1 Kings 1 32

1 Kings 1:32 kjv

And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

1 Kings 1:32 nkjv

And King David said, "Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." So they came before the king.

1 Kings 1:32 niv

King David said, "Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came before the king,

1 Kings 1:32 esv

King David said, "Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." So they came before the king.

1 Kings 1:32 nlt

Then King David ordered, "Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came into the king's presence,

1 Kings 1 verses

1 Kings 1 32 Meaning

This verse records King David's authoritative command to summon three key individuals—Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada—to his presence. This summoning initiates the immediate and decisive action required to establish Solomon as his successor, thereby thwarting Adonijah's premature attempt to seize the throne. It highlights David's final act of sovereign authority in managing the kingdom's succession according to God's will and ensuring the rightful continuation of the Davidic covenant.

1 Kings 1 32 Context

This verse occurs at a pivotal moment towards the end of King David's life, during a fierce succession crisis. David is old and physically weak (1 Ki 1:1), and his son Adonijah, charismatic and older than Solomon, has presumptuously declared himself king without David's knowledge or approval, gathering significant support from influential figures like Joab and Abiathar (1 Ki 1:5-7). Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba (Solomon's mother) bring this alarming news to David (1 Ki 1:11-27), reminding him of his solemn oath to make Solomon king. This verse immediately follows David's renewed oath to Bathsheba, confirming Solomon's rightful claim to the throne (1 Ki 1:28-31). David's immediate summons of these three men signals his decisive move to rectify the usurpation and fulfill God's plan for Solomon's accession, maintaining divine order amidst human chaos.

1 Kings 1 32 Word analysis

• And: This conjunction connects David's decisive action directly to the preceding urgent pleas and his reaffirmed oath, highlighting an immediate and forceful response to the crisis.

• King David: Emphasizes that despite his advanced age and physical decline, David retains his full sovereign authority. His command is binding and emanates from the rightful throne. David (דָּוִיד - Dawid) means "beloved," referencing his favored status with God.

• said: (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer) Denotes a direct, authoritative pronouncement. It is a firm command, not a suggestion or a request, indicating David's clear intent and control.

• "Call to me": (קִרְאוּ - qir'u (call, summon); אֵלַי - elay (to me)). This imperative verb "Call" signifies a powerful directive, while "to me" underscores David's personal authority and desire for direct engagement with his chosen agents. It implies urgency and importance.

• Zadok: (צָדוֹק - Tsadoq), meaning "righteous" or "just." He was the loyal High Priest during David's reign, representing the legitimate Aaronic priesthood. His role was crucial for the sacred anointing and divine blessing of the new king.

• the priest: Identifies Zadok's essential religious office. The priest was a vital figure in anointing kings, signifying divine sanction and spiritual legitimacy. His loyalty was crucial given Abiathar's defection.

• and Nathan: (נָתָן - Natan), meaning "he gave" or "gift." Nathan was a highly trusted and influential prophet to King David, known for delivering God's messages, guidance, and sometimes correction. His presence authenticated the divine will regarding succession.

• the prophet: Signifies Nathan's divinely appointed role as God's spokesperson. His involvement ensured that the enthronement would be recognized as aligned with God's purpose for the Davidic line, reinforcing its spiritual legitimacy.

• and Benaiah: (בְּנָיָהוּ - B'nayahū), meaning "Yahweh has built." Benaiah was a mighty man and the commander of David's elite bodyguard (Cherethites and Pelethites). He embodied the military and executive power necessary to enforce royal decrees.

• the son of Jehoiada: Identifies Benaiah through his reputable lineage, emphasizing his character and trustworthiness. Jehoiada was also a prominent and loyal figure. This familial identification adds weight and context to Benaiah's authority.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And King David said, 'Call to me...'": This phrase underscores David's active, decisive exercise of royal power even in his weakened state. He asserts his authority to counter the unlawful usurpation, demonstrating true leadership by taking immediate control of the succession. It reveals that the ultimate decision-making power remained firmly with the king.
  • "Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.": This hand-picked trio represents the convergence of the most significant pillars of power and legitimacy in ancient Israel. Zadok (religious/sacred authority), Nathan (prophetic/divine will), and Benaiah (military/executive might). By summoning these specific individuals, David ensured that Solomon's ascension would be perceived as divinely ordained, spiritually legitimate, and physically secured, preventing civil war and reinforcing the established order according to God's plan. They were his most loyal and effective instruments for implementing God's will.

1 Kings 1 32 Bonus section

• The deliberate exclusion of Abiathar, the other High Priest, in favor of Zadok, highlights David's astute awareness of loyalty, as Abiathar had sided with Adonijah. This ultimately solidifies Zadok's lineage as the premier priestly line in Solomon's reign and beyond.
• David's command "Call to me" signifies more than a mere request; it's a command for the chosen officials to personally hear and execute the divine and royal mandate directly from the king himself. This ensures clarity, urgency, and fidelity to his instructions.
• This gathering underscores the principle that godly leadership should involve counsel from both spiritual advisors (priest and prophet) and those capable of decisive action (military commander). It is a testament to the integrated nature of spiritual and secular authority under God's kingdom.
• The swiftness of David's response and the immediacy of the summoned men's arrival (implied by the subsequent verses) were critical to diffusing the political tension created by Adonijah's premature celebrations, effectively outmaneuvering the rebellion before it could consolidate.

1 Kings 1 32 Commentary

1 Kings 1:32 marks a pivotal turn in the narrative of Israel's royal succession. King David's authoritative summons, despite his frailty, demonstrates his unwavering resolve to fulfill God's covenantal promise to establish Solomon on the throne, overriding Adonijah's arrogant and unsanctioned grab for power. David wisely selects three individuals who embody the foundational aspects of legitimate rule: Zadok, representing the divine blessings and ceremonial validity through the priesthood; Nathan, symbolizing God's direct guidance and prophetic endorsement; and Benaiah, personifying the necessary military might and executive enforcement. This strategic combination ensured that Solomon's anointing would carry irrefutable divine authority, spiritual sanctity, and physical security, quickly and definitively asserting his rightful claim. This verse illustrates the crucial blend of divine direction and human agency in establishing leadership. It serves as an example of effective leadership even in duress, requiring discernment, swift decision-making, and reliance on loyal, capable individuals to execute a vision consistent with God's will.