וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֖ה נָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֑יא וַיָּבֹא֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ עַל־אַפָּ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃
E o fizeram saber ao rei, dizendo: Eis aí está o profeta Natã. Entrou Natã à presença do rei, inclinou-se perante ele com o rosto em terra,
Rabbeinu Bahya
A Midrashic approach based on Sanhedrin 20: the emphasis in the line שום תשים עליך מלך, “be sure to appoint a king over yourself,” is that the fear of the authority of the king should pervade the people. One would not be allowed to ride on the king’s horse, sit on his chair, use his scepter or his crown, or any of the garments or implements used by the king; even if the king was modest and did not insist on these appurtenances of office to be his exclusively, i.e. was מוחל על כבודו, he was not allowed to waive his privileges and anyone violating these rules was guilty of insulting Royalty (Ketuvot 17). When the king died, all the utensils, garments, etc., which he had used would be burned so as not to be used by his successor. Only a successor king would be allowed to employ the servants of the former king. This is why Avishag, the woman from Shunem was permitted as a wife for Solomon whereas she was forbidden to Adoniah (Maimonides Hilchot Melachim 2, 1-2). Even a prophet would have to remain standing in the presence of the king and bow his face to the ground in deference. When there was a need for the High Priest to consult the urim vetumim, the king could remain standing in his presence (Maimonides Hilchot Melachim 5,2).