1 Kings 2 13

1 Kings 2:13 kjv

And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

1 Kings 2:13 nkjv

Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. So she said, "Do you come peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably."

1 Kings 2:13 niv

Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. Bathsheba asked him, "Do you come peacefully?" He answered, "Yes, peacefully."

1 Kings 2:13 esv

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, "Do you come peacefully?" He said, "Peacefully."

1 Kings 2:13 nlt

One day Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, came to see Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. "Have you come with peaceful intentions?" she asked him. "Yes," he said, "I come in peace.

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 13 Meaning

1 Kings 2:13 details the arrival of Adonijah, the son of Haggith, before Bathsheba, the mother of King Solomon. Bathsheba, knowing Adonijah's recent attempt to usurp the throne, prudently questions his intent by asking, "Do you come peaceably?" Adonijah replies affirmatively, asserting that his visit is indeed for peace. This brief exchange sets the stage for Adonijah's underlying request, which, despite his claim of peace, is an act of continued challenge to Solomon’s rightful reign.

1 Kings 2 13 Context

This verse appears early in 1 Kings chapter 2, immediately following the death of King David. Solomon has been anointed king, and David has given him final instructions concerning the kingdom and specific individuals like Joab and Shimei. Adonijah, David’s elder surviving son, had previously attempted to seize the throne before David’s death, gathering support and proclaiming himself king (1 Ki 1:5). This attempt was thwarted by the swift action of Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba, who reminded David of his promise to make Solomon king. Adonijah was spared on condition of his good behavior (1 Ki 1:52). Against this backdrop, Adonijah’s unexpected visit to Bathsheba, the queen mother and now a figure of considerable influence with the new king, raises immediate suspicion. The cultural and historical context includes the precarious nature of royal succession, where any surviving claimant to the throne, particularly a powerful older brother, posed a significant threat to the newly installed king. A request or alliance, especially involving a king's former concubines or powerful women, could symbolize a claim to the deceased king's power and position.

1 Kings 2 13 Word analysis

• Now Adonijah: אֲדֹנִיָּה (Adoniyyāh). "Adonijah" means "My Lord is Yah(weh)." This name itself reflects a theological connection, yet ironically, Adonijah consistently acted against God's appointed will for succession. He was David's fourth son by Haggith and had assumed the right of succession due to being the oldest surviving son after Amnon and Absalom's deaths. His bold self-proclamation in 1 Kings 1:5 marks him as an ambitious figure challenging the divinely chosen succession of Solomon.
• the son of Haggith: Identifies Adonijah’s maternal lineage, reinforcing his claim through birthright within David's numerous family, though Haggith is otherwise less prominent than mothers like Bathsheba.
• came to: Suggests an intentional approach, implying a specific purpose for the visit, likely a petition. This was not a casual encounter.
• Bathsheba: בַּת־שֶׁבַע (Bath-sheva). Meaning "daughter of an oath" or "daughter of seven." Bathsheba was not just Solomon's mother but, more importantly, a powerful figure due to her intimate knowledge of David's vow concerning Solomon's succession (1 Ki 1:17) and her proven political influence with the late king. Her position as "Queen Mother" (Gebirah) to the new king gave her significant advisory and mediatory authority within the court.
• the mother of Solomon: This title highlights her supreme status and influence at this moment. Approaching her was a strategic move by Adonijah, as she was the direct conduit to King Solomon, whom he was still effectively challenging.
• And she said, “Do you come peaceably?” "Peaceably" translates the Hebrew שָׁלוֹם (shalom), which is much richer than merely "without hostility." It encompasses wholeness, welfare, prosperity, health, and goodwill. Bathsheba’s question is an urgent query about his true intent. Given Adonijah's recent rebellion and his seeking sanctuary at the altar (1 Ki 1:50), she is understandably cautious and discerning. Her question isn't just about his immediate conduct but about the nature and consequence of his entire visit – does it align with the established order and welfare of the kingdom, or is it another challenge?
• He said, “Peaceably.” Adonijah’s concise affirmation is an attempt to immediately alleviate Bathsheba’s suspicions. It's a standard reassuring response to such a greeting, meant to establish an atmosphere of safety and allow him to proceed with his underlying, potentially destabilizing, request. However, subsequent events reveal his reply to be disingenuous.

• "Adonijah...came to Bathsheba...": This phrase immediately signals a shift in the power dynamics. Adonijah, who recently saw himself as the next king, now comes as a petitioner to Bathsheba, the influential queen mother, demonstrating Solomon's consolidation of power.
• "Do you come peaceably?": This brief yet crucial question encapsulates Bathsheba's wisdom and caution. It shows her awareness of past treachery and her vigilance to protect Solomon's nascent reign. Her position as Queen Mother grants her the authority to challenge even royal kin on their intent.
• "He said, 'Peaceably.'": Adonijah's immediate answer is a necessary tactical lie. Any sign of non-peaceful intent would have resulted in his immediate execution given his prior rebellion. This sets up the reader's expectation for the eventual unveiling of his deceptive motive.

1 Kings 2 13 Bonus section

In the ancient Near East, taking over the previous king's harem or wives was a common symbolic act of claiming the throne and succession rights. Adonijah's subsequent request, disguised as a desire for marriage to Abishag (David's concubine who nursed him in his old age), would have been understood as a clear claim to the defunct king's property and, by extension, his kingship. Bathsheba's initial suspicion (expressed by "Do you come peaceably?") therefore highlights her understanding of these complex power symbols. The narrative subtly emphasizes divine order versus human ambition; Adonijah's reliance on human strategies and deceptions contrasts sharply with Solomon's ultimate authority, established through God's will.

1 Kings 2 13 Commentary

This concise verse encapsulates the tension and political maneuvering at the dawn of Solomon's reign. Adonijah's seemingly innocuous visit to Bathsheba, presented as peaceful, is charged with the weight of his recent rebellion and Solomon’s newly secured kingship. Bathsheba, fully aware of Adonijah's character and the precariousness of power, uses the cultural custom of inquiring about "shalom" to discern his true intentions. Her direct question reveals a keen political sense and a mother's protectiveness. Adonijah's swift, simple affirmation is a necessary deception, laying the groundwork for his subtle attempt to undermine Solomon's rule by seeking a forbidden "wife" from David's former harem, a veiled claim to the throne itself. This exchange thus sets the stage for the dramatic consolidation of Solomon's power through decisive action against remaining threats.