1 Kings 1:1-39 ▼

1 Now King David (beloved) was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.

2 So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”

3 Then they searched throughout Israel (he wrestles with God) for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag (my father is a wanderer) the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

4 The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.

5 At that time Adonijah (my lord is YHWH), David’s son by Haggith (festive), began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

6 (His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom (my father is peace).)

7 So Adonijah conferred with Joab (YHWH is father) son of Zeruiah (balsam) and with Abiathar (my father is great) the priest, who supported him (my lord is YHWH).

8 But Zadok (righteous) the priest, Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows), Nathan (giver) the prophet, Shimei (renowned), Rei (friendly), and David’s (beloved) mighty men would not join Adonijah (my lord is YHWH).

9 And Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth (the Serpent’s Stone), which is next to En-rogel (fount of the fuller). He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah (praised) who were servants of the king.

10 But he did not invite Nathan (giver) the prophet, Benaiah (YHWH has built up), the mighty men, or his brother Solomon (peace).

11 Then Nathan (giver) said to Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) the mother of Solomon (peace), “Have you not heard that Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) son of Haggith (festive) has become king, and our lord David (beloved) does not know it?

12 Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon (peace).

13 Go at once to King David (beloved) and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon (peace) will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) become king?’

14 Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

15 So Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag (my father is a wanderer) the Shunammite was serving him.

16 And Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

17 “My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka}: ‘Surely your son Solomon (peace) will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’

18 But now, behold, Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.

19 And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar (my father is great) the priest and Joab (YHWH is father) the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon (peace).

20 And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel (he wrestles with God) are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon (peace) will be counted as criminals.”

22 And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan (giver) the prophet arrived.

23 So the king was told, “Nathan (giver) the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.

24 “My lord the king,” said Nathan (giver), “did you say, ‘Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?

25 For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders [Joab the commander] of the army, and Abiathar (my father is great) the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah (my lord is YHWH)!’

26 But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok (righteous) the priest, nor Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows), nor your servant Solomon (peace).

27 Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”

28 Then King David (beloved) said, “Call in Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

29 And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD {YHWH} lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,

30 I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God): Surely your son Solomon (peace) will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

31 Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David (beloved) live forever!”

32 Then King David (beloved) said, “Call in for me Zadok (righteous) the priest, Nathan (giver) the prophet, and Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows).” So they came before the king.

33 “Take my servants with you⁺,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon (peace) on my own mule and take him down to Gihon (bursting forth).

34 There Zadok (righteous) the priest and Nathan (giver) the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel (he wrestles with God). You⁺ are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon (peace)!’

35 Then you⁺ shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel (he wrestles with God) and Judah (praised).”

36 “Amen,” replied Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows). “May the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of my lord the king, so declare it.

37 Just as the LORD {YHWH} was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon (peace) and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David (beloved).”

38 Then Zadok (righteous) the priest, Nathan (giver) the prophet, and Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows), along with the Cherethites (executioners) and Pelethites (couriers), went down and set Solomon (peace) on King David’s (beloved) mule, and they escorted him to Gihon (bursting forth).

39 Zadok (righteous) the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon (peace). Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”