When David was an old man, he appointed his son Solomon to be king over Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
- KJV So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
- BSB When David was old and full of years, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.
- NKJV So when David was old and full of days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
- NASB Now when David reached old age, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When David was old and full of days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. He secured an orderly succession to the throne.
Overview
David, near the end of a long and full life, established Solomon as king, ensuring a peaceful transfer of power. This orderly succession reflects God's covenant promise concerning David's son. The remaining chapters describe David's final arrangements for worship, showing his lifelong concern that Israel honor the LORD even after his death.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Chr 29:28He died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and Solomon his son reigned in his place.
- 1 Chr 28:5Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom over Israel.
- 1 Kgs 1:33–39The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
- 1 Chr 29:22–25and ate and drank before Yahweh on that day with great gladness. They made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him before Yahweh to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.
- 1 Kgs 1:1Now king David was old and advanced in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn’t keep warm.
- 1 Kgs 1:30most certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place;’ I will most certainly do this today.”
- Gen 25:8Abraham gave up his spirit, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
- Job 5:26You shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.
- Gen 35:29Isaac gave up the spirit, and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 23:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.