1 Kings 1:26
ESV
But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he has not invited.
NIV
But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite.
NASB
But me, even me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not invited.
CSB
But he did not invite me—me, your servant—or the priest Zadok or Benaiah son of Jehoiada or your servant Solomon.
NLT
But he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or your servant Solomon.
KJV
But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
NKJV
But he has not invited me—me your servant—nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
What does 1 Kings 1:26 mean?
Nathan is a prophet of God. On this day, he burst into David's rooms to compel David to act. Usually, he arrives to boldly give him God's message. Once, it was to bring God's covenant with David: that he would have a descendant on the throne of Israel forever (2 Samuel 7:4–17). Another time, it was God's judgment on David for sinning against Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 12:1–14).Today, Nathan's message is that David's son Adonijah is crowning himself as king. He does this despite knowing that David has chosen Solomon (1 Kings 1:24–25). Bathsheba has already told David that if Adonijah succeeds, she and Solomon will be in danger (1 Kings 1:20–21). Nathan's implication is that he, Zadok, and Benaiah will be, as well.
Zadok is first mentioned with Abiathar the priest when David fled Jerusalem from his son Absalom. Zadok carried the ark of the covenant, intending to follow David into exile. David sent them back, saying it belonged in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15:24–29). Later, Zadok and Abiathar sent their sons to warn David of Absalom's intentions (2 Samuel 17:17–22).
Benaiah is a warrior from Judah who commands David's personal guard. The guard is comprised of Cherethites and Pelethites, men from Philistia and the Aegean (2 Samuel 8:18). As hired mercenaries, they might have chosen to follow Adonijah, thinking he would be able to pay them better. But they remain intensely loyal to David. Benaiah has led them well.
Nathan asks David one more time: Is this his plan? (1 Kings 1:27). David's answer is a resounding "no."
