1 Kings 1
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1When David had grown very old, they covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm, 1When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him.
2so his servants suggested to him, "Let's look for a young virgin woman to take care of you, your majesty. She will be of use to you if you have her lie down near you so that your majesty may keep warm." 2So 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."
3So they conducted a search throughout the territory of Israel for a beautiful young woman, and Abishag the Shunammite was located and brought to the king. 3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
4The young woman was absolutely beautiful. She served the king and was very useful to him. The king was not sexually involved with her.4The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.
5Meanwhile, about this time Haggith's son Adonijah began to seek a reputation for himself and decided, "I'm going to be king!" So he prepared chariots, cavalry, and 50 soldiers to serve as a security detail to guard him.5Now 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.
6His father had never challenged him at any time during his life by asking him, "Why are you acting like this?" Adonijah was very handsome and had been born after Absalom. 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.)
7He had the support of Zeruiah's son Joab and of Abiathar the priest, who followed Adonijah and assisted him, 7Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support.
8but Zadok the priest, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's personal elite forces would have nothing to do with Adonijah.8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David's special guard did not join Adonijah.
9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatted cattle by the Serpent Stone near En-rogel, inviting all of his relatives, the king's sons, and all of the men of Judah who worked for the king, 9Adonijah 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,
10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David's personal elite forces, or his brother Solomon.10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.
11"Haven't you heard?" Nathan asked Solomon's mother Bathsheba. "Haggith's son Adonijah has become king and David, our true king, isn't aware of it. 11Then 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?
12If you listen to me, you'll save your life and the life of your son Solomon. 12Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
13Go right now to King David and ask him, 'Your majesty, you promised your servant that "Your son Solomon will certainly become king after me and will sit on my throne," didn't you? So why has Adonijah become king?' 13Go 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?'
14Then, while you are still talking to the king, I'll come in after you and verify your statement."14While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said."
15So Bathsheba went to the king in his private room. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to him.15So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him.
16Bathsheba knelt and bowed down to the king, and the king asked her, "What do you wish?"16Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king. "What is it you want?" the king asked.
17"Your majesty," she replied, "you promised your servant in the name of the LORD your God, 'Your son Solomon will certainly become king after me and will sit on my throne.' 17She 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.'
18Now look, Adonijah has become king, and your majesty is not aware of it. 18But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it.
19Adonijah has sacrificed myriads of oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep, and he has invited all of the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon. 19He 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.
20And as for you, your majesty, everyone in Israel is looking to you to tell them who will sit on your majesty's throne after you.20My 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.
21Otherwise, as soon as your majesty is laid to rest with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be branded as traitors." 21Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals."
22While she was still talking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
23They informed the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." When he had been ushered into the presence of the king, Nathan bowed low in front of the king with his face to the ground 23And the king was told, "Nathan the prophet is here." So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.
24and asked, "Your majesty, did you say 'Adonijah will be king after me and will sit on my throne'? 24Nathan said, "Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne?
25Well now, he went down today and sacrificed lots of oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep, and has invited all the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. They're having a party together and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!' 25Today 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!'
26Of course, he never invited me, Zadok the priest, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, nor your servant Solomon. 26But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite.
27Were you behind this, your majesty, without letting your servants know who would sit on your majesty's throne after him?"27Is 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"Call Bathsheba for me," King David replied. So she came in and stood in front of the king. 28Then King David said, "Call in Bathsheba." So she came into the king's presence and stood before him.
29"As the LORD lives," the king said with an oath, "who has redeemed me from all sorts of troubles, 29The king then took an oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble,
30I certainly did tell you in the name of the LORD God of Israel, 'Your son Solomon will be king after me and will sit on my throne in my place.' I'm certainly going to make this happen today!"30I 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"King David," Bathsheba said as she bowed low in front of the king with her face to the ground, "your majesty, may you live forever."31Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, "May my lord King David live forever!"
32"Get me Zadok the priest," King David said, "along with Nathan the prophet, and Jehoiada's son Benaiah." So they were ushered into the king's presence 32King David said, "Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came before the king,
33and David addressed them. "Take your lord's servants, have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. 33he 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.
34Have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel. Then sound a trumpet and declare 'Long live King Solomon!' 34There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!'
35After this, you are to follow him back here, and he is to come and sit on my throne and take my place as king, because I've appointed him to be Commander-in-Chief over Israel and Judah."35Then 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"Amen!" replied Jehoiada's son Benaiah to the king. "May the LORD God of your majesty make this happen! 36Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.
37As the LORD has been with your majesty the king, so may he be with Solomon. May he make his throne greater than the throne of your majesty, King David."37As 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!"
38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, the special forces and mercenaries went out and had Solomon ride the king's mule all the way to Gihon. 38So 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.
39Zadok the priest brought from his tent a horn filled with oil and anointed Solomon, a trumpet was sounded, and everybody yelled out, "Long live King Solomon!" 39Zadok 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!"
40All the people followed after him, playing on wind pipes and so full of joy that the earth shook because of all the noise!40And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
41Right about then, Adonijah and all of his guests were just finishing their meal when they heard all the noise. "Why is the city in such an uproar?" Joab asked as he heard the trumpet sounds.41Adonijah 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?"
42While he was still asking that question, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest arrived, so Adonijah told him, "Come on in, since you're a worthy man and are bringing us good news!"42Even 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"No," Jonathan answered. "Our lord King David has installed Solomon as king. 43"Not at all!" Jonathan answered. "Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
44The king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, the special forces and mercenaries, along with Solomon, who is riding the king's personal mule. 44The 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,
45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him in Gihon, and they just left from there rejoicing, and that's why the city is all in an uproar. That's the noise that you've been hearing! 45and 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.
46Solomon now sits on the royal throne. 46Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47In addition to all of this, the king's servants have come along to congratulate our lord King David. They've been telling David 'May your God make Solomon's reputation even more famous than yours, and may he make his throne greater than yours!' The king has himself bowed in worship on his own bed47Also, 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
48and said 'Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has provided someone to sit on my throne today. I've seen it with my own eyes!'"48and said, 'Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.'"
49Terrified, all of Adonijah's guests jumped up and ran away. 49At this, all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and dispersed.
50Afraid of Solomon, Adonijah also jumped up and headed straight for the horns of the altar. 50But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
51"Hey look!" somebody informed Solomon. "Adonijah is terrified of King Solomon! He's gone out, grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, and now he's begging King Solomon, 'Swear to me that you won't put your servant to death with a sword!'"51Then 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"If he's done nothing wrong, not a hair of his head will be harmed," Solomon replied. "But if we find evil in him, he's a dead man."52Solomon 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."
53So King Solomon sent for him, and he was brought down from the altar. When he had arrived, he fell on his face in front of King Solomon, so Solomon told him, "Go home!"53Then 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."
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2 Samuel 24
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