1 N ow king David was old and advanced in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn’t keep warm.

Now King David was old. He had lived many years. They covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm.

2 T herefore his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king. Let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.”

So his servants said to him, “Let a young woman who has never had a man be found for my lord the king. Let her help the king and become his nurse. And let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm.”

3 S o they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

So they looked through all the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and found Abishag the Shunammite. And they brought her to the king.

4 T he young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and served him; but the king didn’t know her intimately.

The girl was very beautiful. She became the king’s nurse and helped him. But the king did not have sex with her.

5 T hen Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

Now Haggith’s son Adonijah honored himself, saying, “I will be king.” So he made war-wagons and horsemen ready for himself, with fifty men to run in front of him.

6 H is father had not displeased him at any time in saying, “Why have you done so?” and he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.

His father had never troubled him at any time by asking, “Why have you done this?” He was a very good-looking man also, and was born next after Absalom.

7 H e conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him.

He spoke with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the religious leader. And they followed Adonijah and helped him.

8 B ut Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

But Zadok the religious leader, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the man of God, Shimei, Rei, and David’s strong men, were not with Adonijah.

9 A donijah killed sheep, cattle, and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants;

Adonijah killed sheep and cattle and fat animals by the stone of Zoheleth, beside En-rogel. He asked all his brothers, the king’s sons and all the king’s men of Judah to come.

10 b ut he didn’t call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.

But he did not ask Nathan the man of God, Benaiah, the strong men or his brother Solomon to come.

11 T hen Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn’t know it?

Then Nathan said to Solomon’s mother Bathsheba, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?

12 N ow therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and your son Solomon’s life.

So now come, let me give you words of wisdom and save your life and the life of your son Solomon.

13 G o in to king David, and tell him, ‘Didn’t you, my lord, king, swear to your servant, saying, “Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?” Why then does Adonijah reign?’

Go to King David and say to him, ‘My lord, O king, have you not promised your woman servant, saying, “For sure your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’

14 B ehold, while you are still talking there with the king, I will also come in after you and confirm your words.”

While you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and tell him your words are true.”

15 B athsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.

So Bathsheba went to the king in his room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was helping him.

16 B athsheba bowed, and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”

Bathsheba put her face to the ground in front of the king. And the king said, “What do you wish?”

17 S he said to him, “My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your servant, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’

She said to him, “My lord, you promised your woman servant by the Lord your God, saying, ‘For sure your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne.’

18 N ow, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don’t know it.

Now, see, Adonijah is king. And my lord the king, you do not know it.

19 H e has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army; but he hasn’t called Solomon your servant.

He has killed many cattle and sheep and fat animals. He has asked all the king’s sons and Abiathar the religious leader and Joab the captain of the army to come. But he has not asked your servant Solomon to come.

20 Y ou, 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.

Now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you. They are waiting for you to tell them who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 O therwise it will happen, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered criminals.”

Or else as soon as my lord the king is dead, I and my son Solomon will be thought of as wrong-doers.”

22 B ehold, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the man of God came in.

23 T hey told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet!” When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

They told the king, “Here is Nathan who speaks for God.” When Nathan came in front of the king, he put his face to the ground.

24 N athan said, “My lord, king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?’

Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne’?

25 F or he has gone down today, and has slain cattle, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live king Adonijah!’

For he has gone down today and has killed many cattle and sheep and fat animals. He has asked all the king’s sons and the captains of the army and Abiathar the religious leader to come. They are eating and drinking with him, and are saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’

26 B ut he hasn’t called me, even me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.

But he has not asked me your servant, Zadok the religious leader, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon, to come.

27 W as this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven’t shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

Has this been done by my lord the king? Have you not shown your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?” David Makes Solomon King

28 T hen king David answered, “Call Bathsheba in to me.” She came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.

King David said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” And she came and stood in front of the king.

29 T he king swore, and said, “As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

The king made a promise and said, “As the Lord lives, Who has saved me from all trouble,

30 m ost certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place;’ I will most certainly do this today.”

I promised you by the Lord the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne in my place.’ And I will even do so this day.”

31 T hen Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and showed respect to the king, and said, “Let my lord king David live forever!”

Bathsheba put her face to the ground in front of the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever.”

32 K ing David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king.

Then King David said, “Call to me Zadok the religious leader, Nathan the man of God, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” And they came to the king.

33 T he king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.

The king said to them, “Take the servants of your lord with you. Have my son Solomon go on my own horse. And bring him down to Gihon.

34 L et Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet, and say, ‘Long live king Solomon!’

Let Zadok the religious leader and Nathan the man of God set him apart there as king over Israel. Sound the horn and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

35 T hen come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.”

Then come up after him. He will come and sit on my throne and be king in my place. For I have chosen him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”

36 B enaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, “Amen. May Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Let it be so! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so!

37 A s Yahweh 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.”

May the Lord be with Solomon as He has been with my lord the king. May He make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!”

38 S o Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.

So Zadok the religious leader, Nathan the man of God, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down to Gihon. And they brought Solomon with them, on King David’s horse.

39 Z adok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, “Long live king Solomon!”

There Zadok the religious leader took the horn of oil from the tent and poured it on Solomon. Then they sounded the horn and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”

40 A ll the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound.

And all the people went up after him. They were playing music and were filled with joy. The earth shook with all the noise.

41 A donijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?”

Adonijah and all who had been asked to be with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the horn, he said, “Why is there such a noise in the city?”

42 W hile he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said, “Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.”

While he was still speaking, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the religious leader came. Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a man to be trusted, and bring good news.”

43 J onathan answered Adonijah, “Most certainly our lord king David has made Solomon king.

But Jonathan said to Adonijah, “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king.

44 T he king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule.

The king has sent with him Zadok the religious leader, Nathan the man of God, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they have made him travel on the king’s horse.

45 Z adok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.

Zadok the religious leader and Nathan the man of God have set him apart as king in Gihon. They have come up from there filled with joy, so there is much noise in the city. This is the noise you have heard.

46 A lso, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.

Solomon sits upon the throne of the king.

47 M oreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne;’ and the king bowed himself on the bed.

What is more, the king’s servants came to give honor to our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name and his throne greater than your throne!’ And the king put his face down upon the bed.

48 A lso thus said the king, ‘Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, my eyes even seeing it.’”

The king said, ‘Thanks be to the Lord, the God of Israel. He has given one to sit on my throne today while my own eyes see it.’”

49 A ll the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and each man went his way.

Then all those with Adonijah were filled with fear. Each of them got up and went his own way.

50 A donijah was afraid because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and hung onto the horns of the altar.

And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

51 S olomon was told, “Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, behold, he is hanging onto the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”

Solomon was told, “See, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. See, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon promise me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”

52 S olomon said, “If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of his shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”

Solomon said, “If he will be a man of worth, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground. But if he is found to be bad, he will die.”

53 S o king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

So King Solomon sent men to bring him down from the altar. Adonijah came and put his face to the ground in front of King Solomon. And Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”