1 Chronicles 23:1

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

So when David {H1732} was old {H2204} and full {H7646} of days {H3117}, he made Solomon {H8010} his son {H1121} king {H4427} over Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

David had now grown old; he had lived many years; so he made Shlomo his son king over Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

When David was old and full of years, 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Chronicles 23:1 serves as a concise yet profound summary of a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the formal transition of power from King David to his son Solomon. This verse, presented from the Chronicler's theological perspective, emphasizes the divinely ordained and orderly nature of the succession, highlighting David's wisdom in preparing for the future of the kingdom and the continuity of God's covenant promises, particularly concerning the forthcoming Temple construction. It marks the culmination of David's illustrious reign and the dawn of Solomon's era, setting the stage for the organization of the Levites and the Temple service.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse opens a new section in 1 Chronicles, shifting focus from David's military conquests and preparations for the Temple (chapters 11-22) to the organization of the kingdom and the succession of Solomon. Prior chapters, especially [1 Chronicles 22](/1_chronicles/22 "1 Chronicles 22 - David's Preparations for the Temple"), detail David's extensive provisions for the Temple's construction, including gathering materials and instructing Solomon. While other biblical accounts, such as [1 Kings 1-2](/1_kings/1 "1 Kings 1 - Adonijah's Usurpation and Solomon's Anointing"), provide a more dramatic and politically charged narrative of Solomon's ascension amidst Adonijah's attempted usurpation, the Chronicler deliberately streamlines this transition. His primary interest is not the political intrigue but the smooth, divinely sanctioned transfer of authority, emphasizing continuity and the establishment of the Temple worship. This verse thus serves as a theological bridge, connecting David's legacy to Solomon's future responsibilities, particularly the building of God's house.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** David's reign, spanning approximately 40 years (c. 1010-970 BC), was a period of significant consolidation and expansion for the Israelite kingdom. By the time of this verse, David was an aged monarch, having established Jerusalem as the political and religious capital and brought the Ark of the Covenant there. The concept of succession in ancient Near Eastern monarchies was often fraught with instability, marked by power struggles and assassinations. However, the Davidic dynasty was unique due to God's covenant promise to David in [2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-16 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Davidic Covenant"), which guaranteed a perpetual lineage. David's act of "making" Solomon king was not merely a personal choice but a public, formal installation, likely involving an anointing and a formal proclamation, ensuring legitimacy and stability in a cultural context where such transitions were critical for national security and identity.
* **Key Themes:** The verse encapsulates several crucial themes prevalent throughout 1 Chronicles. First, it underscores **divine sovereignty and orderly succession**. Despite potential challenges or human machinations, the Chronicler presents Solomon's kingship as a direct fulfillment of God's plan for David's lineage, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Second, it highlights **David's wisdom and foresight**. David is depicted not just as a mighty warrior but as a king who thoughtfully prepared for the future, ensuring the continuity of the kingdom and the sacred project of the Temple. His proactive role in installing Solomon demonstrates responsible leadership, even in his final days. Third, the phrase "old and full of days" signifies a **life lived to completion and honor**, a common biblical motif for patriarchs who fulfilled their God-given purpose, such as [Abraham in Genesis 25:8](/genesis/25-8 "Genesis 25:8 - Abraham's Death") and [Isaac in Genesis 35:29](/genesis/35-29 "Genesis 35:29 - Isaac's Death"). This phrase conveys a sense of peaceful culmination and divine blessing on David's remarkable life and reign.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Old and full of days (Hebrew, _zaqen u'seva yamim'_):** This idiomatic expression is a significant descriptor in the Old Testament, used of patriarchs like Abraham ([Genesis 25:8](/genesis/25-8 "Genesis 25:8 - Abraham's Death")) and Isaac ([Genesis 35:29](/genesis/35-29 "Genesis 35:29 - Isaac's Death")). It signifies more than just advanced chronological age; it implies a life that has reached its complete and honored fulfillment, having experienced much, accomplished its purpose, and received God's blessings. For David, it encapsulates a life of extraordinary accomplishments, challenges, and divine favor, now culminating in a peaceful and purposeful transition of leadership. It suggests a life lived to its proper end, with dignity and completion.
* **Made... king (Hebrew, _wayyamlik'_):** This verb, derived from the root `מלך` (malakh, "to reign"), specifically means "to cause to reign" or "to enthrone." In this context, it denotes David's active role in formally installing Solomon as his successor. This was not a passive acceptance but a deliberate, authoritative act of transfer of power. It implies a public ceremony, likely involving an anointing (as seen in [1 Kings 1:39](/1_kings/1-39 "1 Kings 1:39 - Solomon's Anointing")) and proclamation, establishing Solomon's legitimacy and securing the succession in the eyes of the people and before God. This action underscores David's commitment to God's covenant and the orderly continuation of the kingdom.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So when David was old and full of days,"**: This opening clause establishes the temporal and personal context for the succession. It highlights David's advanced age and the completion of his life's work, using a venerable biblical idiom that signifies a life lived to its full and blessed extent. This phrase sets a tone of peaceful and divinely appointed culmination rather than abrupt end, emphasizing David's readiness to pass on the mantle of leadership.
* **"he made Solomon his son king over Israel."**: This second clause details the pivotal action: David's formal and deliberate enthronement of Solomon. The verb "made... king" (Hebrew `wayyamlik`) signifies an active, authoritative installation, not merely a designation. It underscores David's role in ensuring an orderly and legitimate transfer of power, fulfilling God's promise regarding his dynastic line. The phrase "over Israel" emphasizes the scope of Solomon's new authority, encompassing the entire unified kingdom established by David.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices effectively. The most prominent is the **Idiom** "old and full of days," which is a well-established phrase in biblical literature, conveying a sense of completeness, honor, and divine blessing on a life well-lived. This idiom serves as a concise summary of David's long and impactful reign. The verse also functions as a **Summary** statement, condensing a complex historical event (the succession, which involved political maneuvering as detailed in 1 Kings) into a straightforward declaration of divine order and Davidic foresight. This summarization is characteristic of the Chronicler's theological agenda, which prioritizes the smooth, divinely ordained aspects of Israel's history. Furthermore, the verse acts as a **Transition**, marking the shift from David's reign and Temple preparations to Solomon's reign and the actual building of the Temple, setting the stage for the organizational details that follow in the subsequent chapters of 1 Chronicles.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 23:1 is deeply significant as it underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to the Davidic Covenant, demonstrating His sovereign hand in the orderly transition of power. It reveals David's wisdom and obedience in preparing for the future, not just materially for the Temple, but also in ensuring a legitimate and divinely sanctioned successor. This act of succession is presented as a fulfillment of God's promise to establish David's house and kingdom forever, highlighting the continuity of God's redemptive plan through the lineage of David. The verse also emphasizes the importance of preparing the next generation for leadership and responsibility, a theme vital for both spiritual and societal flourishing.

* [2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-16 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Davidic Covenant")
* [1 Kings 1:32-40](/1_kings/1-32 "1 Kings 1:32-40 - Solomon's Anointing")
* [Psalm 72:1-2](/psalms/72-1 "Psalm 72:1-2 - A Prayer for the King")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The peaceful and deliberate transition of power from David to Solomon, as presented in 1 Chronicles 23:1, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us of the importance of finishing well in our own callings and responsibilities, demonstrating foresight and a commitment to preparing the next generation. David, "old and full of days," did not cling to power but actively ensured a smooth, divinely sanctioned succession, prioritizing the continuity of God's work over personal ambition. This challenges us to consider our legacy: Are we investing in those who will come after us? Are we stewarding our gifts and resources in a way that ensures the ongoing flourishing of God's kingdom, whether in our families, churches, or communities? It also calls us to trust in God's sovereign plan for leadership and the future, even when circumstances seem uncertain, knowing that He raises up and sets down leaders according to His perfect will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's act of "making Solomon king" challenge our understanding of leadership transition and succession in our own contexts?**
* **In what ways can we, like David, proactively prepare the next generation for responsibilities and leadership, both spiritually and practically?**
* **What does it mean for us to live a life "full of days," not just in terms of longevity, but in terms of fulfilling our God-given purpose and finishing well?**

### FAQ

**Why does 1 Chronicles present David's succession of Solomon so smoothly, while 1 Kings details a power struggle?**

Answer: The differing accounts reflect the distinct theological purposes of the books. [1 Kings 1-2](/1_kings/1 "1 Kings 1 - Adonijah's Usurpation and Solomon's Anointing") provides a more detailed historical narrative, including the political intrigue surrounding Adonijah's attempted usurpation of the throne. The Chronicler, writing for a post-exilic audience, had a different agenda. His primary goal was to emphasize the legitimacy of the Davidic dynasty, the continuity of God's covenant promises, and the divinely ordained nature of the Temple and its worship. Therefore, he streamlines the succession narrative in [1 Chronicles 23:1](/1_chronicles/23-1 "1 Chronicles 23:1 - Solomon's Accession"), focusing on David's wise and orderly transfer of power, which underscores God's sovereign hand and the stability of the kingdom, rather than dwelling on internal conflicts. The Chronicler's account is not contradictory but complementary, providing a theological lens on the historical events.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The orderly and divinely ordained succession of Solomon from David in [1 Chronicles 23:1](/1_chronicles/23-1 "1 Chronicles 23:1 - Solomon's Accession") powerfully foreshadows the ultimate, eternal reign of Jesus Christ, the true Son of David. Just as Solomon's kingship was a fulfillment of God's promise to David in [2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-16 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Davidic Covenant") that his "house and his kingdom shall be established for ever," so too is Christ the ultimate heir to David's throne. The New Testament consistently presents Jesus as the fulfillment of this covenant, the one through whom God's kingdom is truly established forever (e.g., [Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32-33 - The Angel Gabriel's Prophecy to Mary")). While Solomon's reign brought a period of peace and the building of the first Temple, it was ultimately temporary and imperfect. Jesus, however, is the "Prince of Peace" ([Isaiah 9:6](/isaiah/9-6 "Isaiah 9:6 - Prophecy of the Messiah")), who establishes an everlasting kingdom of righteousness and peace, and He is the builder of the true spiritual Temple, His Church ([Ephesians 2:19-22](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19-22 - Christ as the Cornerstone")). David, "old and full of days," passed on an earthly kingdom; Christ, the eternal King, inherits and reigns over a spiritual kingdom that knows no end, fulfilling all the promises made to David and bringing ultimate salvation to His people ([Revelation 11:15](/revelation/11-15 "Revelation 11:15 - The Kingdom of the World Becomes the Kingdom of Our Lord")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.