1 KingsChapter 1

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¹King David was now old. He had lived many years. His servants covered him with blankets, but he could not stay warm. ²So his servants said to him, "Let's look for a young woman who is a virgin for our lord the king. She can serve the king and take care of him. She can lie by his side to keep our lord the king warm." ³So they looked all over Israel for a beautiful girl. They found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. ⁴The girl was very, very beautiful. She took care of the king and served him. But the king did not have sex with her. ⁵At that time Adonijah began to brag and lift himself up. He was David's son by Haggith. He said, "I will be king!" He got chariots and horsemen for himself. He also got fifty men to run ahead of him. ⁶(His father had never once corrected him. He never asked him, "Why are you acting this way?" Adonijah was also very handsome. He was born next after Absalom.) ⁷Adonijah made plans with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. They took his side and helped him. ⁸But some men would not join Adonijah. They were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's mighty warriors. ⁹Adonijah offered sacrifices of sheep, oxen, and fattened calves. He did this near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons. He also invited all the men of Judah who served the king. ¹⁰But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty warriors, or his brother Solomon. ¹¹Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. He said, "Haven't you heard? Adonijah son of Haggith has made himself king. And our lord David doesn't know about it! ¹²Now please, let me give you some advice. Then you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. ¹³Go to King David right now. Say to him, 'My lord the king, didn't you make a promise to me, your servant? You swore, "Your son Solomon will surely be king after me. He will sit on my throne." So why has Adonijah become king?' ¹⁴While you are still there talking with the king, I will come in after you. I will tell him your words are true." ¹⁵So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. The king was very old. Abishag the Shunammite was taking care of him. ¹⁶Bathsheba bowed low to honor the king. The king asked, "What do you want?" ¹⁷She answered, "My lord, you yourself made a promise to me, your servant. You swore by the LORD your God. You said, 'Your son Solomon will surely be king after me. He will sit on my throne.' ¹⁸But now, look! Adonijah has become king. And you, my lord the king, don't know about it. ¹⁹He has sacrificed lots of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's other sons. He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon. ²⁰My lord the king, all Israel is watching you. They are waiting for you to tell them who will sit on your throne after you. ²¹If you don't, then my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals. That will happen when my lord the king dies and rests with his fathers." ²²Just then, while Bathsheba was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. ²³Someone told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." So Nathan went in. He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. ²⁴Nathan said, "My lord the king, did you say, 'Adonijah will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne'? ²⁵Today he went down and sacrificed lots of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep. He invited all the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him. They are shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!' ²⁶But he did not invite me, your servant. He did not invite Zadok the priest or Benaiah son of Jehoiada. And he did not invite your servant Solomon. ²⁷Did my lord the king let this happen? Did you do it without telling your servant who should sit on your throne after you?" ²⁸Then King David said, "Call Bathsheba in to me." So she came in and stood in front of the king. ²⁹Then the king made a promise. He said, "As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every trouble, ³⁰I will do today exactly what I promised you. I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel. I said your son Solomon will surely be king after me. He will sit on my throne in my place." ³¹Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground to honor the king. She said, "May my lord King David live forever!" ³²Then King David said, "Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." So they came to the king. ³³The king said to them, "Take my servants with you. Put my son Solomon on my own mule. Take him down to Gihon. ³⁴There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet must anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the ram's horn and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!' ³⁵Then go back up with him. He will come and sit on my throne. He will be king in my place. For I have appointed him to rule over Israel and Judah." ³⁶Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say the same. ³⁷The LORD was with my lord the king. In the same way, may he be with Solomon. May he make Solomon's throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!" ³⁸So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada went down. The Cherethites and Pelethites went with them. They put Solomon on King David's mule and led him to Gihon. ³⁹Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle. He anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram's horn. All the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!" ⁴⁰All the people followed Solomon. They played flutes and celebrated with great joy. The sound was so loud that the ground split open. ⁴¹Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast. Then they heard the sound of the ram's horn. Joab asked, "Why is there so much noise in the city?" ⁴²While he was still speaking, Jonathan arrived. He was the son of Abiathar the priest. Adonijah said, "Come in. You are a brave and worthy man. You must have good news." ⁴³"Not at all!" Jonathan answered. "Our lord King David has made Solomon king. ⁴⁴The king sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada with Solomon. The Cherethites and Pelethites went too. They put Solomon on the king's own mule. ⁴⁵Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king at Gihon. Then they came up from there, full of joy. The whole city is ringing with it. That's the noise you hear. ⁴⁶What's more, Solomon is now sitting on the king's throne. ⁴⁷The king's servants have also come to bless our lord King David. They said, 'May your God make Solomon's name even more famous than yours. May he make his throne greater than your throne.' And the king bowed down in worship on his bed. ⁴⁸He said, 'Praise the LORD, the God of Israel! Today he has given me someone to sit on my throne. And I have seen it with my own eyes.'" ⁴⁹When they heard this, all of Adonijah's guests jumped up in terror. They all ran off. ⁵⁰But Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. So he got up and went and grabbed the horns of the altar. ⁵¹Someone told Solomon, "Look, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. He is holding on to the horns of the altar. He says, 'First let King Solomon promise me he won't kill his servant with the sword.'" ⁵²Solomon answered, "If he proves to be a good and honest man, not one hair on his head will fall to the ground. But if he is found doing evil, he will die." ⁵³Then King Solomon sent men to bring Adonijah down from the altar. Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon. Solomon said to him, "Go home."