1 Kings 2:15 "You know that the kingship was mine," he said. "All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.

◄ 1 Kings 2:15 ►

New International Version
“As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the LORD.

New Living Translation
He replied, “As you know, the kingdom was rightfully mine; all Israel wanted me to be the next king. But the tables were turned, and the kingdom went to my brother instead; for that is the way the LORD wanted it.

English Standard Version
He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, for it was his from the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
“You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.

King James Bible
And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.

New King James Version
Then he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
So he said, “You yourself know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel intended for me to be king; however, the kingdom has turned around and become my brother’s, for it was his from the LORD.

NASB 1995
So he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel expected me to be king; however, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, for it was his from the LORD.

NASB 1977
So he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel expected me to be king; however, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, for it was his from the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
So he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel expected me to be king; however, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, for it was his from Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
So he said, “You know that the kingdom belonged to me [as the eldest living son] and all Israel looked to me and expected me to be king. However, the kingdom has passed [from me] and became my brother’s, for it was his from the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
“You know the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected me to be king, but then the kingship was turned over to my brother, for the LORD gave it to him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You know the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected me to be king, but then the kingship was turned over to my brother, for the LORD gave it to him.

American Standard Version
And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's; for it was his from Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
"You know that I was king for a little while," Adonijah replied. "And everyone in Israel accepted me as their ruler. But the LORD wanted my brother to be king, so now things have changed.

English Revised Version
And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He said, "You know the kingship was mine. All Israel expected me to be their king. But the kingship has been turned over to my brother because the LORD gave it to him.

Good News Translation
He answered, "You know that I should have become king and that everyone in Israel expected it. But it happened differently, and my brother became king because it was the LORD's will.

International Standard Version
So he replied, "You know that the kingdom should have come to me, and that everyone in Israel intended to place me as the next king. However, the kingdom has turned around and now belongs to my brother, because it went to him from the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
“You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.

NET Bible
He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine and all Israel considered me king. But then the kingdom was given to my brother, for the LORD decided it should be his.

New Heart English Bible
He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign. However the kingdom is turned around, and has become my brother's; for it was his from the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: but the kingdom is turned about, and hath become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.

World English Bible
He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom is turned around, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from Yahweh.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And he says, “You have known that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their faces toward me for reigning, and the kingdom is turned around, and is my brother’s, for it was his from YHWH;

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, 'Thou hast known that the kingdom was mine, and towards me set their faces had all Israel for reigning, and the kingdom is turned round about, and is my brother's, for from Jehovah it was his;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say, Thou knewest that to me was the kingdom, and upon me all Israel set their faces for king: and the kingdom will turn about and be for my brother, for from Jehovah it was to him.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou knowest that the kingdom was nine, and all Israel had preferred me to be their king: but the kingdom is transferred, and is become my brother's: for it was appointed him by the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all of Israel had preferred me for themselves as king. But the kingdom was transferred, and has become my brother’s. For it was appointed to him by the Lord.

New American Bible
So he said: “You know that the kingship was mine, and all Israel expected me to be king. But the kingship passed me by and went to my brother; by the LORD’s will it went to him.

New Revised Standard Version
He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel expected me to reign; however, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, for it was his from the LORD.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And he said to her, You know that the kingdom rightly was mine, and that all Israel were looking forward to me to be king over them; but the kingdom was taken from me and is become my brother's; for it was his from the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He said to her: “You know that I had the right to the kingdom, and all Israel set their faces toward me to be King, and the kingdom was taken from me, and it was my brother’s, because it was for him from LORD JEHOVAH.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said: 'Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign; howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's; for it was his from the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to her, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel turned their face toward me for a king; but the kingdom was turned from me and became my brother's: for it was appointed to him from the Lord.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Execution of Adonijah
…14Then he said, “I have something to tell you.” “Say it,” she answered. 15“You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD. 16So now I have just one request of you; do not deny me.” “State your request,” she told him.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Samuel 16:12-13
So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.” / So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 9:1-2
Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. / And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.

1 Samuel 10:24
Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

1 Samuel 13:14
But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”

1 Samuel 15:28
So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

1 Samuel 18:7-8
And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” / And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”

2 Samuel 3:9-10
May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: / to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

2 Samuel 5:2-3
Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’” / So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

2 Samuel 7:12-16
And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. ...

2 Samuel 12:7-8
Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. / I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.

1 Chronicles 28:5
And of all my sons—for the LORD has given me many sons—He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

1 Chronicles 29:23
So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.

Psalm 89:20-21
I have found My servant David; with My sacred oil I have anointed him. / My hand will sustain him; surely My arm will strengthen him.

Psalm 132:11
The LORD swore an oath to David, a promise He will not revoke: “One of your descendants I will place on your throne.

Matthew 1:1
This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Treasury of Scripture

And he said, You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: however, the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.

Thou knowest

1 Kings 1:5,25
Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him…

2 Samuel 15:6,13
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel…

2 Samuel 16:18
And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

for it was

2 Samuel 7:12
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

2 Samuel 12:24
And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

1 Chronicles 22:9,10
Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days…

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1 Kings 2

1. David, having given a charge to Solomon
3. of Reverence
5. of Joab
7. of Barzillai
8. of Shimei
10. Solomon succeeds
12. Adonijah, moving Bathsheba to ask unto Solomon for Abishag,
13. is put to death
26. Abiathar, having his life given him, is deprived of the priesthood
28. Joab fleeing to the horns of the altar, is there slain
35. Benaiah is put in Joab's room, and Zadfok in Abiathar's
36. Shimei, confined to Jerusalem, by occasion of going to Gath, is put to death.

Berean Study Bible

As you know
This phrase indicates a shared understanding or common knowledge between the speaker, Adonijah, and his audience, Bathsheba. It suggests a historical context where the events leading up to this moment were well-known among the people involved. The Hebrew root here implies a certainty and acknowledgment of past events, emphasizing the transparency and public nature of the political dynamics in Israel at the time.

the kingdom was mine
Adonijah's claim reflects his belief in his right to the throne, likely based on his position as the eldest surviving son of King David. The Hebrew word for "kingdom" (מַמְלָכָה, mamlakah) denotes a realm or dominion, highlighting the tangible and authoritative nature of kingship. Historically, the succession of kings in Israel was often expected to follow the line of primogeniture, which adds weight to Adonijah's assertion.

and all Israel expected me to reign
This phrase underscores the widespread anticipation or assumption among the people of Israel that Adonijah would become king. The Hebrew root for "expected" (שָׂמַח, samach) can also convey a sense of joy or approval, suggesting that Adonijah had significant support or favor among the populace. This reflects the political climate and the expectations of leadership transitions in ancient Israel.

But the kingship has turned to my brother
The word "turned" (סָבַב, savav) in Hebrew implies a change or reversal of direction, indicating a divinely orchestrated shift in the succession plan. This highlights the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men, a recurring theme in the biblical narrative. The mention of "my brother" refers to Solomon, emphasizing the familial dynamics and the unexpected nature of his rise to power.

for it has come to him from the LORD
This phrase acknowledges the divine intervention and authority in the appointment of kings. The Hebrew word for "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, underscoring His active role in the governance of Israel. This reflects a theological understanding that earthly authority is ultimately subject to God's will, a cornerstone of conservative Christian belief in divine providence and sovereignty.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) Thou knowest.--Adonijah's words show craft, flattering Bath-sheba by extolling her influence, and making merit of his surrender to Solomon, in obedience to the Lord's decree, of a kingdom which, in evident contradiction to fact, he asserts to have been destined to him by popular desire. The petition, however, apparently harmless, and (since Abishag was concubine of David only in name) involving nothing unnatural, had perhaps a covert design: for, by universal Eastern custom, to take a king's wives was the known privilege or duty of his successor. Hence the counsel, most unseemly but still probably politic, given by Ahithophel to Absalom (2Samuel 16:21). If, therefore, Adonijah had publicly espoused Abishag, it might have seemed a virtual renewal of his claim to the crown. This Solomon sees at once, though Bath-sheba, strangely enough, does not see it.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine [schon so gut wie mein (Bahr). Adonijah evidently made much of the right of primogeniture (cf. ver. 22), which was not unrecognized amongst the Jews. There is possibly in these words, too, a hint at the part Bathsheba had taken in defeating his claims] and that all Israel set their faces [i.e., eyes] upon me that I should reign [Heb. upon me all Israel set, etc. The "me" is emphatic by its position. So is the "mine" just before used. Several commentators remark that Adonijah's words were not strictly true. But we hardly expect to find truth on such an occasion. Adonijah was adroit and diplomatic, and puts the case as it best serves his purpose. In order to propitiate Bathsheba, he exaggerates his loss and disappointment, just as in the next words, in order to put her off her guard, he plays the saint and obtrudes his piety and resignation ]: howbeit [lit., and], the kingdom is turned about and is become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord. [This verse shows pretty clearly that Adoni-jah had not renounced his pretensions to the throne. Despite the pitiful failure of his first conspiracy, and notwithstanding Solomon's generous condonation of his treason, he cannot forget that he was, and is, the eldest surviving son, and had been very near the throne. And as to the kingdom being his brother's by Divine appointment, he cannot have been ignorant of that long ago (2 Samuel 12:25), yet he conspired all the same. And it is not difficult to read here between the lines, that he has not relinquished his hopes, and does not acquiesce in Solomon's supremacy.]

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“You
אַ֤תְּ (’at)
Pronoun - second person feminine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

know
יָדַ֙עַתְּ֙ (yā·ḏa·‘at)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the kingship
הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה (ham·mə·lū·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4410: Something ruled, a realm

was mine,”
הָיְתָ֣ה (hā·yə·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

he said.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“All
כָֽל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

expected
וְעָלַ֞י (wə·‘ā·lay)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

that I should reign,
לִמְלֹ֑ךְ (lim·lōḵ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

but the kingship
הַמְּלוּכָה֙ (ham·mə·lū·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4410: Something ruled, a realm

has turned
וַתִּסֹּ֤ב (wat·tis·sōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround

to my brother,
לְאָחִ֔י (lə·’ā·ḥî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

it has come
הָ֥יְתָה (hā·yə·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

to him
וַתְּהִ֣י (wat·tə·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

from the LORD.
מֵיְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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OT History: 1 Kings 2:15 He said You know that the kingdom (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)