1 Kings 1 24

1 Kings 1:24 kjv

And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

1 Kings 1:24 nkjv

And Nathan said, "My lord, O king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne'?

1 Kings 1:24 niv

Nathan said, "Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne?

1 Kings 1:24 esv

And Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne'?

1 Kings 1:24 nlt

Nathan asked, "My lord the king, have you decided that Adonijah will be the next king and that he will sit on your throne?

1 Kings 1 verses

1 Kings 1 24 Meaning

In 1 Kings 1:24, the prophet Nathan confronts King David during a time of crisis concerning the royal succession. Nathan strategically asks David a rhetorical question, suggesting that David himself might have publicly declared Adonijah, David's fourth son, as his designated successor to the throne. This pointed question is designed to prompt David to clarify the actual plan for his successor and recall his previous oath concerning Solomon's enthronement. Nathan's query highlights the potential chaos and divine disapproval implied by Adonijah's self-proclamation as king, contrasting it with God's established will for the Davidic line.

1 Kings 1 24 Context

First Kings chapter 1 depicts the precarious final days of King David, marked by his advanced age and physical weakness. This creates a vacuum in leadership, which Adonijah, David's fourth and oldest surviving son, attempts to fill by unilaterally proclaiming himself king. Adonijah, described as proud and charismatic, gathered support from key figures like Joab (the army commander) and Abiathar (a priest), circumventing David's authority and God's earlier revelation regarding Solomon.

Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and Nathan, the prophet who originally announced God's covenant with David concerning his perpetual kingdom and who prophesied the birth of Solomon, collaborate to remind David of his oath to establish Solomon as his successor. Nathan's entrance in verse 24 follows Bathsheba's direct appeal to David (verses 15-21). Nathan employs a wise rhetorical strategy by phrasing his concern as if Adonijah's self-proclamation was based on David's own (unspoken) directive. This forces David to acknowledge the threat to his promise and the kingdom's stability, setting the stage for David to take decisive action to anoint Solomon as king. Historically, succession in Israel, while often hereditary, was ultimately determined by divine choice, frequently mediated through a prophet, as evidenced throughout the Old Testament. This episode also highlights the crucial role of prophets in confronting even kings with divine will.

1 Kings 1 24 Word analysis

• Then Nathan said: Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר נָתָן (Vayyō'mer Natan). Nathan (נָתָן, Natan) means "He has given" (referring to God's gift). Nathan is presented here not just as a messenger but as a key actor in preserving the divine promise. His intervention is timely and crucial, reflecting his ongoing role as God's spokesperson to David (compare with 2 Sam 7, 2 Sam 12). The "Then" indicates immediate sequence after Bathsheba's audience, highlighting the coordinated effort.

• "My lord the king,": Hebrew: אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ (Adoni hamméleḵ). A respectful but formal address, demonstrating Nathan's customary deference to the king's position even while implicitly challenging his inaction or oversight. This respectful tone maintains David's dignity while setting up the serious confrontation.

• "have you said,": Hebrew: הַאַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ (ha'attah 'amarta). This is a strong rhetorical question in Hebrew. It's not a genuine inquiry about whether David said this, but a subtle yet potent accusation or a call for David to affirm his true will. Nathan knows David hasn't said this, as it contradicts the divine promise given through him years ago (2 Sam 7). It compels David to confront the unauthorized actions of Adonijah and the false premise on which they stand.

• "'Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne'?":

  • Adonijah: Hebrew: אֲדֹנִיָּה ('Adoniyyah). Means "My Lord is Yahweh." Despite his name, his actions are against God's known will for succession. He is David's fourth son and the oldest living heir at this point, which gave him a perceived customary claim.
  • "shall reign after me": Implies immediate and legitimate succession. The phrase points to the ongoing kingship, implying Adonijah is presented as the next king of Israel.
  • "and he shall sit on my throne": Hebrew: וְהוּא יֵשֵׁב עַל־כִּסְאִי (vehū' yēšēḇ 'al-kisse'i). "Throne" (כִּסֵּא, kisse') symbolizes not just a physical seat but the embodiment of royal power, authority, and legitimate succession. This "throne" is tied directly to the Davidic covenant and God's promise (2 Sam 7:16, 1 Chr 29:23 where Solomon sits on "the throne of the LORD"). To sit on David's throne implies continuation of the divinely sanctioned Davidic dynasty. Nathan frames Adonijah's usurpation in terms of ultimate royal authority.

• "have you said... Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne": This entire phrase serves as a powerful rhetorical device. Nathan strategically casts Adonijah's rebellion as if it were David's own command. This places David in a position where he must either validate a false claim that endangers the kingdom and defies God's will, or act decisively to correct the misconception and fulfill his divine promise. It underscores the urgency of the situation and David's moral and theological responsibility as king.

1 Kings 1 24 Bonus section

• Prophetic Strategy: Nathan's approach in this verse mirrors his past prophetic interactions with David. Just as in 2 Samuel 12 (confronting David about Bathsheba and Uriah), Nathan does not directly accuse or command. Instead, he uses an indirect, parabolic, or rhetorical method to allow David to arrive at the truth or the correct decision himself, ensuring genuine repentance or decisive action. This is a common and effective prophetic technique to engage the listener's conscience.
• The King's Inaction: David's silence or failure to formally designate Solomon as his successor up to this point created the opportunity for Adonijah's presumptuous grab for power. The very public nature of Adonijah's self-proclamation, including sacrificing sheep and cattle (1 Ki 1:9), necessitated a public counter-action, which Nathan's question helps initiate.
• Divine vs. Human Kingship: The concept of "my throne" is often understood as the king's earthly throne, but within the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7), it ultimately refers to God's chosen throne, a divine institution. Solomon later sits on "the throne of the LORD" (1 Chr 29:23). Nathan's question therefore is also implicitly asking if David has subverted God's chosen successor for Adonijah.

1 Kings 1 24 Commentary

1 Kings 1:24 captures a pivotal moment of confrontation and consequence. Nathan, the seasoned prophet, employs masterful discernment and rhetorical skill to navigate a delicate royal succession crisis. His direct yet artfully framed question, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne'?" serves as a powerful catalyst. This isn't a true query about David's words; Nathan, aware of God's prior designation of Solomon and David's oath, is strategically compelling David to recognize the immediate threat posed by Adonijah's usurpation and to reassert the legitimate succession plan.

The verse underscores several vital themes: the sanctity of divine promise over human custom or ambition, the critical role of prophecy in Israel's monarchy, and the need for leaders to act decisively in accordance with God's will. Nathan's courage to confront the ailing king, even implicitly, highlights the prophet's role as God's conscience and mouthpiece. By presenting the situation as though David had sanctioned Adonijah, Nathan forced the king to directly address the rebellion as a breach of his own (divinely-inspired) will, rather than just an independent action. This subtle pressure leads David to finally uphold his sworn oath, bringing order out of chaos and fulfilling God's covenant with him.