What Does 1 Kings 2:1 Mean in the King James?
Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
As David’s days draw near their end, his words turn toward Solomon, making the approaching death a threshold of entrustment.
THE MEANING
When an ending draws near in your life, loss remains real, yet the moment can also hold words that place what matters in another person’s keeping. David’s approaching death and his charge to Solomon stand together: one life nears its end while direction is still being spoken into the next.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that a person has nothing left to give when death draws near: David is still placing a charge in Solomon’s keeping.
THE ROOT
וַיִּקְרְבוּ
wayyiqrevu
GROWS FROM
קרב
To approach or come near.
“drew nigh” in this verse is wayyiqrevu. The verse says David’s days themselves approach death; the ending is near, not abstract or distant. The same root also names what is brought near, so the language of approach carries into the verse’s movement toward Solomon.
ALSO GROWS
qarov: near, close
קָרוֹב
This word from the same root names nearness itself, echoing how death is approaching David.
qorban: offering, something brought near
קָרְבָּן
The offering word shares the movement of coming near; here the days approach their end as David turns toward his son.
וַיְצַו
wayetsav
GROWS FROM
צוה
To command, direct, or appoint.
“Charged” belongs to a word family for giving direction and setting an obligation. David’s words to Solomon are presented as an entrusted charge, not merely conversation at the end of his life.
ALSO GROWS
mitzvah: command, instruction
מִצְוָה
This noun shares the root and shows the instruction-bearing force of David’s charge.
tsav: command, precept
צַו
This shorter form of the same root reinforces that the words being entrusted carry direction.
THE PATTERN
At a threshold between one life or role and the next, speech entrusts what is to continue.
And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.THE THREAD
And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:The Hebrew repeats the same wording: the days draw near for someone to die, using the root קרב (qarab), “approach.” In both verses, the approach of death is followed by a father turning toward his son with words entrusted to him.
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