Abishag Cares for David

1And King David was old, entering into the days. And they covered him with garments, and he could not get warm. 2And his servants said to him, “Let them seek for our lord the king a young woman, a virgin, and let her stand before the face of the king, and let her care for him, and let her lie in your bosom, that our lord the king may be warm.”

3And they sought a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and they found Abishag the Shunammitess and brought her to the king. 4And the young woman was even exceedingly lovely, and she cared for the king and served him, and the king did not know her.

Adonijah Usurps the Kingdom

5And Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself a chariot and horsemen and fifty men to run before his face.

6(And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” And He was also very good in form, and she had borne him after Absalom.)

7And his words were with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they helped after Adonijah. 8And Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who were to David, were not with Adonijah.

9And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth,† which is by En-rogel. And he called all his brothers the sons of the king, and all the men of Judah the servants of the king. 10And Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he did not call.

Nathan and Bathsheba before David

11And Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have not you heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it? 12And come, let me advise you, please, with counsel that may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13Go and enter in to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your maidservant, saying, “Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? And why has Adonijah become king?’ 14Behold, while you are still talking there with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

15And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber. And the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammitess was serving the king. 16And Bathsheba bowed bowed herself low to the king. And the king said, “What is for you?”

17And she said to him, “My lord, you swore by YHWH your God to your maidservant, ‘Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18And now, behold, Adonijah has become king. And, my lord the king, you do not know about it. 19And He has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and he has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army. And Solomon your servant he has not invited. 20And you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21And it will come to pass, in the resting on my lord the king with his fathers, that I will be counted, and my son Solomon, as sinful.”

22And behold, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 23And they told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet.” And he came in before the face of the king, and he bowed low before the king with his nose to the ground.

24And Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25For he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and he has called to all the sons of the king and the commanders† of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before his face and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah.’ 26And me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Solomon your servant, he has not called. 27Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not told your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

David Renews His Oath to Bathsheba

28And King David answered and said, “Call for me Bathsheba.” And she came before the face of the king and stood before the face of the king.

29And the king took an oath and said, “As YHWH lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, 30just as I swore to you by YHWH, God of Israel, saying, surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place, even so I will surely do this day.”

31And Bathsheba bowed with her nose to the ground and she bowed low to the king, and said, “May my lord live King David forever.”

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

32And King David said, “Call for me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” And they came in before the face of the king.

33And the king said to them, “Take with you⁺ the servants of your⁺ lord, and have ride Solomon my son on the mule that is unto me, and take him down to Gihon. 34And let Zadok the priest anoint him there—and Nathan the prophet—as king over Israel. And blow the shofar and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35And you⁺ shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”

36And Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, “Amen! Thus YHWH the God of my lord the king speaks. 37As YHWH has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”

38And Zadok the priest went down, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they had Solomon ride on the mule of King David and took him to Gihon. 39And Zadok the priest took a horn of the oil from the tabernacle, and he anointed Solomon. And they blew with the shofar, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon.”

40And all the people went up after him, and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, and the earth was split by their sound.

Adonijah Learns of Solomon’s Kingship

41And Adonijah heard it, and all the guests who were with him, and they finished eating. And Joab heard the voice of the shofar. And he said, “Why is the noise of the city roaring?”

42And while he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest came in. And Adonijah said to him, “Come in, for you are a man of valor and bring good news.”

43And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, “Truly our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they had him ride on the mule of the king. 45And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there rejoicing, and the city rings out; it is the noise that you⁺ have heard.

46And Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.

47And also the servants of the king have gone to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May God make better the name of Solomon than your name, and may He make greater his throne than your throne.’

And the king bowed low on the bed. 48And thus the king said, ‘Blessed be YHWH, God of Israel, who has given one† today to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”

49And all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid and arose, and each man went on his way. 50And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. And he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

51And it was told to Solomon, saying, “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, and behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put to death his servant with the sword.’”

52And Solomon said, “If he is a son of strength not one hair of him shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”

53And King Solomon sent and they brought him down from the altar, and he came and fell down before King Solomon. And Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”