The Meaning of 1 Kings 1:1 Explained

1 Kings 1:1

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

YLT: And king David is old, entering into days, and they cover him with garments, and he hath no heat,

Darby: And king David was old and advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he obtained no warmth.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does 1 Kings 1:1 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 1:1-14 - A Self-Seeker's Scheme
Adonijah was the fourth son of David, but probably the oldest of those who survived. He was born after Absalom, and like him was goodly in appearance, ambitious in spirit, and equally spoiled by his father's indulgence, 1 Kings 1:6. His attempt to usurp the kingdom reminds us of another great usurper. Satan, we know, in one last desperate effort, will try to secure the empire of the world. But when the people rage and the rulers devise, Psalms 2:1-2; Psalms 2:4, Heaven will laugh at them. The Lamb that was slain is the destined King of men, Revelation 11:15. The book of destiny is in the pierced hand. The government is upon Christ's shoulders. He declares the decree, "The Lord saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool," Psalms 110:1.
We look out on the world which is rent by revolt. The prince of this world is attracting to himself the Joabs and Abiathars. They make merry, but do not realize that the hour is at hand when they shall cry to the rocks and the hills to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb, Revelation 6:16. Remember the counsel of Augustine, "If you would flee from God, flee to Him!"
1 Kings 1:1-53 - Breaking Three Commandments
From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been his-but he had a conscience! Above the persuasive tones of the monarch's offer sounded the voice of God: "The land shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine." See Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
Ahab knew perfectly well that Jezebel could not give him the property of another except by foul means, but he took pains not to inquire. Though the direct orders for Naboth's death did not come from him, yet, by his silence, he was an accomplice and an accessory; and divine justice penetrates all such specious excuses. God holds us responsible for wrongs which we do not arrest, though we have the power. The crime was blacker because of the pretext of religion, as suggested by a fast. See also 2 Kings 9:26. The blood of murdered innocence cries to God, and his requital, though delayed, is inevitable. See Revelation 6:9-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 1

1  Abishag cherishes David in his extreme age
5  Adonijah, David's darling, usurps the kingdom
11  By the council of Nathan
15  Bathsheba moves the king
22  And Nathan seconds her
28  David renews his oath to Bathsheba
32  Solomon, by David's appointment,
38  being anointed king by Zadok and Nathan, the people triumph
41  Jonathan bringing the news, Adonijah's guests fly
50  Adonijah, flying to the horns of the altar, is dismissed by Solomon

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 1:1 mean?

And King David was old advanced in years and they put him on covers but not could get warm he
וְהַמֶּ֤לֶךְ דָּוִד֙ זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַיְכַסֻּ֙הוּ֙ בַּבְּגָדִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א יִחַ֖ם לֽוֹ

וְהַמֶּ֤לֶךְ  And  King 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
דָּוִד֙  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
זָקֵ֔ן  was  old 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: to be old, become old.
בָּ֖א  advanced 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בַּיָּמִ֑ים  in  years 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וַיְכַסֻּ֙הוּ֙  and  they  put  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּסָה  
Sense: to cover, conceal, hide.
בַּבְּגָדִ֔ים  on  covers 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
וְלֹ֥א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִחַ֖ם  could  get  warm 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָחַם  
Sense: to be hot, conceive.