The Shared Word Translation · Study & Discuss
1 Kings 1
King David was old, advanced in days. They covered him with garments, but he could not get warm.
So his servants said to him, “Let them seek for my lord the king a young virgin, that she may attend the king and care for him. Let her lie in your arms, and my lord the king will become warm.”
So they searched throughout all the territory of Israel for a beautiful young woman, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
The young woman was exceedingly beautiful. She cared for the king and served him, but the king did not know her.
Now Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” He prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men running before him.
His father had never troubled him by asking, “Why have you done this?” He was also very handsome, and she had borne him after Absalom.
He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported Adonijah.
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s warriors were not with Adonijah.
Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened animals by the Serpent Stone, beside En-rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.
But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the warriors, or his brother Solomon.
Then Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, while our lord David does not know it?
Now come, please; let me advise you, so that you may save your life and the life of your son Solomon.
Go in to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’
While you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
So Bathsheba went in to the king’s chamber. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. The king said, “What is it you want?”
She said to him, “My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your servant, ‘Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’
But now, look: Adonijah has become king, and now, my lord the king, you do not know it.
He has sacrificed oxen, fattened animals, and sheep in abundance, and he has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab commander of the army. But he has not invited Solomon your servant.
And you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, waiting for you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
Otherwise, when my lord the king lies with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be counted as offenders.”
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
They told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” He came before the king and prostrated himself before the king, with his face to the ground.
Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?
For today he has gone down and sacrificed oxen, fattened animals, and sheep in abundance. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Look, they are eating and drinking before him, and they are saying, ‘May King Adonijah live!’
But he did not invite me, your servant, nor Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor Solomon your servant.
Has this thing come from my lord the king, though you have not told your servants who is to sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came before the king and stood before him.
The king swore and said, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,
as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place,’ so I will do this today.”
Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and prostrated herself before the king. She said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
King David said, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to me.” So they came before the king.
The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord. Have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him as king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and say, ‘May King Solomon live!’
Then you are to go up after him. He will come and sit on my throne, and he will reign in my place. I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”
Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, affirm it.
As the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon; and may he make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”
So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down. They set Solomon on King David’s mule and led him to Gihon.
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people said, “May King Solomon live!”
All the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth split open with their sound.
Adonijah and all his invited guests heard it as they finished eating. Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn and said, “Why is the sound of the city in an uproar?”
While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest came. Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a worthy man, and you must bring good news.”
Jonathan answered Adonijah, “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
The king sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they set him on the king’s mule.
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. They have gone up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the sound you have heard.
And Solomon has also sat on the throne of the kingdom.
Moreover, the king’s servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king bowed himself on the bed.
The king also said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who today has given one to sit on my throne while my own eyes see it.’”
Then all Adonijah’s invited guests trembled, rose up, and each went their own way.
Adonijah, fearing Solomon, rose and went away, and took hold of the horns of the altar.
It was told Solomon, “Look, Adonijah fears King Solomon. See, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death by the sword.’”
Solomon said, “If he proves to be a worthy man, not a hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”
So King Solomon sent and brought him down from the altar. He came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”