1 Kings 1
1 Now, King David, was old, advanced in days, —and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
Now King David was old and far on in years; and though they put covers over him, his body was cold.
2 Wherefore his servants said unto him—Let there be sought for my lord the king, a young woman—a virgin, so shall she stand before the king, that she may become his companion, —and she shall lie in thy bosom, and my lord the king shall get, heat.
So his servants said to him, Let search be made for a young virgin for my lord the king, to take care of him and be waiting on him; and you may take her in your arms, and so my lord the king will be warm.
3 So they sought a fair young woman, throughout all the bounds of Israel, —and found Abishag, the Shunammite, and brought her in, unto the king.
So after searching through all the land of Israel for a fair young girl, they saw Abishag the Shunammite, and took her to the king.
4 Now, the young woman, was exceeding fair, —so she became unto the king a companion, and ministered unto him, but, the king, knew her not.
Now she was very beautiful; and she took care of the king, waiting on him at all times; but the king had no connection with her.
5 And, Adonijah son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying—I, will be king. Therefore prepared he for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
Then Adonijah, the son of Haggith, lifting himself up in pride, said, I will become king; and he made ready his carriages of war and his horsemen, with fifty runners to go before him.
6 Now his father had not displeased him all his days, by saying—Why, thus, hast thou done? Moreover also, he, was of exceeding handsome appearance, and, him, did his mother bear, after Absolom.
Now all his life his father had never gone against him or said to him, Why have you done so? and he was a very good-looking man, and younger than Absalom.
7 So then he had speech with Joab, son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, —and they gave help, following Adonijah.
And he had talk with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they were on his side and gave him their support.
8 But, Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei, and David's men of war did not take the side of Adonijah.
9 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and heifers, near the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel, —and invited all his brethren, sons of the king, and all the men of Judah, servants of the king;
Then Adonijah put to death sheep and oxen and fat beasts by the stone of Zoheleth, by En-rogel; and he sent for all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants, to come to him:
10 but, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he invited not.
But he did not send for Nathan the prophet and Benaiah and the other men of war and Solomon his brother.
11 Then spake Nathan unto Bath-sheba mother of Solomon, saying—Hast thou not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith hath become king, and, our lord David, knoweth it not?
Then Nathan said to Bath-sheba, the mother of Solomon, Has it not come to your ears that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has made himself king without the knowledge of David our lord?
12 Now, therefore, come; let me give thee counsel, I pray thee, —so shalt thou rescue thine own life, and the life of thy son, Solomon.
So now, let me make a suggestion, so that you may keep your life safe and the life of your son Solomon.
13 Go, and get thee in unto King David, and thou shalt say unto him—Didst not, thou thyself, my lord O king, swear unto thy handmaid, saying—Solomon thy son, shall become king after me, yea, he, shall sit upon my throne? Why, then, hath, Adonijah, become king?
Come now, go to King David and say to him, Did you not, O my lord, take an oath to me, your servant, saying, Truly Solomon your son will be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom? why then is Adonijah acting as king?
14 Lo! while thou art yet speaking there with the king, I also, will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
And while you are still talking there with the king, see, I will come in after you and say that your story is true.
15 So Bath-sheba went in unto the king, into the chamber, now, the king, was very old, —and Abishag the Shunammite, was ministering unto the king.
Then Bath-sheba went into the king's room; now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was waiting on him.
16 And Bath-sheba bowed, and did homage unto the king, —and the king said—What aileth thee?
And Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour. And he said, What is your desire?
17 And she said unto him—My lord, thou thyself, didst swear by Yahweh thy God, unto thy handmaid, Assuredly, Solomon thy son, shall become king after me, —yea, he, shall sit upon my throne.
And she said to him, My lord, you took an oath by the Lord your God and gave your word to your servant, saying, Truly, Solomon your son will be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom.
18 But, now, lo! Adonijah, hath become king; now, therefore, my lord, O king, thou knowest it not:
And now, see, Adonijah has made himself king without my lord's knowledge;
19 and he hath sacrificed oxen and heifers and sheep, in abundance, and hath invited all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab general of the army, —but, Solomon thy servant, hath he not invited.
And has put to death oxen and fat beasts and sheep in great numbers, and has sent for all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the captain of the army; but he has not sent for Solomon your servant.
20 Thou, therefore, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel, are upon thee, —to tell them, who shall sit upon the throne of my lord the king, after him.
And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, waiting for you to say who is to take the place of my lord the king after him.
21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, then shall I and my son Solomon be counted, offenders.
For as things are, it will come about, when my lord the king is sleeping with his fathers, that I and Solomon my son will be made outlaws.
22 And lo! while yet she was speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet, came in.
And while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
23 So they told the king, saying, Lo! Nathan the prophet! And, when he had come in before the king, he bowed himself down to the king with his face to the ground.
And they said to the king, Here is Nathan the prophet. And when he came in before the king, he went down on his face on the earth.
24 Then said Nathan—My lord, O king, hast, thou, said, Adonijah, shall become king after me, —yea, he, shall sit upon my throne?
And Nathan said, O my lord king, have you said, Adonijah is to be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom?
25 For he hath gone down to-day, and hath sacrificed oxen and heifers and sheep, in abundance, and hath invited all the sons of the king, and the generals of the army, and Abiathar the priest, and, there they are—eating and drinking before him, —and they have said—Long live King Adonijah!
Because today he has gone down and has put to death oxen and fat beasts and sheep in great numbers, and has sent for all the king's sons to come to him, with the captains of the army and Abiathar the priest; and they are feasting before him and crying, Long life to King Adonijah!
26 But, me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Solomon thy servant, hath he not invited.
But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not sent for.
27 If, of my lord the king, this thing had been brought to pass, then wouldest thou not have made known unto thy servant, who should sit upon the throne of my lord the king, after him?
Has this thing been done by my lord the king, without giving word to your servants who was to be placed on my lord the king's seat after him?
28 Then responded King David, and said, Call me Bath-sheba. So she came in before the king, and stood before the king.
Then King David in answer said, Send for Bath-sheba to come to me. And she came in and took her place before the king.
29 And the king sware, and said, —By the life of Yahweh, who hath redeemed my life out of every strait,
And the king took an oath, and said, By the living Lord, who has been my saviour from all my troubles,
30 even as I sware unto thee by Yahweh, God of Israel, saying, Assuredly, Solomon thy son, shall become king after me, yea, he, shall sit upon my throne, in my stead, even so, will I do this day.
As I took an oath to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, Certainly Solomon your son will become king after me, seated on my seat in my place; so will I do this day.
31 Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the ground, and did homage unto the king, —and said—Let my lord, King David, live to times age-abiding!
Then Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour, and said, May my lord King David go on living for ever.
32 Then said King David—Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada. And they came in before the king.
And King David said, Send for Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.
33 Then said the king unto them—Take ye with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon the mule which pertaineth unto myself, —and bring him down unto Gihon;
And the king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and put Solomon my son on my beast, yes, mine, and take him down to Gihon;
34 then shall Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, —and ye shall blow with the horn, and say—Long live King Solomon!
And there let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet put the holy oil on him to make him king over Israel; and sounding the horn say, Long life to King Solomon!
35 Then shall ye come up after him, and he shall enter, and sit upon my throne, yea, he, shall become king in my stead; even, him, have I charged to become leader, over Israel, and over Judah.
Then come up after him and he will come in and take his place on the seat of my kingdom; for he is to be king in my place, and I have given orders that he is to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
36 Then did Benaiah son of Jehoiada make response unto the king, and say—Amen! so, say Yahweh, God of my lord the king.
And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, answering the king, said, So be it: and may the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so.
37 As Yahweh hath been with my lord the king, so, let him he with Solomon, —and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord, King David.
As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon and make the seat of his authority greater than that of my lord King David.
38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, with the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon the mule of King David, —and they escorted him to Gihon.
So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and put Solomon on King David's beast and took him to Gihon.
39 Then took Zadok the priest, the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon, —and they blew with a [ram’s] horn, and all the people said, Long live King Solomon!
And Zadok the priest took the vessel of oil out of the Tent, and put the holy oil on Solomon. And when the horn was sounded, all the people said, Long life to King Solomon!
40 And all the people came up after him, the people themselves also, playing with flutes, and rejoicing with great joy, —so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
And all the people came up after him, piping with pipes, and they were glad with great joy, so that the earth was shaking with the sound.
41 And Adonijah, and all the guests who were with him, heard it, just as, they, had made an end of eating, —and, when Joab heard the sound of a horn, he said—Wherefore the noise of the city, in tumult?
And it came to the ears of Adonijah and all the guests who were with him, when their meal was ended. And Joab, hearing the sound of the horn, said, What is the reason of this noise as if the town was worked up?
42 While yet he was speaking, lo! Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest, came in, —and Adonijah said—Come in, for, a worthy man, thou art, and, good tidings, dost thou bring.
And while the words were on his lips, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, came; and Adonijah said, Come in; for you are a man of good faith and the news which you have for us will be good.
43 But Jonathan responded and said to Adonijah, —Of a truth, our lord, King David, hath made, Solomon, king.
And Jonathan, answering, said to Adonijah, Not so, but our lord King David has made Solomon king:
44 And the king hath sent with him—Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, with the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, —and they have caused him to ride upon the mule of the king;
And he sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they put him on the king's beast:
45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king, in Gihon, and they went up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again, —That, is the noise ye have heard.
And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet put the holy oil on him and made him king in Gihon; and they came back from there with joy, and the town was all worked up. This is the noise which has come to your ears.
46 Moreover also, Solomon hath taken his seat upon the throne of the kingdom.
And now Solomon is seated on the seat of the kingdom.
47 Moreover also, the servants of the king have been in, to bless our lord King David, saying—Thy God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne, —And the king bowed himself upon his bed.
And the king's servants came to our lord King David, blessing him and saying, May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and the seat of his authority greater than your seat; and the king was bent low in worship on his bed.
48 Moreover also, thus and thus, hath said the king, —Blessed be Yahweh, God of Israel, who hath given, to-day, one to sit upon my throne, mine own eyes also beholding it.
Then the king said, May the God of Israel be praised, who has given one of my seed to be king in my place this day and has let my eyes see it.
49 Then trembled and rose up, all Adonijah’s guests, —and departed, every man his own way.
And all the guests of Adonijah got up in fear and went away, every man to his place.
50 Adonijah also, feared because of Solomon, —and rose and went, and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
And Adonijah himself was full of fear because of Solomon; and he got up and went to the altar, and put his hands on its horns.
51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Lo! Adonijah, feareth King Solomon, —lo! therefore, he hath laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon swear unto me at once that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.
And they gave Solomon word of it, saying, See, Adonijah goes in such fear of King Solomon, that he has put his hands on the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon first give me his oath that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.
52 Then said Solomon, If he will be a man of worth, there shall not one hair of him fall to the earth, —but, if mischief be found in him, then shall he die.
And Solomon said, If he is seen to be a man of good faith, not a hair of him will be touched; but if any wrongdoing is seen in him, he is to be put to death.
53 So King Solomon sent, and brought him down from the altar, and he came in, and bowed himself down to King Solomon, —and Solomon said unto him—Go to thine own house.
So King Solomon sent, and they took him down from the altar. And he came and gave honour to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.
