Bathsheba was Solomon’s mother and David’s favorite wife. Their affair caused the death of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah the Hittite (see 2 Samuel 11:1–27).
Nathan, the prophet who shared God’s promise with David (2 Samuel 7:1–17) and announced God’s love for Solomon at his birth (2 Samuel 12:24–25), confirmed God’s choice of Solomon to become king after David (see 1 Chronicles 28:4–7). Although Nathan strongly criticized David for his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 12:1–15), the king respected him.
Adonijah likely noticed Nathan’s close ties with Bathsheba and Solomon. If Adonijah’s plan to make himself king succeeded, all three could expect to be killed (see 1 Kings 15:29; 16:11).