1 Kings 2 18

1 Kings 2:18 kjv

And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.

1 Kings 2:18 nkjv

So Bathsheba said, "Very well, I will speak for you to the king."

1 Kings 2:18 niv

"Very well," Bathsheba replied, "I will speak to the king for you."

1 Kings 2:18 esv

Bathsheba said, "Very well; I will speak for you to the king."

1 Kings 2:18 nlt

"All right," Bathsheba replied. "I will speak to the king for you."

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 18 Meaning

The verse states Bathsheba's agreement to present Adonijah's seemingly modest request to King Solomon: to be given Abishag the Shunammite as a wife. This brief statement holds profound political significance. Though ostensibly a personal plea, taking a former king's concubine was a direct and symbolic claim to the throne and royal authority in the ancient Near East. Thus, Bathsheba’s simple affirmation to mediate this request sets in motion the dramatic consolidation of Solomon's power and the end of any lingering rival claims.

1 Kings 2 18 Context

This verse is situated immediately after Adonijah's plea to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, for intercession regarding Abishag. David had died, and Solomon had ascended to the throne, having secured it through a period of fragile political maneuverings (1 Ki 1). Adonijah, who had previously attempted to seize the throne from David (1 Ki 1:5-9) and was later pardoned by Solomon on condition of loyalty (1 Ki 1:52-53), was now making what seemed to be a humble personal request. However, within the historical context of ancient Near Eastern monarchies, possessing a former king's concubine or harem was an internationally recognized symbol of legitimate succession and unchallenged authority. Absalom's public actions with David's concubines (2 Sam 16:20-22) provide a direct biblical precedent. Therefore, Adonijah's request, masked as an innocent plea for a wife, was a calculated challenge to Solomon’s newly established rule, subtly but firmly staking a claim to David's legacy and throne. Bathsheba, perhaps naively, agreed to advocate for him, setting the stage for Solomon’s decisive response to fully consolidate his divinely appointed reign.

Word Analysis

• So she said: (וַתֹּאמֶר - vattomer). The feminine singular verbal form indicates Bathsheba is the speaker, directly responding to Adonijah's petition in the preceding verses (1 Ki 2:13-17). This phrase places Bathsheba centrally as the intermediary, crucial to Adonijah's strategy, highlighting her significant influence with the new king, her son.
• Speak for me: (דַּבְּרִי-נָא לַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה - dabberiy-na lammalekh shelomoh).
  • Speak for me: The imperative dabberiy (from דבר, dabar, "to speak") is softened by the particle na, indicating entreaty or a request for gentle action ("please speak"). This phrasing reflects Adonijah's attempt to use Bathsheba's perceived motherly influence with Solomon, leveraging her relationship with the king to his own ends. It suggests an intercession, but the underlying motive is manipulative.
  • to King Solomon: (לַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה - lammelek shlomo). This title emphasizes Solomon’s position of absolute authority, the ultimate decision-maker to whom even his own mother would present a request with a tone of entreaty.
• that he may give me: (וְיִתֶּן-לִי - veyitten-liy). The imperfect form of the verb "to give" implies the desired outcome of the plea. The "me" refers to Adonijah, emphasizing his direct interest in possessing Abishag, framed as a gift from the king.
• Abishag the Shunammite: (אֶת־אֲבִישַׁג הַשֻּׁנַמִּית - ’et-Avishag hashshunammith).
  • Abishag: (אֲבִישַׁג - Avishag). Her name might mean "my father is a wanderer" or "my father is a present/brings error." Her unique identity as David’s young, beautiful virgin concubine who ministered to him in his final days (1 Ki 1:1-4) is central. Though David "knew her not," she was formally part of the royal harem, making her "possession" symbolic of royal inheritance.
  • Shunammite: (הַשֻּׁנַמִּית - hashshunammith). Refers to her origin from Shunem, a town in the tribe of Issachar. It denotes her identity and possibly implies her beauty, for which the women of Shunem were known.
• as a wife: (לְאִשָּׁה - le'ishshah). This seemingly innocent phrase is the crux of the political maneuver. In the ancient world, to take possession of a previous king’s concubine was to lay claim to his throne. This term transforms a mere personal request into a direct, if veiled, challenge to the king's supreme authority.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So she said, 'Speak for me to King Solomon'": This phrase initiates Bathsheba’s agreement to Adonijah’s petition, setting the stage for a critical confrontation of power. Her role as an intermediary is significant, and Adonijah strategically relies on her close relationship with Solomon.
• "that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife": This constitutes Adonijah's precise request, meticulously worded. While framed as a matrimonial wish, the inclusion of "Abishag the Shunammite" and the understanding of ancient royal succession customs elevate this request far beyond a personal matter, transforming it into a cunning claim for the kingship. Adonijah's desire to "inherit" Abishag symbolizes his ambition to inherit David's complete royal legacy, thereby undermining Solomon's established reign.

1 Kings 2 18 Commentary

1 Kings 2:18 captures a pivotal moment in Solomon's early reign, setting the stage for a definitive consolidation of his power. Bathsheba's response, "So she said, 'Speak for me to King Solomon that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife,'" might appear benign on the surface. However, beneath the politeness lies a sophisticated political maneuver initiated by Adonijah. His previous attempt to seize the throne was halted, but not fully quelled. By asking for Abishag, David’s final concubine who remained chaste with the old king, Adonijah was making a calculated bid. In the ancient Near East, inheriting the previous king’s harem was a clear demonstration of undisputed succession and possession of the deceased monarch’s power. Absalom had famously done this during his rebellion (2 Sam 16:21-22). Therefore, Solomon, with divine wisdom (1 Ki 3:9), instantly recognized this request as a direct and defiant claim to the throne, not a simple marriage proposal. His reaction in subsequent verses, resulting in Adonijah's immediate execution, underscores the severe threat he perceived and his unwavering resolve to establish God's chosen succession.

Bonus Section

The precise nature of Abishag's status as a concubine is key to understanding the severity of Adonijah's request. Although she served David closely in his old age, 1 Kings 1:4 explicitly states, "but the king had no intimate knowledge of her." This fact, while establishing her virginity, did not diminish her status as part of David’s royal household and effectively his "property." Her unconsummated relationship with David further heightened her symbolic value; she represented a potential "undefiled" inheritance. This nuance means that taking her was not just an act of inheriting a former king’s woman, but of symbolically claiming a "pure" continuation of the former king’s legacy, intensifying the challenge to Solomon. The fact that Bathsheba, Adonijah's mother, presented the petition adds another layer of complexity. While some scholars suggest Bathsheba might have been genuinely naive, others argue she might have been playing her own strategic game, consciously or unconsciously forcing Solomon’s hand to fully eliminate any threats to his throne, thus solidifying her son’s reign and her own elevated status as Queen Mother.