1 Kings 1:18 kjv
And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:
1 Kings 1:18 nkjv
So now, look! Adonijah has become king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know about it.
1 Kings 1:18 niv
But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it.
1 Kings 1:18 esv
And now, behold, Adonijah is king, although you, my lord the king, do not know it.
1 Kings 1:18 nlt
But instead, Adonijah has made himself king, and my lord the king does not even know about it.
1 Kings 1 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 1:5 | Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king…” | Adonijah's self-proclamation as king |
| 1 Ki 1:11 | Then Nathan said to Bathsheba, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns...?" | Nathan confirming Adonijah's usurpation |
| 1 Ki 1:13 | "...did you not swear to your handmaid, saying, ‘Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me…?” | David's prior promise concerning Solomon's succession |
| 1 Ki 1:30 | “...Solomon your son certainly shall reign after me, and he certainly shall sit on my throne in my place.” | David reaffirming Solomon's rightful place |
| 1 Ki 1:32-40 | David's command to anoint Solomon as king, his subsequent anointing and celebration. | David establishing proper succession by divine mandate |
| 2 Sam 3:4 | Adonijah listed as David’s son, born in Hebron. | Identifying Adonijah as a contender's lineage |
| 2 Sam 7:12-13 | "I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom." | God's promise of an enduring Davidic dynasty through Solomon |
| 1 Chr 22:9-10 | "Behold, a son will be born to you… his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet… he shall build a house for My name…" | Divine selection of Solomon for kingship and temple building |
| 2 Sam 15:10 | But Absalom sent secret messengers… saying, “Absalom is king in Hebron.” | Parallel rebellion/usurpation by Absalom |
| Ps 2:2-4 | "The kings of the earth take their stand… against the Lord and against His Anointed... The One who sits in the heavens laughs…” | Resistance against God’s appointed king (anointed one) |
| Ps 89:3-4 | “I have made a covenant with My chosen one… ‘I will establish your seed forever and build up your throne to all generations.’” | God’s covenant with David about a perpetual dynasty |
| Prov 28:2 | “By the transgression of a man, a land has many princes, But by a man of understanding, order is prolonged.” | Disruption due to illegitimate claims to power |
| Deut 17:15 | “you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses…" | Emphasizing divine choice in Israelite kingship |
| 1 Sam 10:24 | And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen…?" | God's choice and public anointing of a king |
| Lk 21:34-36 | “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation... but stay awake at all times…" | Remaining vigilant and not being unaware of significant events |
| Mt 24:42-44 | “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.” | Spiritual vigilance; preparedness against sudden events |
| 2 Tim 3:1 | But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. | Foreshadowing periods of instability and struggle |
| Is 9:6-7 | "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders... on the throne of David…” | Prophecy of Messiah, a legitimate king in the line of David |
| Acts 2:29-30 | “Brothers, I may confidently say to you… that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne.” | God's promise to David fulfilled in Christ |
| Heb 1:8 | “But as to the Son, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.’” | Christ's eternal kingship, in contrast to earthly usurpations |
| Jn 18:36 | Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight…” | Distinguishes God's eternal spiritual kingdom from earthly struggles |
1 Kings 1 verses
1 Kings 1 18 Meaning
This verse conveys an urgent message from Bathsheba to King David, revealing that Adonijah, David's son, has usurped the throne without David's knowledge or consent. It highlights a critical political crisis at the very end of David's reign, where the chosen succession, intended for Solomon, is being circumvented. The phrase "you do not know it" underscores David's aged and incapacitated state, rendering him unaware of the significant rebellion unfolding.
1 Kings 1 18 Context
First Kings chapter 1 depicts a critical transition in the Davidic monarchy. King David is old, frail, and seemingly detached from the affairs of his kingdom. Seeing David's weakness and the opportune moment, Adonijah, David's fourth and oldest surviving son, makes a bold attempt to seize the throne. He gathers influential supporters like Joab, the army commander, and Abiathar, the priest, and hosts a sacrificial feast where he publicly declares himself king. Bathsheba, mother of Solomon, and Nathan the prophet become aware of this blatant usurpation. This verse marks the moment Bathsheba directly informs the ailing king, emphasizing his lack of awareness regarding Adonijah's immediate reign. This news becomes the catalyst for David to reassert his authority and ensure Solomon's divinely appointed succession. Historically, successions in ancient Near Eastern monarchies were often volatile, prone to coups, and often determined by strength or alliances rather than clear lineal inheritance or prior decree, unless firmly established by the reigning monarch.
1 Kings 1 18 Word analysis
- And now: This Hebrew phrase wə‘attâ (וְעַתָּה) serves as an immediate, emphatic transition. It signals an urgent shift from the general circumstances to a critical, current event that demands immediate attention.
- behold: The Hebrew hinnēh (הִנֵּה) is an interjection meaning "look," "see," or "behold." It's used to draw emphatic attention to what follows, emphasizing the severity and immediacy of the situation. It highlights the surprising and alarming nature of the revelation.
- Adonijah: The Hebrew name ‘Ǎdōniyyāh (אֲדֹנִיָּה) means "My Lord is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is my Lord." Ironically, despite the devout meaning of his name, Adonijah acts in opposition to Yahweh's revealed will regarding the succession (Solomon) and rebels against David's legitimate authority, the king chosen by Yahweh. He was David's fourth son, older and seen by some as the natural heir after the deaths of Amnon and Absalom.
- reigns: The Hebrew verb mālak (מָלַךְ) in the perfect tense signifies that Adonijah "has taken up kingship" or "has begun to reign." This is not a future possibility, but a present, declared fact by Adonijah, suggesting an established state of affairs from his perspective and that of his supporters. It means to act as king, to be enthroned, indicating he has already undertaken the rituals or proclamations of a king.
- and now, my lord the king: The repetition of "and now" (wə‘attâ) underscores the ongoing, escalating crisis. "My lord the king" (’ăḏōnî hammälek) is a respectful yet urgent form of address. It is crucial because Bathsheba is presenting herself and the urgency of the situation before the sovereign, relying on his authority to act, despite his current weakness.
- you do not know it: The Hebrew phrase lō’ yāḏa‘tā (לֹא יָ֧דַעְתָּ), literally "not you knew," highlights David's complete ignorance and detachment. This state of unknowing is critical; it implies that Adonijah's coup was executed discreetly enough or David was incapacitated enough that the rightful king had no intelligence of it. This ignorance underscores the political fragility and the need for immediate divine intervention and human action.
- "And now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and now, my lord the king": This sequence of urgent addresses ("And now," "behold," "and now") reflects Bathsheba's pressing need to convey the severity and immediate nature of the political crisis to the ailing King David. The repetition emphasizes the escalating danger.
- "Adonijah reigns... you do not know it": This juxtaposes Adonijah's audacious self-proclamation with David's complete ignorance. It highlights the extent of the political conspiracy and David's vulnerable state. Adonijah's self-coronation represents a challenge to the established order and God's sovereign plan for succession, as he bypasses divine appointment and paternal consent.
1 Kings 1 18 Bonus section
This verse subtly introduces the theme of divine sovereignty versus human ambition. While Adonijah "reigns" by his own declaration and the support of key figures, his authority lacks the essential component of God's blessing and the anointing of the current king. This immediate crisis provides the context for God's fidelity to His covenant with David, ensuring Solomon's rightful enthronement, ultimately establishing the lineage through whom the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come, the ultimate eternal king. The narrative structure here demonstrates a swift transition from danger to resolution due to timely information and faithful obedience to God's will.
1 Kings 1 18 Commentary
First Kings 1:18 marks a pivotal moment where a clandestine political maneuver is brought into the light of the king's chambers. Bathsheba, acutely aware of the mortal threat posed by Adonijah's usurpation to her son Solomon and potentially herself, brings the news directly to David. Her phrase "you do not know it" is crucial; it reveals David's physical decline has led to political detachment, creating a dangerous vacuum that Adonijah exploits. The gravity lies in Adonijah's independent "reign," a claim to sovereignty that bypasses divine selection and David's sworn promise for Solomon to inherit the throne. This verse acts as a call to action, setting the stage for David to assert his remaining authority and ensure the rightful, divinely ordained transfer of power.