v1
Now King David had become old, advanced in years, ^[Literally “he went in the days”] and they covered him with garments, but he was not warm.
v2
His servants said to him, “Let them search for a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her stand before the king. Let her be of use for him, and let her lie in your lap that my lord the king may be warm.”
v3
So they sought a beautiful young woman in all the territory of Israel, and they found Abishag the Shunnamite and brought her to the king.
v4
Now the young woman was very beautiful; she was of use for the king, and she served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her. ^[Literally “know her”]
v5
Now Adonijah the son of Haggith was exalting himself, saying, “I will be king,” so he prepared for himself a chariot and horsemen and fifty men running before him.
v6
His father did not rebuke him at any time ^[Literally “from his days”] by saying, “Why did you do so?” Now he was also very handsome of appearance; she had borne him after Absalom. ^[“She” refers to Haggith bearing Adonijah; Absalom’s mother was Maacah]
v7
He conferred ^[Literally “And there were his words”] with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported Adonijah. ^[Literally “they helped after Adonijah”]
v8
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty warriors were David’s; they were not with Adonijah.
v9
And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened animals near the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel. He invited all of his brothers, the sons of the king, and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king.
v10
But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty warriors or Solomon his brother.
v11
Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, but our lord David does not know?
v12
So then, come, let me advise you please, that you may save ^[Literally “and save”] your life and the life of your son, Solomon.
v13
Come, go to King David and say to him, ‘Have you not, my lord the king, sworn to your servant, “Surely Solomon your son shall become king after me. And he will sit on my throne”? But why is Adonijah king?‘
v14
While you are still there speaking with the king, I will enter after you, and I will confirm your words.” ^[Literally “I will make full your words”]
v15
So Bathsheba went to the king in the private room. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunnamite was attending the king.
v16
Bathsheba knelt and bowed down before the king, and the king asked, “What do you want?” ^[Literally “What is for you”]
v17
She said to him, “My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your servant, ‘Solomon your son surely shall become king after me, and he will sit upon my throne!‘
v18
But now, look! Adonijah has become king! And now, my lord the king, you do not know!
v19
He has sacrificed oxen and sheep and fattened animals in abundance, ^[Literally “as far as the many”] and he has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, Joab the commander of the army, but Solomon your servant he did not invite.
v20
But as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all of Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
v21
It shall be that when my lord the king sleeps with his ancestors, ^[Or “fathers”] I and my son Solomon will be considered as sinners.”
v22
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
v23
They told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” He came into the presence of the king and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
v24
Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne’?
v25
“For he went down today and sacrificed oxen, sheep, and fattened animals in abundance. ^[Literally “as far as the many”] He invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest, and look, they are eating and drinking before him. They have also said, “Long live King Adonijah!
v26
But me, your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Solomon your servant he did not invite.
v27
If it was from my lord the king that this thing has happened, then all is well, but if not, you must let your servants know who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.”
v28
Then King David answered and said, “Summon Bathsheba for me.” Then she came before the king and stood in his presence. ^[Following the corrected LXX and Vulgate]
v29
Then the king swore and said, “As Yahweh lives, ^[Literally “The life of Yahweh”] who has saved my life from all trouble,
v30
surely as I swore to you by Yahweh the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall surely be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ surely I shall do so this very day.”
v31
Then Bathsheba knelt with her face to the ground and did obeisance to the king, and she said, “May my lord, King David, live forever.”
v32
Then King David said, “Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,” and they came before the king.
v33
The king said to them, “Take with you all the servants of your lord, and let them make Solomon my son ride on my mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
v34
Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel. Blow on the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!‘
v35
Then you shall go up after him, and let him come and sit on my throne; he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be leader over Israel and Judah.”
v36
Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! So may Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, confirm it!
v37
As Yahweh was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”
v38
Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites went down, and they let Solomon ride on the mule of King David, and they brought him to Gihon.
v39
Then Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent, and he anointed Solomon. They blew on the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!“
v40
All the people went up after him, and the people were playing on the flutes and rejoicing with great joy, and the earth shook with their noise.
v41
And Adonijah and all the invited guests who were with him heard it. Now they were finished eating when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet and said, “Why is there such a noise in the city?” ^[Literally “Why is the sound of the city noisy?“]
v42
While he was still speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Adonijah said, “Come, for you are a man of valor, and you bring good news.”
v43
Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, “But our lord King David has made Solomon king!
v44
He sent Zadok the priest with the king, and Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites; they made him ride on the king’s mule.
v45
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him as king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there rejoicing. The city has gone wild; this is the sound which you heard.
v46
And also, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom!
v47
The servants of the king also came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘Your God has made the name of Solomon better than your name and his throne greater than your throne!’ So the king worshiped on the bed.
v48
What is more, the king said, ‘May Yahweh the God of Israel be blessed, who has given this day one sitting on my throne, and my eyes are seeing it!‘“
v49
Then all the invited guests who were for Adonijah trembled and got up and went, each on his way.
v50
Adonijah was afraid because of Solomon, and he got up and went and grasped the horns of the altar.
v51
Solomon was told, “Look, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, and he has grasped the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first ^[Literally “as the day”] that he will surely not kill his servant with the sword!‘“
v52
Solomon said, “If he is a son of noble character, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, but if evil is found in him, then he will die.”
v53
Then King Solomon sent and brought him down from upon the altar. He came and did obeisance to King Solomon. Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”