And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule:
And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have had him ride on the king's mule.
The writer is describing how King David sent his most trusted officials to publicly escort Solomon on the royal mule, signaling that Solomon is the chosen heir to the throne.
📚 Historical Context
This verse occurs during the succession crisis near the end of King David's life, when his son Adonijah was attempting to claim the throne. David's loyal officials - including the high priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, his military commander Benaiah, and his elite bodyguards (the Cherethites and Pelethites) - were publicly demonstrating support for Solomon as the rightful heir. Having Solomon ride the king's personal mule was a powerful royal symbol that would be recognized by all who saw it.
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