מלכים א, פרק א׳, פסוק י״ג

Nathan the prophet carefully outlines the argument Bathsheba must present to King David to secure Solomon's place on the throne and stop Adonijah's attempted takeover. The foundation of her appeal is a past oath David made to her. Nathan knew about this private promise because Bathsheba herself had shared it with him. The oath originated from Bathsheba's deep anxieties following the death of their first child. She worried that even if she gave birth to a healthy son, his older brothers would reject him, claiming that her marriage to David was rooted in sin. To protect her future child, she refused to continue her relationship with the king until he swore that their firstborn son would inherit the kingdom, a promise David made based on a prophecy he had received [רד״ק].

The nature of this promise carries multiple layers of meaning. One perspective suggests it was a public declaration. Nathan instructed Bathsheba to remind David that his oath was made before an audience, making it impossible to break [אהבת יהונתן]. Another approach connects the promise to the ongoing public gossip surrounding their marriage. Crowning Solomon would silence the critics by proving that Bathsheba was truly a legitimate wife for the king. Additionally, the promise was not merely a personal commitment but a sworn statement that God Himself had decreed this outcome [חומת אנך].

Bathsheba goes beyond simply asking that Solomon rule in the future. She specifically insists that Solomon must take the king's seat immediately. This careful phrasing is designed to guarantee that the coronation happens while David is still alive. Since an oath might be considered void after a person dies, she needed to hold the king to his exact commitment to ensure immediate action [אהבת יהונתן]. She concludes her appeal by questioning how Adonijah could possibly have assumed power. Her inquiry operates on two levels, challenging how this rebellion could occur against both the king's solemn promise and the will of God, who had already designated the crown for Solomon [חומת אנך].