But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
1 KINGS 1:26KJVWhat does 1 Kings 1:26 mean?
1 Kings 1:26 shows Nathan the prophet telling King David that he, along with Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Solomon, were not invited to a gathering that Adonijah had arranged. Nathan points out that these key supporters of David and Solomon were left out, hinting at Adonijah’s attempt to exclude them from his plans to become king.
Nathan is speaking to David during a tense moment when Adonijah, David’s son, is trying to make himself king without David’s approval. By listing himself, Zadok, Benaiah, and Solomon as those not called, Nathan highlights the seriousness of Adonijah’s actions and the division it could cause in the kingdom. This verse helps set the stage for the urgent need to address who will succeed David.
The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 1:26
- עֶבֶד (‘eved, H5650) — “servant”: Nathan uses this word for himself and Solomon, showing humility and loyalty to David, and emphasizing their rightful place in David’s circle.
- קָרָא (qara’, H7121) — “called”: This word means to summon or invite. Nathan’s use of it stresses that Adonijah intentionally left out David’s trusted allies, signaling a deliberate act to sideline them from the succession.
Why 1 Kings 1:26 matters
- This verse clarifies that Adonijah’s gathering was not a public or official event but a selective meeting meant to secure his own claim to the throne.
- By naming those excluded, Nathan shows David which of his loyal supporters are being pushed aside, making the threat to Solomon’s succession clear.
- The verse connects to the larger story of 1 Kings 1, where the question of who will be king after David is urgent and contested, highlighting the political tension and the need for David to act.