1 Kings 4:1

Solomon’s Royal Court and Administrators

4:1 King Solomon ruled over all Israel.

1 Kings 1:2

1:2 His servants advised ¹  him, “A young virgin must be found for our master, the king, ²  to take care of the king’s needs ³  and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you ⁴  and keep our master, the king, warm.” ⁵ 

1 Kings 1:10

1:10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors, ⁶  or his brother Solomon.

[1:2]  ¹ tn Heb “said to.”

[1:2]  ² tn Heb “let them seek for my master, the king, a young girl, a virgin.” The third person plural subject of the verb is indefinite (see GKC 460 §144.f). The appositional expression, “a young girl, a virgin,” is idiomatic; the second term specifically defines the more general first term (see IBHS 230 §12.3b).

[1:2]  ³ tn Heb “and she will stand before the king.” The Hebrew phrase “stand before” can mean “to attend; to serve” (BDB 764 s.v. עָמַד).

[1:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “and she will lie down in your bosom.” The expression might imply sexual intimacy (see 2 Sam 12:3 [where the lamb symbolizes Bathsheba] and Mic 7:5), though v. 4b indicates that David did not actually have sex with the young woman.

[1:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “and my master, the king, will be warm.”

[1:10]  ¹ tn Or “bodyguard” (Heb “mighty men”).