1 Kings 1:1-39 ▼

1 And King David was old, entering into the days. And they covered him with garments, and he could not get warm.

2 And his servants said to him, “Let them seek for our lord the king a young woman, a virgin, and let her stand before the face of the king, and let her care for him, and let her lie in your bosom, that our lord the king may be warm.”

3 And they sought a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and they found Abishag the Shunammitess and brought her to the king.

4 And the young woman was even exceedingly lovely, and she cared for the king and served him, and the king did not know her.

5 And Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself a chariot and horsemen and fifty men to run before his face.

6 (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” And He was also very good in form, and she had borne him after Absalom.)

7 And his words were with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they helped after Adonijah.

8 And Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who were to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel. And he called all his brothers the sons of the king, and all the men of Judah the servants of the king.

10 And Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he did not call.

11 And Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have not you heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?

12 And come, let me advise you, please, with counsel that may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

13 Go and enter in to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your maidservant, saying, “Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? And why has Adonijah become king?’

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

15 And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber. And the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammitess was serving the king.

16 And Bathsheba bowed bowed herself low to the king. And the king said, “What is for you?”

17 And she said to him, “My lord, you swore by YHWH your God to your maidservant, ‘Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’

18 And now, behold, Adonijah has become king. And, my lord the king, you do not know about it.

19 And He has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and he has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army. And Solomon your servant he has not invited.

20 And you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 And it will come to pass, in the resting on my lord the king with his fathers, that I will be counted, and my son Solomon, as sinful.”

22 And behold, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

23 And they told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet.” And he came in before the face of the king, and he bowed low before the king with his nose to the ground.

24 And Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’?

25 For he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and he has called to all the sons of the king and the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before his face and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah.’

26 And me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Solomon your servant, he has not called.

27 Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not told your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

28 And King David answered and said, “Call for me Bathsheba.” And she came before the face of the king and stood before the face of the king.

29 And the king took an oath and said, “As YHWH lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress,

30 just as I swore to you by YHWH, God of Israel, saying, surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place, even so I will surely do this day.”

31 And Bathsheba bowed with her nose to the ground and she bowed low to the king, and said, “May my lord live King David forever.”

32 And King David said, “Call for me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” And they came in before the face of the king.

33 And the king said to them, “Take with you⁺ the servants of your⁺ lord, and have ride Solomon my son on the mule that is unto me, and take him down to Gihon.

34 And let Zadok the priest anoint him there—and Nathan the prophet—as king over Israel. And blow the shofar and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

35 And you⁺ shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”

36 And Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, “Amen! Thus YHWH the God of my lord the king speaks.

37 As YHWH has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”

38 And Zadok the priest went down, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they had Solomon ride on the mule of King David and took him to Gihon.

39 And Zadok the priest took a horn of the oil from the tabernacle, and he anointed Solomon. And they blew with the shofar, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon.”