1 Kings 1
1 King David had grown old and couldn't keep warm in bed however many blankets they used to cover him.
When King David was old and advanced in years, they covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm.
2 So his officials suggested, “Let a search be made on behalf of Your Majesty for a young virgin to serve you and look after you. She can lie next to you and keep you warm.”
So his servants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin for our master the king. Let her serve the king and take care of him. Let her lie in his arms so that our master the king may keep warm.”
3 So they searched the whole country of Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag from the town of Shunem and took her to the king.
So they searched for a beautiful girl within all the borders of Israel. They found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
4 She was very beautiful, and she looked after the king, attending to his needs, but he did not have sex with her.
The girl was very beautiful. She served the king and took care of him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.
5 Adonijah, son of Haggith, was busy promoting himself, saying “I'm going to be king!” He arranged chariots and horsemen for himself, and fifty men to run ahead of him.
At that time, Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run ahead of him.
6 (Never in his life had his father corrected him. He'd never asked him, “Why did you do that?” He was also very good-looking, and had been born after Absalom.)
His father had never troubled him, saying, “Why have you done this or that?” Adonijah was also a very handsome man, born next after Absalom.
7 Adonijah discussed his plan with Joab, son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, who agreed to support him.
He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. They followed Adonijah and helped him.
8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's bodyguard were not on Adonijah's side.
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David did not follow Adonijah.
9 Adonijah invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and the king's officials of Judah, to come to the stone of Zoheleth, which is near En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves.
Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants.
10 But he didn't invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David's bodyguard, or his brother Solomon.
But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
11 Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and asked her, “Haven't you heard that Adonijah, son of Haggith, has become king, and His Majesty King David doesn't even know?
Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and David our master does not know it?
12 Let me give you some advice so you can save your life, and that of your son Solomon.
Now therefore let me give you advice, so that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
13 Go immediately to King David and ask him, ‘Didn't Your Majesty swear to me, your servant, saying, Your son Solomon will definitely be king after me and will sit on my throne? So why is Adonijah saying he's king?’
Go to King David; say to him, 'My master the king, did you not swear to your servant, saying, “Surely Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne?” Why then is Adonijah reigning?'
14 Then I'll come in while you're still there talking with the king and I'll confirm what you're saying.”
While you are there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
15 So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. He was very old and Abishag was looking after him.
So Bathsheba went into the king's room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
16 Bathsheba bowed low in respect. He asked her, “What is it that you want?”
Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. Then the king said, “What do you desire?”
17 She replied, “Your Majesty, you swore to me, your servant, by the Lord your God, ‘Your son Solomon will definitely be king after me and will sit on my throne.’
She said to him, “My master, you swore to your servant by Yahweh your God, saying, 'Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.'
18 But now Adonijah has become king and Your Majesty doesn't even know.
Now, see, Adonijah is king, and you, my master the king, do not know it.
19 He has sacrificed plenty of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the army commander. But he didn't invite your servant Solomon.
He has sacrificed oxen, fatted calves, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.
20 Now, Your Majesty, everyone in Israel is watching to see who you're going to say will be the next king.
As for you, my master the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, waiting for you to tell them who will sit on the throne after you, my master.
21 If you don't do anything, as soon as Your Majesty dies, I and my son Solomon will be considered traitors…”
Otherwise it will happen, when my master the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be regarded as criminals.”
22 Right then, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
23 The king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” Nathan went in to see the king. He bowed down with his face to the ground.
The servants told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” When he came in before the king, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground.
24 Nathan asked the king, “Your Majesty, you must have announced, ‘Adonijah will be king after me and will sit on my throne.’
Nathan said, “My master the king, have you said, 'Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne?'
25 For today he has gone and sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him, shouting, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
For he has gone down today and sacrificed oxen, fatted calves, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. They are eating and drinking before him, and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!'
26 But he didn't invite me, your servant, or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, or your son Solomon.
But as for me, your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not invited us.
27 If Your Majesty did this, you certainly didn't inform your officials as to who is meant to sit on your throne as the next king.”
Has my master the king done this without telling us, your servants, who should sit on the throne after him?”
28 King David replied, “Call Bathsheba for me.” Bathsheba came in and stood before the king.
Then King David answered and said, “Call Bathsheba back to me.” She came into the king's presence and stood before the king.
29 The king swore a vow, saying, “As the Lord lives, who has saved me from all kinds of trouble, just as I swore to you previously by the Lord the God of Israel,
The king made an oath and said, “As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed me out of all trouble,
30 telling you Solomon your son will be the next king and he will sit on my throne instead of me—I swear I will do this today.”
as I vowed to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, 'Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place,' I will do this today.”
31 Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, honoring the king and said, “May Your Majesty King David live forever.”
Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and prostrated herself before the king and said, “May my master King David live forever!”
32 Then King David said, “Call for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, son of Jehoiada.” When they arrived,
King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.
33 the king told them, “Take the king's officials with you, and have them put Solomon on my own mule and lead him down to the Gihon Spring.
The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your master, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule and take him down to Gihon.
34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king of Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout out, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel and blow the trumpet and say, 'Long live King Solomon!'
35 Then follow him back up, and have him come and sit on my throne. He is to be king instead of me. I am placing him in charge as ruler of Israel and Judah.”
Then you will come up after him, and he will come and sit on my throne; for he will be king in my place. I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 “Amen!” replied Benaiah, son of Jehoiada. “May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, confirm this!
Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, “So let it be! May Yahweh, the God of my master the king, confirm it.
37 In the same way the Lord was with my lord the king may he be with Solomon, and may he make his reign even greater than the reign of my lord King David.”
As Yahweh has been with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my master King David.”
38 Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, together with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went and placed Solomon on King David's mule, and led him down to the Gihon Spring.
So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride upon King David's mule; they brought him to Gihon.
39 Zadok the priest took the horn containing olive oil from the Tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”
40 Everyone followed him, playing flutes and celebrating so happily that the sound shook the earth.
Then all the people went up after him, and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound.
41 Adonijah and all his guests heard the noise as they were finishing eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he asked, “What's all this noise coming from the city?”
Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is there an uproar in the city?”
42 While he was speaking, Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest, suddenly arrived. “Come on in,” said Adonijah. “A good man like you must be bringing good news.”
While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest came. Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news.”
43 “Absolutely not!” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king!
Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, “Our master King David has made Solomon the king,
44 He sent Solomon to be anointed with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites. They had him ride on the king's mule.
and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Kerethites and the Pelethites. They have had Solomon ride on the king's mule.
45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king at the Gihon Spring. Now they have returned, celebrating with shouts that echo round the city. That's the noise you're hearing.
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard.
46 On top of that, Solomon is sitting on the royal throne,
Also, Solomon is sitting on the throne of the kingdom.
47 and the royal officials have also gone to voice their approval to our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon's reputation even more famous than your own, and may he make his reign greater than your reign.’ The king on his bed bowed his head,
Moreover, the king's servants came to bless our master King David, saying, 'May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.' Then the king bowed down on the bed.
48 and said, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel! Today he has provided a successor to sit on my throne, and I have been privileged to see it.’”
The king also said, 'Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given a person to sit on my throne this day, and that my own eyes should see it.'”
49 When all of the guests who were supporting Adonijah heard this they shook with fear. They got up and rushed out in different directions.
Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified. They stood up and each man went his way.
50 Adonijah was terrified of Solomon, so he ran off. He went and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar.
Adonijah was afraid of Solomon and rose up, went, and took hold of the horns of the altar.
51 Solomon was told, “Adonijah is terrified of Your Majesty. He has grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear today that he won't kill me, his servant!’”
Then it was told Solomon, saying, “See, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.'”
52 Solomon replied, “If he is an honorable man, not one hair of his will fall to the ground. But if he shows himself to be evil, he will die.”
Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not a hair of his will fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he will die.”
53 King Solomon had Adonijah brought down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who told him, “Go home.”
So King Solomon sent men, who brought Adonijah down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”
