At a critical moment in the struggle for the royal succession, Bathsheba approaches King David to secure her son's future. She speaks with wisdom and gentleness, choosing not to complain or accuse the king of breaking his promise. Instead, she highlights the gravity of the oath he previously made to her. By doing so, she magnifies the severity of Adonijah's actions, as his attempt to seize the crown without permission is a direct rebellion against both his father and a binding promise [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].
Bathsheba begins her appeal with a tone of pleading, addressing the king as her lord [אברבנאל] and referring to herself humbly as his maidservant [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. She reminds him of the specific oath he took, emphasizing its absolute validity on two fronts. First, the vow was made in the name of God, making it a severe commitment that cannot be broken [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל, אהבת יהונתן]. Second, because the oath was made directly to her, it cannot be canceled without her presence and consent [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].
The background of this solemn promise stems from a deeply personal tragedy. Following the death of their first son, Bathsheba feared that any future child of hers would face disrespect from David's older sons. She refused to continue her relationship with the king until he explicitly swore that her son would be the one to inherit the kingdom [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. Furthermore, the promise that Solomon would rule was entirely fitting; Solomon was a royal heir [אברבנאל] and fully worthy of the kingship in his own right [מלבי״ם].
When recalling the promise, Bathsheba repeats the exact words David originally used, speaking from his perspective about ruling after him and sitting on his throne [אברבנאל]. Commentators explore why David's original promise included two distinct guarantees: that Solomon would rule after him, and that he would sit on his throne. One approach suggests that while ruling refers to the time following David's passing, the promise to sit on the throne is a subtle instruction for David to crown Solomon while he is still alive, thereby establishing an undeniable reality to counter Adonijah [אלשיך]. Alternatively, others view this as a guarantee regarding the quality of Solomon's future reign. It assures that he will rule over all the tribes in complete peace and tranquility [אברבנאל], and that the greatness of his rule will perfectly match the high status of David's own throne [מלבי״ם].