Abishag Cares for David

1Now King David (beloved) was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. 2So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”

3Then they searched throughout Israel (he wrestles with God) for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag (my father is a wanderer) the Shunammite and brought her to the king. 4The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.

Adonijah Usurps the Kingdom

5At that time Adonijah (my lord is YHWH), David’s son by Haggith (festive), began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

6(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom (my father is peace).)

7So Adonijah conferred with Joab (YHWH is father) son of Zeruiah (balsam) and with Abiathar (my father is great) the priest, who supported him (my lord is YHWH). 8But Zadok (righteous) the priest, Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows), Nathan (giver) the prophet, Shimei (renowned), Rei (friendly), and David’s (beloved) mighty men would not join Adonijah (my lord is YHWH).

9And Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth (the Serpent’s Stone),a which is next to En-rogel (fount of the fuller). He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah (praised) who were servants of the king. 10But he did not invite Nathan (giver) the prophet, Benaiah (YHWH has built up), the mighty men, or his brother Solomon (peace).

Nathan and Bathsheba before David

11Then Nathan (giver) said to Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) the mother of Solomon (peace), “Have you not heard that Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) son of Haggith (festive) has become king, and our lord David (beloved) does not know it? 12Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon (peace). 13Go at once to King David (beloved) and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon (peace) will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) become king?’ 14Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

15So Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag (my father is a wanderer) the Shunammite was serving him. 16And Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

17“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka}: ‘Surely your son Solomon (peace) will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18But now, behold, Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it. 19And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar (my father is great) the priest and Joab (YHWH is father) the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon (peace). 20And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel (he wrestles with God) are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon (peace) will be counted as criminals.”

22And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan (giver) the prophet arrived. 23So the king was told, “Nathan (giver) the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.

24“My lord the king,” said Nathan (giver), “did you say, ‘Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’? 25For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders [Joab the commander]b of the army, and Abiathar (my father is great) the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah (my lord is YHWH)!’ 26But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok (righteous) the priest, nor Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows), nor your servant Solomon (peace). 27Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”

David Renews His Oath to Bathsheba

28Then King David (beloved) said, “Call in Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

29And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD {YHWH} lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 30I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God): Surely your son Solomon (peace) will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

31Bathsheba (daughter of an oath) bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David (beloved) live forever!”

Solomon Anointed King
(1 Chronicles 29:21–25)

32Then King David (beloved) said, “Call in for me Zadok (righteous) the priest, Nathan (giver) the prophet, and Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows).” So they came before the king.

33“Take my servants with you⁺,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon (peace) on my own mule and take him down to Gihon (bursting forth). 34There Zadok (righteous) the priest and Nathan (giver) the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel (he wrestles with God). You⁺ are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon (peace)!’ 35Then you⁺ shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel (he wrestles with God) and Judah (praised).”

36“Amen,” replied Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows). “May the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of my lord the king, so declare it. 37Just as the LORD {YHWH} was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon (peace) and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David (beloved).”

38Then Zadok (righteous) the priest, Nathan (giver) the prophet, and Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows), along with the Cherethites (executioners) and Pelethites (couriers), went down and set Solomon (peace) on King David’s (beloved) mule, and they escorted him to Gihon (bursting forth). 39Zadok (righteous) the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon (peace). Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”

40All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.

Adonijah Learns of Solomon’s Kingship

41Now Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab (YHWH is father).

42As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan (YHWH has given) the son of Abiathar (my father is great) the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah (my lord is YHWH), “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”

43“Not at all,” Jonathan (YHWH has given) replied (my lord is YHWH). “Our lord King David (beloved) has made Solomon (peace) king. 44And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok (righteous) the priest, Nathan (giver) the prophet, and Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows), along with the Cherethites (executioners) and Pelethites (couriers), and they have set him on the king’s mule. 45Zadok (righteous) the priest and Nathan (giver) the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon (bursting forth), and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you⁺ hear.

46Moreover, Solomon (peace) has taken his seat on the royal throne.

47The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David (beloved), saying, ‘May your God {Elohim} make the name of Solomon (peace) more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’

And the king has bowed in worship on his bed, 48saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God)! Today He has provided one [one of my offspring]c to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”

49At this, all the guests of Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) arose in terror and scattered. 50But Adonijah (my lord is YHWH), in fear of Solomon (peace), got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

51It was reported to Solomon (peace): “Behold, Adonijah (my lord is YHWH) fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”

52And Solomon (peace) replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”

53So King Solomon (peace) summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”