1 Kings 1:21 kjv
Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.
1 Kings 1:21 nkjv
Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted as offenders."
1 Kings 1:21 niv
Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals."
1 Kings 1:21 esv
Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders."
1 Kings 1:21 nlt
If you do not act, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals as soon as my lord the king has died."
1 Kings 1 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 1:11-13 | Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah... is king... come now, let me advise you, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon... Go in 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...”’” | Nathan's counsel to Bathsheba to save their lives. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom... I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” | God's covenant with David concerning his successor (Solomon). |
| 1 Chr 22:9-10 | “Behold, a son shall be born to you... his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days... he shall build a house for my name.” | God's direct word through David, designating Solomon. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | “I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant: ‘Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations.’” | Confirmation of God's covenant and promise to David regarding his lineage. |
| 1 Kgs 1:5 | Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king,” and he acquired chariots and horsemen... | Adonijah's usurpation attempt, threatening Bathsheba and Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 2:13-25 | Adonijah came to Bathsheba... And she said, “Tell me what you want.” He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine... And he begged, saying, “Please let King Solomon speak to Adonijah son of Abishag and give her to him for a wife.” Then King Solomon swore, “God do so to me and more also if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life!” | Solomon's swift and severe judgment against Adonijah later, demonstrating the real threat of rival claimants. |
| Gen 27:42 | But Rebekah was told the words of Esau her older son... she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself by intending to kill you.” | A mother protecting her son from a sibling threat, mirroring Bathsheba's concern. |
| Deut 17:15 | you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses. | God's role in choosing a king, which Adonijah's action undermines. |
| Judg 2:10 | All that generation also were gathered to their fathers... | Common biblical euphemism for death ("gathered to their fathers"). |
| 1 Kgs 2:10 | Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. | The literal fulfillment of the "sleeping with his fathers" euphemism for David. |
| Acts 13:36 | For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption. | New Testament use of "fell asleep and was laid with his fathers" referring to David's death. |
| Prov 13:22 | A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous. | The concern for a proper legacy and succession for Solomon. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | The concept of being "counted offenders" and the potential consequences of "sin" or disobedience against the established order. |
| Exod 22:2 | If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him. | Legal implications and severe outcomes for being perceived as a threat or "offender" in ancient society. |
| 1 Kgs 1:49 | Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and arose and went each his own way. | Demonstrates the quick reversal of fortunes and the danger for those aligned with a failed coup. |
| Josh 2:19-20 | “If anyone belonging to you should go out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent...” | The danger and blame associated with defying established rules or protection. |
| Esth 7:7-10 | And the king arose in his wrath from the wine party... and Harbona, one of the eunuchs... “Behold, the gallows that Haman erected... for Mordecai... Haman’s word of offense resulted in his death. | Illustrates how political opposition (being an "offender") can lead to execution. |
| 1 Sam 18:28-29 | But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David... Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually. | The danger inherent in being seen as a rival to a reigning monarch. |
| 1 Sam 20:31 | “For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” | Saul's perception of David as an existential threat to his lineage, paralleling Adonijah's likely view of Solomon. |
| Matt 12:31 | Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. | Contextual understanding of 'sin' (חַטָּאִים) implying a serious offense leading to dire consequences. |
1 Kings 1 verses
1 Kings 1 21 Meaning
Bathsheba expresses a dire warning to King David, asserting that if the immediate and decisive action is not taken to establish Solomon as king, she and Solomon will face severe persecution, being treated as enemies or offenders by the new ruler once David dies. This implies a fear for their lives and status under Adonijah's presumptive reign.
1 Kings 1 21 Context
The verse is part of the pivotal narrative concerning David's succession in his old age. King David, enfeebled and nearing death, had previously been divinely informed (2 Sam 7) that his son Solomon would succeed him and build the Temple. However, David's elder son, Adonijah, taking advantage of David's weakness and lack of oversight, has unilaterally declared himself king. Nathan the prophet, recognizing the danger to God's plan and to Bathsheba and Solomon, instructs Bathsheba to appeal directly to David, reminding him of his previous oath to her concerning Solomon's enthronement. This verse represents Bathsheba's persuasive and urgent plea, emphasizing the dire personal consequences if David fails to act decisively before his death.
1 Kings 1 21 Word analysis
- Otherwise (אחרת ʾakhareet): This word, placed at the beginning of the sentence in Hebrew, functions as an adverbial phrase, signaling an immediate, negative consequence if a certain action (or inaction) occurs. It conveys a strong sense of urgency and foreboding, acting as a crucial "if-then" connector in her argument to David. It underlines the high stakes involved in the royal succession.
- when my lord the king (אֲדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ ʾăḏōnī hammmeleḵ): Bathsheba uses a title of utmost respect, "my lord the king," acknowledging David's current supreme authority. However, this is immediately followed by a temporal clause, "when... sleeps with his fathers," which serves as a stark reminder of his mortality and the very limited window of time he has left to make a critical decision. Her address is both reverential and pragmatic, subtly leveraging David's paternal affection and kingly duty.
- sleeps with his fathers (שָׁכַב עִם־אֲבֹתָיו shākhab ʿim-ʾăḇōṯāyw): This is a very common euphemism throughout the Old Testament for death, signifying a peaceful passing and burial among one's ancestors (e.g., Judg 2:10; 1 Kgs 2:10). It emphasizes David's imminent natural end. Its use here serves to accelerate the urgency of Bathsheba's appeal, highlighting that the critical moment for action is before David's death and before Adonijah's usurpation solidifies. It also reinforces the ancestral lineage, making the issue of rightful succession paramount.
- I and my son Solomon (אֲנִ֖י וּשְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנִֽי ʾăni ushlohomo ḇənī): Bathsheba's plea is deeply personal. By coupling herself with Solomon, she underscores that the threat extends beyond just the rightful heir to the queen mother, who wielded considerable influence and was therefore also a target in succession disputes. Her vulnerability, along with Solomon’s, is highlighted to appeal to David’s paternal instinct and responsibility for his family's welfare. This specific phrasing also brings to mind David's original vow to Bathsheba.
- will be counted offenders (נִהְי֥וּ חַטָּאִֽים nihyu ḥaṭṭāʾīm): The Hebrew word ḥaṭṭāʾīm (חַטָּאִים) means "sinners," "guilty ones," or those who have missed the mark. In this sociopolitical context, it implies that they would be considered enemies or traitors of the new regime, implying legal or criminal charges leading to severe punishment, most likely execution or banishment. It's a statement about their likely political vulnerability and extermination by a usurper who would see them as threats to his power. This vividly conveys the lethal stakes involved in ancient Near Eastern royal succession disputes where rivals were ruthlessly eliminated.
1 Kings 1 21 Bonus section
The scene involving Bathsheba and Nathan, and then Bathsheba's plea followed by Nathan's corroboration, is a masterclass in political maneuvering within a royal court. This carefully orchestrated intervention by Nathan the prophet highlights his strategic astuteness in ensuring the fulfillment of God's promise to David concerning Solomon's kingship. The perceived vulnerability and potential execution of Bathsheba and Solomon, framed within this verse, provide David with an immediate and compelling reason to act decisively, rather than relying solely on abstract divine promises or his own previous intentions. The emphasis on "offenders" reveals the zero-sum nature of power struggles in ancient kingdoms; there was no room for rivals once a new king was established. This fear was not exaggerated, as Solomon himself later dealt firmly with perceived threats to his throne, including Adonijah, illustrating the grim reality of succession.
1 Kings 1 21 Commentary
1 Kings 1:21 is a powerful expression of political foresight and survival instinct. Bathsheba, having been passive in previous narratives (2 Sam 11), now acts decisively as advised by Nathan. Her concise statement serves as a potent warning to David, framing the succession crisis not just as a matter of royal authority, but as a direct threat to the very lives of those promised the throne. Her use of the "otherwise" clause effectively conveys the immediacy of the peril. The phrase "sleeps with his fathers" marks David's impending mortality as the critical juncture. By stressing that she and Solomon "will be counted offenders," Bathsheba invokes the brutal reality of ancient Near Eastern court politics, where rival claimants and their supporters were typically purged by a new regime to secure its power. This moment reveals Bathsheba's transformation into a formidable political actor, skillfully leveraging her maternal concern and David's oath to catalyze the king's long-delayed decision regarding his successor.