1 Kings Chapter 1
1Now when King David was old, and stricken in years, they covered him with clothes, but no heat came unto him.
2Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherish him: and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the King may get heat.
3So they sought for a fair young maid throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found one Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
4And the maid was exceedingly fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him, but the king knew her not.
5Then Adonijah the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying, I will be king. And he got him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
6And his father would not displease him from his childhood, to say, Why hast thou done so? And he was a very goodly man, and his mother bare him next after Absalom.
7And he took counsel of Joab the son of Zeruiah, and of Abiathar the Priest: and they helped forward Adonijah.
8But Zadok the Priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the Prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the men of might, which were with David, were not with Adonijah.
9Then Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen, and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants.
10But Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother he called not.
11Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
12Now therefore come, and I will now give thee counsel, how to save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
13Go, and get thee in unto King David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O King, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why is then Adonijah King?
14Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the King, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
15So Bathsheba went in unto the King into the chamber, and the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the King.
16And Bathsheba bowed and made obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What is thy matter?
17And she answered him, My lord, thou swearest by the Lord thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
18And behold, now is Adonijah king, and now my lord, O King, thou knowest it not.
19And he hath offered many oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep, and hath called all the sons of the King, and Abiathar the Priest, and Joab the Captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not bidden.
20And thou, my lord, O King, knowest that the eyes of all Israel are on thee, that thou shouldest tell them, who should sit on the throne of my lord the King after him.
21For else when my lord the King shall sleep with his fathers, I and my son Solomon shall be reputed vile.
22And lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan also the Prophet came in.
23And they told the King, saying, Behold, Nathan the Prophet. And when he was come in to the King, he made obeisance before the king upon his face to the ground.
24And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
25For he is gone down this day, and hath slain many oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the Priest: and behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
26But me thy servant, and Zadok the Priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon hath he not called.
27Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
28Then king David answered, and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the King.
29And the King sware, saying, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
30That as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my place, so will I certainly do this day.
31Then Bathsheba bowed her face to the earth, and did reverence unto the king, and said, God save my lord king David forever.
32And king David said, Call me Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the King.
33Then the king said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and carry him down to Gihon.
34And let Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet anoint him there king over Israel, and blow ye the trumpet, and say, God save King Solomon.
35Then come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne: and he shall be King in my stead: for I have appointed him to be prince over Israel, and over Judah.
36Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, So be it, and the Lord God of my lord the king ratify it.
37As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, so be he with Solomon, and exalt his throne above the throne of my lord king David.
38So Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.
39And Zadok the Priest took an horn of oil out of the Tabernacle, and anointed Solomon: and they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
40And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rang with the sound of them.
41And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him, heard it: (and they had made an end of eating) and when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, What meaneth this noise and uproar in the city?
42And as he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the Priest came: and Adonijah said, Come in: for thou art a worthy man, and bringest good tidings.
43And Jonathan answered, and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
44And the king hath sent with him Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule.
45And Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are gone up from thence with joy, and the city is moved: this is the noise that ye have heard.
46And Solomon also sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
47And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon more famous than thy name, and exalt his throne above thy throne: therefore the king worshipped upon the bed.
48And thus said the king also, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath made one to sit on my throne this day, even in my sight.
49Then all the guests that were with Adonijah, were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
50And Adonijah fearing the presence of Solomon, arose and went, and took hold on the horns of the altar.
51And one told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah doth fear king Solomon: for lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon swear unto me this day, that he will not slay his servant with the sword.
52Then Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth, but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.
53Then king Solomon sent, and they brought him from the altar, and he came and did obeisance unto King Solomon. And Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.