1 Kings 1:34
ESV
And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
NIV
There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
NASB
And have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, ‘ Long live King Solomon!’
CSB
There, the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan are to anoint him as king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
NLT
There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
KJV
And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.
NKJV
There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel; and blow the horn, and say, ‘ Long live King Solomon!’
What does 1 Kings 1:34 mean?
David is instructing his loyal officers to anoint Solomon as king. Meanwhile, barely outside the city, David's son Adonijah is crowning himself (1 Kings 1:5–10). Solomon's ceremony won't have the grandeur of Adonijah's feast. It will lack the animal sacrifices and the gathered princes of Israel (1 Kings 1:25). David knows they don't have time for all of that if they are going to get Solomon on the throne before Adonijah's claim to it can take root.However, Solomon's ceremony will be official. He will ride the king's mule to the spring of Gihon (1 Kings 1:33). Nathan, a genuine prophet of the Lord, Zadok, the priest of God, and Benaiah, representing Israel's military, will stand in support. Solomon will be anointed before God and in public. The trumpet will sound, and shouts of celebration will cry out, "Long live King Solomon!" (1 Kings 1:38–40).
Most importantly of all: This event will be sanctioned by the true and still-living king of Israel. In the end, only Solomon will have the right to the throne (1 Kings 1:35).
This coronation is quick and lacks the celebration Solomon deserves, but David will recover his health enough to throw a much bigger one. David will give a speech to the leaders of Israel about how he wanted to build a temple, but God chose his son. He'll charge Solomon with the sacred task. David will lead the people to bless God for His glory and abundant grace. Then Solomon will be declared king a second time (1 Chronicles 28:1—29:22).
