1 Kings 1 — Read & Listen Online | Father's Heart Bible

David Grows Old and Frail

Chapter 1.

Now King David was old, advanced in years. They covered him with garments, but he could not get warm. So his servants said to him, "Let a young woman, a virgin, be sought for my lord the king to attend him and care for him. Let her lie close to you, that my lord the king may be warm." So they searched throughout all the territory of Israel for a beautiful young woman, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. The young woman was very beautiful. She cared for the king and served him, but the king did not have relations with her.

Adonijah Grasps for the Throne

Now Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." He prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run ahead of him. His father had never at any time crossed him by asking, "Why have you done this?" He too was very handsome, and he was born next after Absalom. He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they threw their support behind Adonijah and helped him. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's mighty men were not with Adonijah.

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

Nathan and Bathsheba Plead with David

Then Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it? Now come, let me give you advice, so that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. Go at once to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to your servant, "Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?' And while you are still speaking there with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words."

So Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. Bathsheba bowed low and paid homage to the king, and the king said, "What do you want?"

She said to him, "My lord, you yourself swore to your servant by your Father, saying, 'Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.' But now, look, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not even know it. He has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, 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. And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, when my lord the king lies down with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be treated as offenders."

While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. They told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." So he came in before the king and bowed before him with his face to the ground.

Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne'? For today he has gone down and sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And there they are, eating and drinking before him and shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!' But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he has not invited. Has this been done by my lord the king without your telling your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"

David Swears Solomon Will Reign

Then King David answered, "Call Bathsheba to me." So she came into the king's presence and stood before him. And the king swore an oath: "As surely as our Father lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, as I swore to you by our Father, the God of Israel, 'Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place' — so I will do this very day."

Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, paid homage to the king, and said, "May my lord King David live forever!"

Solomon Anointed King

Then King David said, "Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." So they came before the king. The king said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!' Then you shall come up after him, and he will come and sit on my throne; he will reign in my place, for I have appointed him ruler over Israel and over Judah."

Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! So may our Father, the God of my lord the king, declare it. As our Father has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David."

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

Then all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such great joy that the ground shook with their sound.

Adonijah Learns of Solomon's Reign

Adonijah and all the guests with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "What is this uproar in the city about?"

While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are a worthy man and surely bring good news."

But Jonathan said to Adonijah, "No — our lord King David has made Solomon king. The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they had him ride on the king's mule. Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. That is the noise you heard. And Solomon has even taken his seat on the royal throne. Moreover, the king's servants have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, 'May your Father make Solomon's name more famous than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.' And the king bowed himself on his bed. And the king also said, 'Blessed be our Father, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne today, while my own eyes see it.'"

Then all of Adonijah's guests were terrified. They rose and scattered, each going his own way. But Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up, went, and took hold of the horns of the altar. ¹ Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, and look, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.'"

Solomon said, "If he proves himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die."

So King Solomon sent for him, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

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