1 Kings 1:13

13 Go and get you in to king David, and tell him, Didn't you, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Shlomo your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adoniyahu reign?

1 Kings 1:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 1:13

Go and get thee in unto King David
That is, go into the chamber where the king lay, at once, without any ceremony:

and say unto him, didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine
handmaid, saying, assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and
he shall sit upon my throne?
though no mention is elsewhere made of such an oath, there undoubtedly was one, of which Nathan had knowledge, either from David or Bathsheba, or from them both, or might be present himself at the making of it; for not only Bathsheba affirms it, ( 1 Kings 1:17 ) ; but David owns it and confirms it, ( 1 Kings 1:30 ) ;

why then doth Adonijah reign?
surely it cannot be with the king's knowledge and consent, so manifestly contrary to his promise and oath.

1 Kings 1:13 In-Context

11 Then Natan spoke to Bat-Sheva the mother of Shlomo, saying, Haven't you heard that Adoniyahu the son of Haggit reigns, and David our lord doesn't know it?
12 Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Shlomo.
13 Go and get you in to king David, and tell him, Didn't you, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Shlomo your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adoniyahu reign?
14 Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words.
15 Bat-Sheva went in to the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Avishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.