1 Kings 1:13

13 Go thou, and enter to king David, and say thou to him, Whether not thou, my lord the king, hast sworn to me, thine handmaid, and saidest, that Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit in my throne? (and he shall sit on my throne?) Why therefore reigneth Adonijah?

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 And so Nathan said to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, Whether thou hast heard, that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, hath reigned, and our lord David knoweth not this? (And so Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, Hast thou heard, that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, hath made himself king, and our lord David knoweth it not?)

12 Now therefore come thou, take thou counsel of me, and save thy life, and (the life) of Solomon, thy son.

13 Go thou, and enter to king David, and say thou to him, Whether not thou, my lord the king, hast sworn to me, thine handmaid, and saidest, that Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit in my throne? (and he shall sit on my throne?) Why therefore reigneth Adonijah?

14 And yet while thou shalt speak there with the king, I shall come after thee, and fulfill thy words (and confirm thy words).

15 Therefore Bathsheba entered to the king in the closet/in the bed place; and the king was full eld, and Abishag of Shunem ministered to him.