1 Kings 1:28 kjv
Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
1 Kings 1:28 nkjv
Then King David answered and said, "Call Bathsheba to me." So she came into the king's presence and stood before the king.
1 Kings 1:28 niv
Then King David said, "Call in Bathsheba." So she came into the king's presence and stood before him.
1 Kings 1:28 esv
Then King David answered, "Call Bathsheba to me." So she came into the king's presence and stood before the king.
1 Kings 1:28 nlt
King David responded, "Call Bathsheba!" So she came back in and stood before the king.
1 Kings 1 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:12-13 | "I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body... He shall build a house for My name..." | Davidic Covenant; promised successor. |
| 1 Chr 22:9-10 | "...a son... Solomon... He shall build a house for My name..." | God choosing Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 1:15-17 | "Bathsheba went to the king... 'My lord, you swore to your servant by the LORD your God...' " | Bathsheba's previous petition to David. |
| 1 Kgs 1:30 | "So I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you..." | David's promise to Bathsheba, fulfilled. |
| 1 Kgs 2:1 | "When David's time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son..." | David's authority even near death. |
| 2 Sam 12:24 | "And David comforted Bathsheba... and went in to her and lay with her... she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon." | Birth of Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba. |
| Exod 32:7-8 | "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Go down at once, for your people... have corrupted themselves.' " | Immediate response to crisis. |
| Josh 14:1 | "...the people of Israel received their inheritance... Eleazar the priest, and Joshua..." | Standing before leaders/authorities. |
| Esth 5:2 | "And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight..." | Approaching and standing before a king. |
| Psa 33:9 | "For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm." | Power of divine command. |
| Jer 1:17 | "But you, dress yourself for work; arise and say to them everything that I command you..." | Prophets obeying divine command. |
| Matt 1:6 | "...David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah..." | Solomon's lineage tracing through Bathsheba. |
| Luke 1:32-33 | "...The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign..." | Christ's Davidic throne, echoing Solomon. |
| Acts 7:55-56 | "But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." | Standing in God's presence. |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy..." | Approaching God's presence. |
| Jam 4:8 | "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." | Spiritual application of approach. |
| Job 1:6 | "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD..." | Heavenly court appearing before God. |
| Gen 41:46 | "...Joseph left the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt." | Servant appearing before royal authority. |
| Deut 10:8 | "...Levi... to stand before the LORD to minister to Him..." | Priestly function of standing before God. |
| Psa 119:46 | "I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame." | Boldness before kings. |
1 Kings 1 verses
1 Kings 1 28 Meaning
This verse captures King David's authoritative response and command following Nathan's and Bathsheba's appeal concerning Adonijah's usurpation of the throne. It signifies David's decisive action to address the succession crisis, asserting his royal power despite his physical frailty. By summoning Bathsheba immediately, David initiates the crucial process to affirm Solomon as his designated successor. Her swift obedience, by coming into his presence and standing before him, demonstrates reverence for the king and readiness to receive his decree.
1 Kings 1 28 Context
The immediate context of 1 Kings 1:28 is a critical moment in King David's reign. Old and frail, David is seemingly unaware of Adonijah, his fourth son, attempting to usurp the throne. Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, intervene by approaching David separately to inform him of Adonijah's coup and remind him of his oath to make Solomon king. Verse 28 specifically describes David's first direct action in response to these appeals. Historically, royal succession in the ancient Near East often involved significant turmoil, especially if the king had not clearly designated an heir. David's past oaths regarding Solomon (likely a private or family vow) were not publicly known, creating an opening for Adonijah's power grab. This verse shows David, though aged, reasserting his supreme authority and initiating the official process to thwart Adonijah's unlawful claim and fulfill God's divine plan for the Davidic line through Solomon.
1 Kings 1 28 Word analysis
- Then King David answered (וַיַּ֨עַן הַמֶּלֶךְ֩ דָּוִ֜ד, vayya'an hammelech David): The verb "answered" (עָנָה, anah) implies a response to the direct appeal made by Nathan and Bathsheba. It signals that David, despite his advanced age and feebleness described earlier in the chapter (1 Kgs 1:1), is still capable of understanding and asserting his regal authority. The title "King David" is emphasized, underlining his ultimate power in the matter of succession.
- and said (וַיֹּ֗אמֶר, vayyomer): A common biblical connector indicating direct speech, reinforcing the authoritative verbal decree that follows.
- 'Call Bathsheba to me.' (קִרְאוּ־לִ֤י אֶת־בַּת־שֶׁ֙בַע֙, qir'u-li et-Bat-Sheva'): The word "call" (קָרָא, qara') is an imperative, a direct command, and in its plural form, suggests David is commanding his attendants to summon her. The urgency conveyed implies he needs to speak with her directly and without delay to clarify and act upon the information just received. It underscores Bathsheba's central role in the confirmation of Solomon as heir.
- So she came (וַתָּבֹ֣א, vattavo'): The conjunction "So" (וַ, va, implying sequential action) indicates immediate obedience. "Came" (בּוֹא, bo') signifies her direct approach into the inner royal chambers.
- into the king's presence (לִפְנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ, lifne-hammelech): The Hebrew "לִפְנֵי" (lifne) literally means "to the face of" or "before the face of," emphasizing her direct, unmediated access to David. This indicates the privilege and urgency of the royal audience granted to her.
- and stood before the king. (וַתַּֽעֲמֹד֙ לִפְנֵי֙ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃, vatta'amod lifne hammelech): The verb "stood" (עָמַד, amad) signifies a posture of reverence, respect, and attentiveness expected when addressing or awaiting instruction from royalty. This repetition of "before the king" after "into the king's presence" emphasizes the formal nature of the audience and Bathsheba's submission to David's authority, awaiting his decision or command.
- "Then King David answered and said": This phrase highlights David's retained royal authority, despite his age and infirmity. His decision to speak is the pivot point of the chapter, shifting from concern to active resolution. It indicates he grasped the gravity of the situation reported by Bathsheba and Nathan.
- "'Call Bathsheba to me.' So she came into the king's presence and stood before the king.": This sequence portrays immediate royal command followed by immediate and respectful compliance. It signifies Bathsheba's willingness and readiness to serve the king and her son's future. The phrase "stood before the king" (repeated) indicates the solemnity of the encounter and that she was prepared for the king's instruction or response, not a casual meeting.
1 Kings 1 28 Bonus section
This verse subtly reveals the lingering power and influence King David still wielded, contrasting with the previous description of his near-death state (1 Kgs 1:1-4). While physically weak, his authority remained undiminished. The immediate summons of Bathsheba also highlights the critical nature of private royal audiences in ancient monarchies, where vital decisions could be made away from public scrutiny. Bathsheba's prompt compliance shows her recognition of David's unassailable position as king, reinforcing that she acknowledges only his ultimate authority regarding the succession, not Adonijah's self-proclamation. The scene sets the groundwork for a binding royal decree, showing that even in frailty, a king's word carried absolute power.
1 Kings 1 28 Commentary
1 Kings 1:28 marks a critical turning point in the succession crisis, signifying King David's reassertion of his supreme authority. After being informed of Adonijah's brazen attempt to seize the throne, David's response is decisive and immediate. His command, "Call Bathsheba to me," is not merely a request but an imperative from a reigning monarch, showcasing that despite his physical decline, his mental faculties and regal power remain intact. The swiftness of Bathsheba's arrival and her respectful posture of "standing before the king" demonstrate the urgency of the moment and the established protocol of the royal court. This intimate, yet formal, audience sets the stage for David to reiterate and confirm his solemn oath, divinely inspired, that Solomon, Bathsheba's son, would be his successor. It emphasizes David's responsibility to God and his kingdom, ensuring the rightful heir takes the throne, fulfilling the Davidic covenant.