1 Kings 1

1 ¹King David was old, advanced in years. They covered him with clothes, but he couldn't get warm. ²His servants told him, "Find a young virgin for my lord the king to serve and care for him. Let her lie in your arms, so my lord the king stays warm." ³They searched all Israel for a beautiful young woman, found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. ⁴The young woman was very beautiful. She became the king's caregiver and served him, but he had no relations with her.

Adonijah Grasps for the Throne

⁵Adonijah son of Haggith pushed himself forward, saying, "I will be king," and got chariots, horsemen, and fifty men to run ahead of him. ⁶His father never at any time corrected him, asking, "Why have you done this?" He too was very handsome, born next after Absalom. ⁷He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest, who supported Adonijah and helped him. ⁸But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's warriors weren't with Adonijah.

⁹Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by Zoheleth stone near En-rogel, inviting all his brothers, the king's sons, and all Judah's royal officials. ¹⁰But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or Solomon his brother.

¹¹Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Haven't you heard Adonijah son of Haggith reigns, and our lord David doesn't know? ¹²Now come, let me advise you, so you can save your own life and your son Solomon's life. ¹³Go at once to King David and say, 'My lord king, didn't you swear to your servant, "Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne"? Why then does Adonijah reign?' ¹⁴While you're still speaking there with the king, I'll come in behind you and confirm your words."

¹⁵Bathsheba went in to the king in his room—he was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. ¹⁶Bathsheba bowed low and paid homage to the king, and the king said, "What do you want?"

¹⁷She said to him, "My lord, you yourself swore to your servant by your Father, saying, 'Solomon your son will reign after me and sit on my throne.' ¹⁸But now Adonijah is king, and you, my lord the king, don't know it." ¹⁹He sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and many sheep, and invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the army commander, but not Solomon your servant. ²⁰My lord the king, all Israel's eyes are on you to tell them who will sit on my lord the king's throne after him. ²¹Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, my son Solomon and I will be counted guilty.

²²While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. ²³They told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." He entered and bowed to the king with his face to the ground.

²⁴Nathan said, "My lord the king, did you say, 'Adonijah will reign after me and sit on my throne'? ²⁵Today he went down and sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and many sheep, inviting all the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. They're eating and drinking before him, shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!' ²⁶But me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon—Adonijah didn't invite. ²⁷Did my lord the king order this without telling us servants who will sit on his throne after him?

David Swears Solomon Will Reign

²⁸King David answered, "Call Bathsheba to me." She came before the king and stood in his presence. ²⁹The king swore: "As our Father lives, who rescued my life from every distress, ³⁰as I swore to you by our Father, the God of Israel, Solomon your son will reign after me and sit on my throne in my place—I will do today."

³¹Bathsheba bowed face to ground, prostrated before the king, and said, "May my lord King David live forever!"

³²King David said, "Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." They came before the king. ³³The king said to them, "Take your lord's servants, put my son Solomon on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. ³⁴Have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel there; sound the horn, shout, 'Long live King Solomon!' ³⁵Then come up after him, and he will come and sit on my throne and reign in my place, for I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah."

³⁶Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May our Father, God of my lord the king, confirm it. ³⁷As our Father was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than my lord King David's throne."

³⁸Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethites went down, put Solomon on King David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. ³⁹Zadok the priest took the oil horn from the tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet, and everyone shouted, "Long live King Solomon!"

⁴⁰All the people went up after him, playing flutes, rejoicing greatly, and the ground split with their noise.

⁴¹Adonijah and all his guests heard it, finishing their meal. Hearing the horn, Joab asked, "Why is the city in an uproar?"

⁴²He was still speaking when Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in—you're a worthy man, and surely bring good news."

⁴³But Jonathan said to Adonijah, "No — our lord King David has made Solomon king. ⁴⁴The king sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethites with him; they set him on the king's mule. ⁴⁵Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king at Gihon, and came up from there celebrating; the city roars — that's the noise you heard. ⁴⁶And Solomon has even taken his seat on the royal throne. ⁴⁷The king's servants also came to congratulate our lord King David: 'May your Father make Solomon's name greater than yours, his throne greater than yours.' Then the king bowed on his bed. ⁴⁸The king also said, "Blessed be our Father, God of Israel, who today gave someone to sit on my throne, my own eyes seeing it."

⁴⁹Then all of Adonijah's guests were terrified. They rose and scattered, each going his own way. ⁵⁰But Adonijah, afraid of Solomon, got up, went, and took hold of the altar's horns. ^a a v50 Grabbing the projecting corners of the altar was an ancient act of seeking sanctuary — a desperate plea for mercy and protection from execution. ⁵¹Solomon was told, "Adonijah fears you and has grabbed the altar's horns, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me first not to kill his servant by the sword.'"

⁵²Solomon said, "If he is worthy, not a hair of his will fall to the ground; if evil is found in him, he dies."

⁵³King Solomon sent for him, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed to King Solomon, and Solomon said, "Go home."