1 Kings 1:30
ESV
as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day."
NIV
I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place."
NASB
certainly as I vowed to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon certainly shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’; I will indeed do so this day.'
CSB
just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne in my place, that is exactly what I will do this very day."
NLT
your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the Lord, the God of Israel.'
KJV
Even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
NKJV
just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I certainly will do this day.”
What does 1 Kings 1:30 mean?
The historical books of the Bible tell how God interacts with His chosen people. Being written at that time, and for that purpose, they don't give every detail modern readers may want, like specific chronologies. Events are often arranged by themes, rather than exact timing. But a sequence of events can be pieced together:•In 2 Samuel 7:12–13, God promises David that his son will sit on the throne and build the temple.
•In 2 Samuel 12:24–25, Solomon is born and receives God's favor.
•In 1 Kings 1:30, David tells Bathsheba that he has already sworn Solomon would be king.
•In 1 Kings 1:38–40, Solomon is anointed king.
•In 1 Chronicles 22:9–10, David says God told him he would have a son of rest named Solomon who would build the temple and be king.
•In 1 Chronicles 28:5–6, David tells the people that God told him Solomon would be his heir.
•In 1 Chronicles 23:1, David declares Solomon as king in front of "all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites."
•In 1 Chronicles 29:22, Solomon is declared king the second time.
There's much the text doesn't say: When did God tell David that Solomon was to follow him? When did David first tell Bathsheba? When did David's officials hear that Solomon was to be king? What we do know is that Solomon is officially made king this day. Nathan and Bathsheba warned David that his son Adonijah is attempting to usurp the throne. David doesn't let that happen.
Bathsheba bows and thanks David for several reasons (1 Kings 1:31). He fulfilled his promise that Solomon would be king. He saved her from the strong chance Adonijah would kill her and Solomon after he died (1 Kings 1:21). And despite the fact David had many wives and concubines (1 Chronicles 3:1–9), he honored her by making her queen mother.
