1 Kings 1:1-53
King David Names Solomon King
1 When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. 2 So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.”
3 Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.
5 Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6 (His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)
7 Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah.
9 Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.
11 Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? 12 Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.”
15 So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. 16 Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king.
“What is it you want?” the king asked.
17 She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18 But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. 19 He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20 My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.”
22 While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 And the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.
24 Nathan said, “Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? 25 Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite. 27 Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 30 I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”
31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
32 King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. 34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 37 As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!”
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?”
42 Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.”
43 “Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule, 45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. 46 Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. 47 Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed 48 and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’”
49 At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”
52 Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”
King David was very old and could not keep warm...His servants covered him with blankets, but he was still cold...So they said to him, “We will find a young woman to care for you...She will lie next to you and keep you warm.”...So the king’s servants began looking everywhere in the country of Israel for a beautiful young woman to keep the king warm...They found a young woman named Abishag, from the town of Shunem, and brought her to the king...She was very beautiful...She cared for the king and served him, but King David did not have sexual relations with her...
Adonijah was the son of King David and his wife Haggith...He wanted to be king...He was born after Absalom...Adonijah was a very handsome man...King David never corrected his son Adonijah, and he never made him explain his actions...Adonijah became very proud and decided that he would be the next king...He wanted very much to be the king, so he got himself a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run ahead of him...Adonijah talked with Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest...They decided to help make him the new king, but several important men did not join Adonijah...They were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and King David’s special guard...One day, at Zoheleth Rock near En Rogel, Adonijah sacrificed some sheep, cattle, and fat calves as a fellowship offering...He invited his brothers (the other sons of King David) and all the officers from Judah...But he did not invite his brother Solomon, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, or the men in the king’s special guard...
When Nathan heard about this, he went to Solomon’s mother Bathsheba and asked her, “Have you heard what Haggith’s son, Adonijah, is doing?...He is making himself king...And our master, King David, knows nothing about it...You and your son Solomon are in danger, but I will tell you what to do to save yourself...Go to King David and tell him, ‘My lord and king, you promised me that my son Solomon would be the next king after you...So why is Adonijah becoming the new king?’...Then while you are still talking with him, I will come in...After you leave I will tell the king what has happened...This will show that what you said is true.”...
So Bathsheba went in to see the king in his bedroom...The king was very old. Abishag, the girl from Shunem, was caring for him there...Bathsheba bowed down before the king...The king asked, “What can I do for you?”...Bathsheba answered, “Sir, you used the name of the LORD your God and made a promise to me...You said, ‘Your son Solomon will be the next king after me...He will sit on my throne.’...Now, you don’t know this, but Adonijah is making himself king...He is giving a big fellowship meal...He has killed many cattle and the best sheep, and he has invited all of your sons to the meal...He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of your army, but he did not invite your faithful son Solomon...Now, my lord and king, all the Israelites are watching you...They are waiting for you to decide who will be the next king after you...If you don’t decide, then after you are buried, these men will say that Solomon and I are criminals.”...
While Bathsheba was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came to see him...The servants told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.”...Nathan went in to speak to the king...He bowed down before the king and said, “My lord and king, did you announce that Adonijah will be the new king after you?...Have you decided that he will rule the people now?...Today he went down into the valley to offer many cattle and the best sheep as fellowship offerings...He invited all your other sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest...They are now eating and drinking with him...And they are saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’...But he did not invite me, or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your son Solomon...My lord and king, did you do this without telling us?...Please tell us, who will be the next king after you?”...Then King David said, “Tell Bathsheba to come in!”...So she came in and stood before the king...Then the king made a promise: “The LORD has saved me from every danger...As surely as He lives, I make this promise to you...Today I will do what I promised you in the past...I made that promise by the power of the LORD, the God of Israel...I promised that your son Solomon would be the next king after me...I promised that he would take my place on my throne, and I will keep my promise!”...Then Bathsheba bowed down before the king and said, “Long live King David!”...
Then King David said, “Tell Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to come in here.”...So the three men came in to meet with the king...Then the king said to them, “Take my officers with you...Put my son Solomon on my mule and take him to Gihon Spring...There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him to be the new king of Israel...Blow the trumpet and announce, ‘This is the new king, Solomon!’...Then come back here with him...Solomon will sit on my throne and be the new king in my place...I have chosen him to be the ruler of Israel and Judah.”...
After King David and Nathan the Prophet's anointment and his announcement that Solomon was king, Adonijah’ and all of his guests were afraid and left the fellowship offering very quickly...Adonijah was also afraid of Solomon, so he went to the altar and held onto the horns of the altar...Then someone told Solomon, “Adonijah is afraid of you, King Solomon...He is at the Holy Tent holding onto the horns of the altar, and he refuses to leave...Adonijah says, ‘Tell King Solomon to promise that he will not kill me.’”...So Solomon answered, “If Adonijah shows that he is a good man, I promise that not a hair on his head will be hurt...But if he does anything wrong, he will die.”...Then King Solomon sent some men to get Adonijah and brought him in...He approached the king and bowed before him...Then Solomon said, “Go home.”...