1 Kings 2:20

18 And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.

19 Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.

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.

21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“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.”
KJV
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.
WEB
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.”
ASV
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.
DARBY
Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; refuse me not. And the king said to her, Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse thee.
BLB
And she said, “One small request I desire of you. Do not turn back my face.” And the king said to her, “Ask it, my mother, for I will not turn back your face.”
ÅB
Hun sa: Det er bare en eneste liten ting jeg vil be deg om; du må ikke vise meg bort! Kongen svarte: Kom du med din bønn, mor! Jeg skal ikke vise deg bort.
OTB
Da sa hun: "Jeg har en liten bønn til deg; avvis meg ikke." Og kongen sa til henne: "Be, min mor, for jeg vil ikke avvise deg."
B1930
Hun sa: Det er bare en eneste liten ting jeg vil be dig om; du må ikke vise mig bort! Kongen svarte: Kom du med din bønn, mor! Jeg skal ikke vise dig bort.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • John 15:16

    Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 11:24

    But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 20:20–21

    Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

    Read in context
  • John 2:3–4

    And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 18:19

    Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

    Read in context
  • Luke 11:9–10

    And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 10:35–36

    For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 7:7–11

    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

    Read in context