1 Kings 1:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm.

NIV: When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him.

NASB: Now King David was old, advanced in age; and they covered him with garments, but he could not keep warm.

CSB: Now King David was old and advanced in age. Although they covered him with bedclothes, he could not get warm.

NLT: King David was now very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm.

KJV: Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

NKJV: Now King David was old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm.

First Samuel through 2 Kings is a continuous story. It stretches from the last judge, Samuel, to the last king, Zedekiah. Second Samuel gives the story of David's reign. First Kings begins with Solomon's succession.

David became king at thirty years old and reigned for forty years (2 Samuel 5:4). His later years are marked by tragedy. Lowest of these moments was when his oldest son Absalom attempted to take the throne, and the horrible plague God used to punish David's sinful census (2 Samuel 15—17; 24). But God has also allowed David to collect supplies to construct the temple, including the land (2 Samuel 24:18–25; 1 Chronicles 21:2–5; 29:1–9). Everything is ready for Solomon to become king and build the temple.

David always trusted God in battle, but now his body has betrayed him. "Warm" can refer to temperature, but also to the bodily reactions needed for conception, whether that be a female animal in heat or a male ready to have sex. The fact that the servants' first response is to cover David with clothes suggests he has a low body temperature. Old age has given David a permanent chill. His servants find Abishag to serve as his last concubine, using her body heat to comfort him. Perhaps David's advisors also hoped the beautiful woman would restore their strong, virile king. The latter goal fails (1 Kings 1:2–3). Apparently, David recovers some of his strength when it's time to give Solomon a second, proper coronation (1 Chronicles 28—29).

Meanwhile, David is unaware that his fourth son, Adonijah, is following in Absalom's footsteps (2 Samuel 15:1–10). He's gathered the support of the officials of Judah and is ready to declare himself king (1 Kings 1:5–10). But this time, David knows how to stop him.

First Kings 1:1–4 finds David, the once mighty warrior-king, weak and homebound. His broken body has failed him to the point that his servants assign him a concubine, Abishag, just to keep him warm. Though she's beautiful and carries out the assignment faithfully, David never has sex with her. As David nears the end of his life, he's forgotten one last vital task: to publicly affirm his successor.

First Kings 1 records Solomon's first anointing as king. David is weak. His fourth son, Adonijah, convinces Joab, Abiathar, and the officials of Judah to declare him king. Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba convince David to crown Solomon. With the help of Zadok the priest and Benaiah the royal guard commander, Solomon becomes king. His first act is to pardon his brother, although the truce doesn't last long. After David dies, Solomon must execute Adonijah for rebellion and Joab for murder, as well as banish Abiathar the priest (1 Kings 2:13–35).

First Kings 1 picks up the story of David's kingship several years after the events at the end of 2 Samuel. David has protected the kingdom, gathered supplies for the temple, and purchased the land (2 Samuel 24:18–25; 1 Chronicles 21:2–5; 29:1–9). It's time for Solomon to take over and build the temple. First, however, David must ensure Solomon is king and that the throne does not fall to Solomon's brother Adonijah. Once crowned, Solomon solidifies his hold by executing Adonijah, Joab, and David's nemesis, Shimei. He also banishes Abiathar, the priest who supported Adonijah. With Nathan, Benaiah, and Zadok beside him, Solomon is ready to rule (1 Kings 2).

This was originally the first half of a combined text. First Kings records the end of David's reign and the rule of Solomon. After this, the kingdom is split in two. The northern nation of Israel no longer submits to the king of the southern nation, called Judah. The prophet Elijah first appears in this book. The kings mostly fail to honor the Lord. They participate in idolatry and other sins. This will eventually result in their conquest and exile, as depicted throughout the books of Chronicles.