Bathsheba 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.
Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon. The filial reverence and the particular act of respect which Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon. The filial reverence and the particular act of respect which Solomon rendered was quite in accordance with the sentiments and customs of the East. The right bend is the place of honour; and as it is expressly said to have been assigned to "the king's mother," it is necessary to remark, that when a husband dies, his widow acquires a higher dignity and power, as a mother over her son, than she ever possessed before. Besides, the dignity of "king's mother" is a state office, to which certain revenues are attached. The holder has a separate palace or court, as well as possesses great influence in public affairs; and as the dignity is held for life, it sometimes happens, in consequence of deaths, that the person enjoying it may not be related to the reigning sovereign by natural maternity. Bath-sheba had evidently been invested with his honourable office.