1 Kings 2:20

Verse

“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”

American Standard Version (1901)

Then she said, I ask one small petition of thee; deny me not. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny thee.

Bible in Basic English

Then she said, I have one small request to make to you; do not say, No, to me. And the king said, Say on, my mother, for I will not say, No, to you.

Free Bible Version

“I have just one small request to ask of you,” she said. “Please don't say no.” The king replied, “Ask away, dear mother. I won't say no to you.”

Geneva Bible 1599

Then she sayd, I desire a small request of thee, say me not nay. Then the King sayde vnto her, Aske on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.

King James (Authorized) Version

Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.

Translation for Translators

Then she said, “I have one small thing which I want you to do; please do not say that you will not do it.” The king replied, “Mother, what do you want? I will not refuse you.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then she said, “I wish to ask one small request of you, for you will not turn away from my face.” The king answered her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not turn away from your face.”

Noah Webster Bible

Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee , deny me not. And the king said to her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not deny thee.

World English Bible

Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother, for I will not deny you.”

Young's Literal Translation

And she saith, 'One small petition I ask of thee, turn not back my face;' and the king saith to her, 'Ask, my mother, for I do not turn back thy face.'

Context

The Execution of Adonijah

¹⁹So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand. ²⁰“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”

Summary

In this verse, Solomon's mother, Bathsheba, makes a request to King Solomon on behalf of Adonijah, her son. She asks for Abishag the Shunammite to be given to Adonijah as a wife. This seemingly innocent request actually carries political implications, as having Abishag would symbolize a claim to the throne. Solomon perceives this request as a threat to his reign and sees it as an act of rebellion. This event sets the stage for the execution of Adonijah and Adonijah's co-conspirator, Joab, as Solomon establishes his authority as the new king.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee,.... It was but one, and a little one, and therefore she hoped it would be granted: I pray thee, say me not nay; do not refuse it, or deny it me, or turn away my thee with shame and disappointment: and the king said, ask on, my mother, for I will not say thee nay; since it is a small one, as thou sayest, and provided it is fit and lawful to be granted.