bathsheba's plea on behalf of Solomon and the divine promise of his reign.

1 Kings 1 15 Context

First Kings chapter 1 opens with King David, now extremely advanced in age and physically feeble, requiring constant care, specifically the warmth provided by Abishag. This dire physical state signals an imminent succession crisis. Unbeknownst to David, his eldest surviving son, Adonijah, has begun to usurp the throne by assembling key supporters like Joab and Abiathar, assuming he is the rightful heir. Nathan the prophet, acutely aware of God's promise and David's oath concerning Solomon's future reign, devises a plan with Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, to inform David of Adonijah's coup and remind him of his oath to Solomon. Verse 15 marks the initiation of this crucial plan, as Bathsheba enters the king's most private and restricted space, signifying the urgency and personal nature of her mission.

1 Kings 1 15 Word analysis

• And Bathsheba went in: wa-tābō' (וַתָּבֹא) – "and she came/went." This signifies a deliberate, determined movement, indicative of Bathsheba's new active role in securing the succession. Her ability to directly "go in" to the king's private chamber speaks to her privileged status, unlike many who would require summons or risked death (Esth 4:11).
• to the king: ʾel-ha-meleḵ (אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ) – "to the king." Even in his extreme weakness, David is still "the King," underscoring his sovereign authority, despite his physical incapacitation, which is central to the legitimacy of the succession.
• into the chamber: hāḥăḏer (הַחֶדֶר) – "the chamber" or "private room." This denotes the most intimate and restricted part of the palace, typically a sleeping quarter. Her entry here highlights the gravity, intimacy, and confidential nature of the conversation she is about to have. It emphasizes the privacy required for such a sensitive political maneuver.
• and the king was very old: wə-ha-meleḵ zāqēn məʾōd (וְהַמֶּלֶךְ זָקֵן מְאֹד) – "and the king was old, very much so." Zāqēn means old, and məʾōd is an intensifier meaning "very" or "exceedingly." This phrase not only reiterates David's advanced age (first mentioned in 1 Ki 1:1) but emphasizes his profound feebleness and incapacity, underscoring the immediate urgency of resolving the succession crisis and potentially hinting at his diminished awareness or clarity, which makes Bathsheba and Nathan's strategy necessary. This physical state creates a power vacuum that Adonijah seeks to exploit.
• and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king: wə-ʾĂḇîšaḡ haš-šûnamîṯ məšārəṯeṯ ʾeṯ-ha-meleḵ (וַאֲבִישַׁג הַשּׁוּנַמִּית מְשָׁרַת אֶת-הַמֶּלֶךְ) – "and Abishag the Shunammite ministering to the king."
  • Abishag the Shunammite: Introduced in 1 Kings 1:3-4 as a young woman brought to warm David. Her presence reinforces the extent of David's physical deterioration and his complete dependency. Her geographic identifier ("Shunammite") provides context and later becomes politically significant when Adonijah tries to claim her.
  • ministered unto the king: məšārəṯeṯ (מְשָׁרַת) – a present participle, meaning "was serving," indicating an ongoing and continuous service. The verb sharat means "to serve," often in a respectful or intimate personal capacity. Her ongoing care underlines David's utter physical dependence, confirming that he is unable to function independently, and highlights the fragile state of royal authority at this time. Her presence during Bathsheba's private meeting suggests the intimate, restricted nature of the setting.

Words-group analysis

• "And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber": This sequence establishes a private, critical setting. Bathsheba's ability to enter the inner chamber without being announced (as per general ancient Near Eastern royal protocol) underscores the intimacy of her relationship with David and the exceptional urgency of her mission. It implies she bypassed usual court formalities, signifying immediate access required by the dire circumstances.
• "the king was very old" and "Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king": These two phrases collectively paint a vivid picture of a deeply incapacitated king. His extreme age, coupled with the need for constant, intimate physical care by a specific attendant, visually portrays the vulnerability of David's reign and the resulting open opportunity for a usurper like Adonijah. This emphasizes the physical backdrop to the political turmoil. The contrast between David's once vibrant kingship and his current frail state is striking.

1 Kings 1 15 Bonus section

• The detail that Abishag was "ministering" highlights not just her general presence but her dedicated role as a caregiver, affirming the reality of David's debilitating old age, which transcended simple feebleness and verged on incapacitation.
• The immediate and direct interaction of Bathsheba with David, bypassing formal court procedures (which would be typical for an old, ailing king), underscores the deep personal connection between them and the high trust David placed in her, which now is strategically employed to secure Solomon's throne.
• The use of "the chamber" (haḥăḏer) often connotes secrecy or a hidden, private setting, indicating that the crucial discussion about the kingdom's future was unfolding away from the public eye and court intrigues of Adonijah.
• This verse illustrates a moment of strategic cooperation between Nathan and Bathsheba, orchestrated to prompt action from the frail David and secure the divine decree for Solomon's kingship. It showcases how human wisdom and divine purpose intersect in the historical unfolding of God's plan.

1 Kings 1 15 Commentary

1 Kings 1:15 is a pivotal verse, setting the stage for the dramatic resolution of King David's succession. Bathsheba's entry into David's private chamber signifies the strategic launch of the counter-move against Adonijah's presumptuous coup. The dual depiction of David as "very old" and under the constant care of "Abishag" starkly portrays the vulnerability and profound physical decline of the aging monarch. This severe infirmity not only necessitates Abishag's presence but also provides the backdrop for the power vacuum and confusion that allowed Adonijah to initiate his self-proclamation. The urgency of Bathsheba's visit is intensified by David's precarious state, where every moment counts for securing the divinely promised throne for Solomon. This scene, therefore, embodies both personal fragility and high political stakes, demonstrating how David's physical condition directly precipitated a national crisis and compelled Bathsheba's decisive action.