The Hebrew expression introducing the direct quotation of verses 15-16a is literally He said, but in the context of this dialogue, it may be better translated “Adonijah replied” (Contemporary English Version) or “he went on” (Revised English Bible).

You know: Adonijah’s reply to Bathsheba begins in Hebrew with an emphatic pronoun. Neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation preserves this emphasis. Compare, however, “You yourself know” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) and “As you know” (New Living Translation).

That the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign: As the oldest surviving son of King David, Adonijah was next in line to inherit the throne (see 1 Kgs 1.5-6). The order of the Hebrew here places the emphasis on Adonijah, but this is not indicated in Revised Standard Version. A more literal translation, which preserves this emphasis, is “that to me was the kingdom and on me all Israel set their faces to reign.” Some other possible renderings for all Israel expected me to reign are “all Israel turned toward me that I might be king” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) and “All the people of Israel recognized me as their king” (New Century Version). In some languages it may be more natural to say “all the people of Israel set their hearts on me as their ruler.”

The kingdom has turned about is a literal translation of the Hebrew. It may be odd to say that the kingdom … turned. If so, the sense should be expressed naturally in the receptor language. Some more idiomatic translations in English are “the kingdom escaped me” (New American Bible), “I was passed over” (Revised English Bible), and “things have changed” (New Century Version). The Hebrew noun translated kingdom is different from the one translated “kingdom” in verse 12. The noun here in verse 15 focuses more on the position or rank of kingship, while that in verse 12 focuses more on royal power.

For it was his from the LORD: A literal rendering of this expression may not be acceptable in certain languages. The meaning may be expressed by making the LORD the subject of the sentence; for example, “for the LORD gave it to him” (New American Bible) or “because the LORD wanted him to become king.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .