1 Chronicles 23:1
New International Version
When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

New Living Translation
When David was an old man, he appointed his son Solomon to be king over Israel.

English Standard Version
When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
When David was old and full of years, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.

King James Bible
So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

New King James Version
So when David was old and full of days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

New American Standard Bible
Now when David reached old age, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

NASB 1995
Now when David reached old age, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

NASB 1977
Now when David reached old age, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now David became old and full of days, and he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

Amplified Bible
When David reached old age, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
When David was old and full of days, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When David was old and full of days, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.

American Standard Version
Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

Contemporary English Version
David was old when he chose his son Solomon to be king of Israel.

English Revised Version
Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When David had grown old and had lived out his years, he made his son Solomon king of Israel.

Good News Translation
When David was very old, he made his son Solomon king of Israel.

International Standard Version
After David had reached old age, and had completed his reign, he set his son Solomon as king over Israel.

Majority Standard Bible
When David was old and full of years, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel.

NET Bible
When David was old and approaching the end of his life, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

New Heart English Bible
Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

World English Bible
Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David was old and satisfied with days, and he causes his son Solomon to reign over Israel,

Young's Literal Translation
And David is old, and satisfied with days, and causeth his son Solomon to reign over Israel,

Smith's Literal Translation
And David was old and full of days, and he will make Solomon his son king over Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David being old and full of days, made Solomon his son king over Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then David, being old and full of days, appointed his son Solomon as king over Israel.

New American Bible
When David had grown old and was near the end of his days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
When David was old and full of days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
WHEN David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David was old and his days full, and he established Solomon his son in the kingdom over Israel
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel in his stead.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Divisions of the Levites
1When David was old and full of years, he installed his son Solomon as king over Israel. 2Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites.…

Cross References
1 Kings 1:28-40
Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. / And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, / I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” ...

1 Kings 2:1-12
As the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon, / “I am about to go the way of all the earth. So be strong and prove yourself a man. / And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn, ...

1 Kings 1:11-27
Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it? / Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. / Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ ...

1 Kings 1:5-10
At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him. / (His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.) / So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him. ...

1 Kings 1:41-53
Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab. / As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.” / “Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. ...

1 Kings 1:1-4
Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. / So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.” / Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. ...

1 Kings 1:32-37
Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. / “Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. / There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ ...

1 Kings 1:38-40
Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. / Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!” / All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.

1 Kings 1:50-53
But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’” / And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.” ...

1 Kings 2:10-12
Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. / The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. / So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.

1 Kings 2:15
“You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.

1 Kings 2:22
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

1 Kings 2:24
And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!”

1 Kings 2:33
Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”

1 Kings 2:46
Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.


Treasury of Scripture

So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

A.

1 Chronicles 29:28
And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

Genesis 25:8
Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 35:29
And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

he made

1 Chronicles 28:5
And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

1 Chronicles 29:22-25
And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest…

1 Kings 1:33-39
The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: …

Jump to Previous
Age Causeth David Full Israel Reached Reign Satisfied Solomon
Jump to Next
Age Causeth David Full Israel Reached Reign Satisfied Solomon
1 Chronicles 23
1. David in his old age makes Solomon king
2. The number and distribution of the Levites
7. The families of the Gershonites
12. The sons of Kohath
21. The sons of Merari
24. The office of the Levites














When David was old and full of years
This phrase marks a significant transition in the narrative of Israel's history. The Hebrew word for "old" is "זָקֵן" (zaqen), which not only refers to age but also implies wisdom and experience. David, having lived a life full of triumphs and trials, embodies the culmination of a divinely guided journey. The phrase "full of years" suggests a life that has reached its God-ordained completion, echoing the biblical theme that a righteous life is one that fulfills God's purposes. This moment is a reminder of the natural progression of leadership and the importance of preparing the next generation.

he made his son Solomon king
The act of making Solomon king is a deliberate and divinely inspired decision. The Hebrew verb "מָלַךְ" (malak) means to reign or to make someone king, indicating a formal and authoritative transfer of power. David's choice of Solomon, despite having other sons, underscores the fulfillment of God's promise and plan. Solomon's name, derived from "שָׁלוֹם" (shalom), meaning peace, signifies the hope for a reign characterized by peace and prosperity, contrasting with David's era of warfare. This decision reflects David's obedience to God's will, as Solomon was chosen by God to build the temple (1 Chronicles 22:9-10).

over Israel
The phrase "over Israel" emphasizes the unity and continuity of the nation under God's covenant. The Hebrew term "יִשְׂרָאֵל" (Yisrael) is not just a geographical or political entity but represents the people chosen by God. David's reign had unified the tribes, and Solomon's kingship is intended to maintain and strengthen this unity. This transition is crucial for the stability and spiritual direction of the nation, as Israel's identity is deeply rooted in its relationship with God. The phrase serves as a reminder of the divine oversight and purpose for Israel, as well as the responsibility of its leaders to uphold God's statutes and lead the people in righteousness.

(1) So when David was old and full of days.--Literally, Now David had become old and satisfied with days. (See Genesis 35:29; Job 42:17; where both terms, which are verbs here, appear as adjectives.) Perhaps our pointing is wrong. The expression "satisfied with days" reminds us of Horace, who describes the philosopher as departing this life like a satisfied guest (ut conviva satur, etc.).

He made Solomon his son king.--Heb., and he made, &c. This short statement is all that the chronicler has chosen to repeat from 1 Kings 1, a narrative intimately connected with David's family affairs, with which he is not concerned to deal. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 20, introductory remarks.)

Verse 1. - David... made Solomon his son king over Israel. These words give the key note of what remains in this book. David made his son king, as he himself acknowledges (1 Chronicles 28:5), under the superintending direction of God. The manner in which the formal event was precipitated by the conduct of Adonijah is found at length in 1 Kings 1:11-53. The original occasion alluded to there more than once, on which David promised, "and sware" to Bathsheba, that her son should be his chief heir and successor to the throne, is not distinctly recorded. We can easily assign one convenient place in the history for it to have found monition, viz. in 2 Samuel 12:25. The brevity of the statement which composes this verse, when compared with all the deeply interesting matter recorded in 1 Kings 1:11-53, is one among many other very clear illustrations of the purposed silence of our present history in certain directions.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When David
וְדָוִ֥יד (wə·ḏā·wîḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

was old
זָקֵ֖ן (zā·qên)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2204: To be or become old

and full of
וְשָׂבַ֣ע (wə·śā·ḇa‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

years,
יָמִ֑ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

he installed his son
בְנ֖וֹ (ḇə·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

Solomon
שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה (šə·lō·mōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

as king
וַיַּמְלֵ֛ךְ (way·yam·lêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


Links
1 Chronicles 23:1 NIV
1 Chronicles 23:1 NLT
1 Chronicles 23:1 ESV
1 Chronicles 23:1 NASB
1 Chronicles 23:1 KJV

1 Chronicles 23:1 BibleApps.com
1 Chronicles 23:1 Biblia Paralela
1 Chronicles 23:1 Chinese Bible
1 Chronicles 23:1 French Bible
1 Chronicles 23:1 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Chronicles 23:1 Now David was old and full (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 22:19
Top of Page
Top of Page