1 Kings 1:44 kjv
And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:
1 Kings 1:44 nkjv
The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have made him ride on the king's mule.
1 Kings 1:44 niv
The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king's mule,
1 Kings 1:44 esv
and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they had him ride on the king's mule.
1 Kings 1:44 nlt
The king sent him down to Gihon Spring with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, protected by the king's bodyguard. They had him ride on the king's own mule,
1 Kings 1 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 1:33 | And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.” | David's prior instruction to use his mule. |
| 1 Kgs 1:34 | Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, “Long live King Solomon!” | Details of the anointing process. |
| 1 Kgs 1:38 | So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and caused Solomon to ride on King David’s mule... | Fulfilment of David's command. |
| 1 Kgs 1:39 | And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, "Long live King Solomon!" | The actual anointing and acclamation. |
| 1 Kgs 1:45 | ...they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the sound that you have heard. | Resulting public jubilation and clarity. |
| 1 Sam 10:1 | Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him and said, "Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?" | Example of prophetic anointing for kingship. |
| 1 Sam 16:13 | Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. | Prophetic anointing of David. |
| 2 Sam 7:12 | 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. | Nathan's prophecy of an enduring Davidic line. |
| 2 Sam 15:24 | And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok also came with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God... | Zadok's loyalty shown during Absalom's revolt. |
| 2 Sam 15:18 | And all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites... and all the Gittites... passed on before the king. | Cherethites/Pelethites as loyal guard. |
| 2 Sam 23:20-21 | Benaiah the son of Jehoiada... struck down two heroes of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. | Benaiah's might as a warrior. |
| 1 Kgs 2:26 | And to Abiathar the priest the king said, "You are to go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you deserve death. But I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark... | Abiathar removed; Zadok confirmed as chief priest. |
| 1 Kgs 2:35 | The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and Zadok the priest the king put in the place of Abiathar. | Confirmation of roles after Joab/Abiathar removal. |
| 2 Chr 29:22-23 | The anointing of kings... for they saw that the hand of the LORD their God was with him. | Broader concept of divine approval in kingship. |
| Ps 2:6 | "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." | Divine appointment of a king on God's holy hill. |
| Zech 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. | Prophetic type of the humble king, riding a beast of burden (cf. Jesus). |
| Matt 21:5-7 | ...Your King is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” ... They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. | Jesus' Triumphal Entry, fulfilling Zech 9:9. |
| John 12:14-15 | Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” | Emphasizing the king on a beast of burden. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. | Divine sovereignty over rulers and their decisions. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. | God's ultimate control over earthly kingship. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. | Divine institution of all authority. |
1 Kings 1 verses
1 Kings 1 44 Meaning
This verse describes King David's decisive action to publicly establish Solomon as his designated successor. It details the powerful and authoritative delegation sent by David to accompany Solomon during his enthronement procession. The presence of key religious (priest, prophet) and military (commander, bodyguard) figures, coupled with Solomon riding on the king’s personal mule, served as a clear and unmistakable declaration of divine approval, royal legitimacy, and transfer of power, intended to counter any rival claims to the throne.
1 Kings 1 44 Context
The verse immediately follows King David's urgent command to ensure Solomon's immediate anointing and procession as king, spurred by Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba's revelation of Adonijah's self-proclamation as king (1 Kgs 1:5-27). David, frail and near death, needed to act decisively to secure his chosen successor, Solomon, and prevent a potentially divisive power struggle and civil war. The procession was a public display to counteract Adonijah's coup and solidify Solomon's legitimacy in the eyes of the people and the nation. Historically, royal succession was a critical and often tumultuous period in ancient Near Eastern monarchies. The swift and ceremonious nature of Solomon's installation underscored its divine mandate and David's undisputed authority in the matter, as communicated by the presence of key spiritual and military figures.
1 Kings 1 44 Word analysis
- and the king: (וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ, vayyishlach ha-melekh) - Refers specifically to King David. The use of "the king" (ha-melekh) highlights his ultimate authority and initiative, even in his old age. It indicates a direct and intentional command, not a passive agreement.
- has sent: (וַיִּשְׁלַח, vayyishlach) - A "vav-conversive" imperfect in Hebrew, often translated as a past perfect or simple past action. It implies an active command, "and he sent." This shows David’s proactive involvement in securing Solomon's succession.
- with him: (אִתּוֹ, itto) - Refers to Solomon. Emphasizes that these influential figures are accompanying and supporting Solomon, lending their weight and authority to his legitimacy.
- Zadok the priest: (צָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן, Tsadok ha-Kohen) - Zadok was one of the two chief priests during David's reign, distinguished by his loyalty to David, particularly during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15:24-29). His presence signifies the crucial spiritual and religious sanction of Solomon's kingship, symbolizing divine approval and ensuring priestly legitimacy.
- and Nathan the prophet: (וְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא, v'Natan ha-Navi) - Nathan was a pivotal prophet, God's spokesperson to David (2 Sam 7, 2 Sam 12), and instrumental in bringing Solomon's right to the throne to David's attention (1 Kgs 1:11-14). His involvement confirmed that Solomon's succession was God's will and choice, offering essential prophetic validation.
- and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada: (וּבְנָיָהוּ בֶן-יְהוֹיָדָע, u'V'nayahu ben Y'hoyada`) - Benaiah was a formidable warrior and commander of David's royal bodyguard (the Cherethites and Pelethites). His presence signaled strong military backing, security for Solomon, and implied the swift elimination of any resistance to David's decree, as demonstrated later (1 Kgs 2).
- and the Cherethites and the Pelethites: (וְהַכְּרֵתִי וְהַפְּלֵתִי, v'ha-Kereti v'ha-Peleti) - These were David's personal elite foreign mercenary guard, renowned for their absolute loyalty and efficiency in carrying out the king's commands. Their inclusion ensured physical protection for Solomon and represented the enforcement power of the king, indicating that any challenge would be met with swift and decisive military action.
- and they have caused him to ride: (וַיַּרְכִּבוּ, vayyarkivu) - A causative form (Hif'il) meaning "they caused him to ride" or "they made him ride." This is an active act of placing Solomon upon the mule, emphasizing that his ascent was orchestrated and supported by these powerful figures, rather than a mere consequence of his status.
- upon the king’s mule: (עַל־הַפִּרְדָּה אֲשֶׁר לַמֶּלֶךְ, al-ha-pirdah asher la-melekh) - The king's personal royal mule (specifically,
pirdahis often a female mule, implying dignity and importance, as they were often sterile and therefore valued). Riding on the king's personal mount was a profoundly symbolic act in ancient Israel, indicating the transfer of royal authority, a visual proclamation of David's designated successor, and an undeniable claim to the throne. It directly countered Adonijah, who had claimed royal prerogative by preparing chariots and horsemen (1 Kgs 1:5), while David explicitly commands Solomon to ride his (David's) mule (1 Kgs 1:33). This also connects to Messianic typology in Zech 9:9, where the righteous king rides humbly on a donkey.
1 Kings 1 44 Bonus section
The speed with which David’s command in verse 33 is executed and publicly witnessed (vv. 40-45) demonstrates the urgency and effectiveness of those loyal to David and God's plan. This pre-emptive, highly visible counter-move by David utterly neutralized Adonijah’s ill-conceived and self-appointed bid for the throne without needing military conflict within the city. The entire sequence showcases David’s residual power, the deep trust placed in Nathan, Zadok, and Benaiah, and ultimately, God's guiding hand in establishing the line of David. This event also sets the stage for the crucial role of the priestly (Zadok's ascendancy over Abiathar) and military (Benaiah's eventual command) leadership under Solomon.
1 Kings 1 44 Commentary
1 Kings 1:44 portrays the public and highly symbolic inauguration of Solomon as King David's successor, contrasting sharply with Adonijah's self-exaltation. David's choice of escort—Zadok (priestly validation), Nathan (prophetic validation), Benaiah (military strength), and the loyal Cherethites and Pelethites (royal security and enforcement)—underscored the divine mandate, religious legitimacy, and robust political and military support for Solomon's reign. The act of Solomon riding on David’s personal mule was a direct visual proclamation of the transference of the royal insignia and authority. It left no doubt in the minds of the people regarding David’s final and absolute decree on succession, ensuring a swift and uncontested transition of power.