1 Kings 2:19
“Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.”
What does 1 Kings 2:19 mean?
Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, approaches her son the king with a request about his older brother Adonijah. The moment beautifully shows Solomon's deep respect for her: he stands when she enters, bows to her, and then has an official throne placed at his right side so she can sit with him as an honored guest. This wasn't just good manners, it was a public statement that his mother held a position of real significance in his court. In ancient Israel, a king's mother held unusual power and dignity. By giving Bathsheba this prominent seat and treating her with such formal honor, Solomon was showing that he valued her counsel and her place in his life. Whether or not he'll actually grant Adonijah's request remains to be seen, but his treatment of his mother reveals something important about his character: he honors the woman who raised him, and he's willing to hear her out with genuine attention.