1 Kings 1:22 kjv
And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
1 Kings 1:22 nkjv
And just then, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
1 Kings 1:22 niv
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
1 Kings 1:22 esv
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
1 Kings 1:22 nlt
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
1 Kings 1 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 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. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever... | Nathanic Covenant, promising stable Davidic dynasty through Solomon. |
| 2 Sam 12:24-25 | Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him; and sent word by Nathan the prophet, and called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD. | Nathan's involvement in Solomon's birth and divine favor. |
| 1 Sam 16:1-13 | And the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." ... | Prophetic anointing of a king (David by Samuel). |
| 1 Kgs 1:11-13 | Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king and David our lord does not know it? Now therefore come, let me give you counsel... Go in to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to your servant that Solomon your son should reign after you...'" | Nathan's strategic counsel to Bathsheba for coordinated action. |
| 1 Kgs 1:15-21 | So Bathsheba went to the king in his chamber. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending the king. She bowed and prostrated herself before the king and said, "My lord, you swore to your servant by the LORD your God that Solomon your son should reign after you, and that he should sit on your throne. | Bathsheba's petition to King David, leading to Nathan's entry. |
| Prov 11:14 | Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. | Importance of wise counsel, exemplified by Nathan. |
| Prov 15:22 | Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. | Confirming the wisdom of Nathan and Bathsheba's joint counsel. |
| Isa 30:21 | And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. | God's guidance through divine timing and prophetic word. |
| Amos 7:12-15 | And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah... but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom." Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'" | Prophets speaking truth to power despite opposition. |
| Jer 1:9-10 | Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." | The divine authority invested in a prophet's words and actions. |
| Deut 18:18 | I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. | God empowering His prophets with His words for His people. |
| 1 Kgs 1:47-48 | And the king's servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, "May God make the name of Solomon more famous than your name, and may he make his throne greater than your throne!" And the king bowed himself on the bed. And also the king said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne today, while my own eyes see it." | David's affirmation of Solomon as king, the outcome of the strategy. |
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. | God's sovereign orchestration, turning perceived evil into good. |
| Eccl 3:1 | For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. | Divine timing and the precise moment for an event. |
| Hab 2:3 | For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. | God's plans unfold at His appointed, precise moment. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. | God's sovereignty ensuring all events align with His purpose. |
| Gal 4:4 | But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law. | Emphasizes the significance of divine timing in pivotal moments. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. | Highlights the continuity and significance of God speaking through prophets. |
| Exo 32:11-14 | But Moses implored the LORD his God and said, "O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people... Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people... " And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. | Example of successful intercession influencing a king/God. |
| Esth 4:16 | "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." | An intercessor strategically approaching a king at risk. |
| Zech 7:7 | Were not these the words that the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous...? | Reminds of the established tradition and authority of prophets in Israel. |
| 1 Kgs 1:32-37 | King David said, "Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." So they came before the king... The king said, "Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon... Anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, 'Long live King Solomon!'" | The immediate aftermath confirming the plan initiated by Nathan and Bathsheba. |
1 Kings 1 verses
1 Kings 1 22 Meaning
1 Kings 1:22 describes a crucial, precisely timed moment in the royal court of ancient Israel. While Bathsheba was still presenting her urgent petition to King David, concerning the usurpation by Adonijah, Nathan the prophet dramatically entered the king's chamber. This verse signals the immediate and divinely orchestrated continuation of a planned strategy to ensure Solomon's succession to the throne, confirming the divine promise and David's prior oath.
1 Kings 1 22 Context
1 Kings chapter 1 opens with King David's old age and physical frailty, indicating his inability to effectively govern or identify his successor. Adonijah, one of David's sons, presumptuously declared himself king without David's knowledge or consent, aligning himself with key military and priestly figures like Joab and Abiathar, but notably excluding loyalists such as Zadok the priest, Benaiah, Nathan the prophet, and Solomon. Hearing of this grave development, Nathan the prophet collaborated with Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, to strategize a way to remind David of his sworn oath that Solomon would succeed him. Verse 22 describes the precise moment within this orchestrated plan: as Bathsheba finished presenting her case to the debilitated David, Nathan's calculated entrance provided immediate, undeniable confirmation and reinforced her message, setting the stage for David to take decisive action to affirm Solomon as the rightful heir and avert civil unrest.
1 Kings 1 22 Word analysis
- And while (וְהִנֵּה - v'hinnêh):
- Word: "And behold," or "and suddenly." This Hebrew particle (
hinnêh) frequently introduces a new, often unexpected or significant event that occurs concurrently with or immediately after an ongoing action. - Significance: It creates a sense of immediacy and drama, highlighting the perfect timing of Nathan's arrival. It arrests the reader's attention to the crucial nature of what follows.
- Word: "And behold," or "and suddenly." This Hebrew particle (
- she was still speaking (עוֹד הִיא מְדַבֶּרֶת - ‘ôd hî' m'daberet):
- Word:
עוֹד(‘ôd) means "still" or "yet," emphasizing the continuity of her action.מְדַבֶּרֶת(m'daberet) is the feminine singular present participle of the verb "to speak," denoting an ongoing process. - Significance: It highlights that Bathsheba was actively engaged in conversation with David, making her petition, right up to the point of Nathan's entrance. This ensures that the king's attention was fully focused on the matter of succession when Nathan arrived, preventing any gap in the discourse that Adonijah's supporters might exploit.
- Word:
- with the king (אֶת-הַמֶּלֶךְ - ‘et-hammelek):
- Word: "With the king." The definite article
הַ(ha-) makes it "the" specific king, David. - Significance: Specifies that Bathsheba was directly addressing King David, emphasizing the high-stakes nature of the conversation. Her words carried immense weight due to his authority, even in his old age.
- Word: "With the king." The definite article
- Nathan (נָתָן - Natan):
- Word: Hebrew name meaning "He (God) has given."
- Significance: Nathan is a pivotal figure in David's reign. He delivered the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7), rebuked David for his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Sam 12), and prophesied Solomon's birth and divine favor. His very name and established relationship with David lend immense authority and legitimacy to his actions. He represents divine will.
- the prophet (הַנָּבִיא - hannāvî’):
- Word: Hebrew
נָבִיא(nāvî’) refers to a divinely inspired messenger, spokesperson for God. - Significance: This title underscores Nathan's role not just as a royal advisor but as God's representative. His counsel and intervention carry the weight of divine endorsement. In ancient Israel, prophets were crucial in legitimate leadership changes and confirming God's chosen king. His presence transforms a personal appeal into a divinely sanctioned pronouncement.
- Word: Hebrew
- came in (בָּא - bā’):
- Word: Simple Hebrew verb "he came" or "he entered."
- Significance: The succinctness of this verb highlights the immediate and decisive nature of his entrance. It was not a casual arrival but a deliberate, perfectly timed act that was part of a coordinated strategy to address the urgent crisis of Adonijah's attempted usurpation.
Words-group analysis:
- "And while she was still speaking with the king": This phrase emphasizes the precise, critical timing. It portrays Bathsheba's plea as ongoing and intense, gripping David's attention fully. Nathan's entrance is not merely a follow-up but an integral, pre-arranged part of the strategy, leveraging the impact of Bathsheba's words at their height. It highlights a seamless transition designed for maximum impact.
- "Nathan the prophet came in": This concise statement underscores Nathan's authoritative role. His identity as "the prophet" indicates that his arrival carries spiritual weight, beyond just that of a political advisor. His presence validates Bathsheba's account and signals divine approval for Solomon's cause, transforming a desperate appeal into a divinely affirmed resolution for the royal succession. The simple "came in" further emphasizes the immediate execution of a well-laid plan.
1 Kings 1 22 Bonus section
- The synchronized entry of Nathan after Bathsheba's petition serves as an ancient Israelite parallel to a carefully orchestrated "one-two punch" to secure David's commitment. This indicates a high level of planning and foresight by Nathan and Bathsheba.
- Nathan's wisdom extended beyond his prophetic gifting; he was a shrewd strategist in matters of the kingdom, understanding court dynamics and David's temperament. His presence ensured the message carried not only weight but also immediate actionable validity.
- This specific verse demonstrates a core biblical principle: God works through human agents and their timely obedience to His promptings, even in complex political situations, to fulfill His divine purposes.
- The intervention averted potential civil war by solidifying the rightful succession through prompt action. Had David delayed, Adonijah's claim could have gained irreversible momentum.
1 Kings 1 22 Commentary
1 Kings 1:22 is a moment of divine precision and human ingenuity. It captures the orchestrated strategic timing between Bathsheba and Nathan, revealing their quick and decisive action to counter Adonijah's usurpation of the throne. Bathsheba had reminded David of his promise regarding Solomon; Nathan's immediate entrance served as corroboration, providing irrefutable testimony and bolstering her words before the aged and ailing king. This exact timing was crucial. Had Nathan entered too early, David might not have fully grasped the gravity of Adonijah's actions through Bathsheba's testimony. Had he entered too late, the momentum would have been lost. Nathan's identity as "the prophet" elevates the moment beyond courtly intrigue to one where God's will concerning the Davidic lineage and the future of the kingdom is about to be dramatically affirmed. This brief verse sets the stage for David's immediate and crucial decision, confirming Solomon as his heir, demonstrating how divine purpose often works through the collaborative, strategic actions of devoted individuals.