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1 Kings 1-4
Holman Christian Standard Bible

David’s Last Days

1 Now King David was old and getting on in years.(A) Although they covered him with bedclothes, he could not get warm.(B) 2 So his servants said to him: “Let us[a] search for a young virgin for my lord the king.(C) She is to attend the king and be his caregiver. She is to lie by your side so that my lord the king will get warm.” 3 They searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel; they found Abishag(D) the Shunammite[b](E) and brought her to the king. 4 The girl was of unsurpassed beauty,(F) and she became the king’s caregiver. She served him, but he was not intimate with[c] her.

Adonijah’s Bid for Power

5 Adonijah son of Haggith(G) kept exalting himself, saying, “I will be king!” He prepared chariots, cavalry, and 50 men to run ahead of him.[d](H) 6 But his father had never once reprimanded[e](I) him by saying, “Why do you act this way?”(J) In addition, he was quite handsome(K) and was born after Absalom.(L) 7 He conspired[f] with Joab son of Zeruiah(M) and with Abiathar the priest.(N) They supported(O) Adonijah, 8 but Zadok the priest,(P) Benaiah son of Jehoiada,(Q) Nathan the prophet,(R) Shimei,(S) Rei, and David’s warriors(T) did not side with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel.(U) He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king,(V) 10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the warriors, or his brother Solomon.(W)

Nathan’s and Bathsheba’s Appeals

11 Then Nathan(X) said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother,(Y) “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king(Z) and our lord David does not know it?(AA) 12 Now please come and let me advise(AB) you. Save your life and the life of your son Solomon.(AC) 13 Go, approach King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your servant: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne?(AD) So why has Adonijah become king?’ 14 At that moment, while you are still there speaking with the king, I’ll come in after you and confirm your words.”(AE)

15 So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.(AF) 16 Bathsheba bowed down and paid homage to the king, and he asked, “What do you want?”

17 She replied, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God, ‘Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne.’ 18 Now look, Adonijah has become king. And,[g] my lord the king, you didn’t know it. 19 He has lavishly sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. He invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he did not invite your servant Solomon. 20 Now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers,(AG) I and my son Solomon will be regarded as criminals.”(AH)

22 At that moment, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived,(AI) 23 and it was announced to the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” He came into the king’s presence and bowed to him with his face to the ground.

24 “My lord the king,” Nathan said, “did you say, ‘Adonijah is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne’? 25 For today he went down and lavishly sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. He invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And look! They’re eating and drinking in his presence, and they’re saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But he did not invite me—me, your servant—or Zadok the priest or Benaiah son of Jehoiada or your servant Solomon. 27 I’m certain my lord the king would not have let this happen without letting your servant[h] know who will sit on my lord the king’s throne after him.”

Solomon Confirmed King

28 King David responded by saying, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. 29 The king swore an oath and said, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from every difficulty,(AJ) 30 just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne in my place,(AK) that is exactly what I will do this very day.”(AL)

31 Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, paying homage to the king,(AM) and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”(AN)

32 King David then said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada for me.”(AO) So they came into the king’s presence. 33 The king said to them, “Take my servants(AP) with you, have my son Solomon ride on my own mule,(AQ) and take him down to Gihon.(AR) 34 There, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him as king over Israel.(AS) You are to blow the ram’s horn(AT) and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’(AU) 35 You are to come up after him, and he is to come in and sit on my throne. He is the one who is to become king in my place; he is the one I have commanded to be ruler(AV) over Israel and Judah.”(AW)

36 “Amen,” Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied to the king. “May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so affirm it.(AX) 37 Just as the Lord was with my lord the king,(AY) so may He[i] be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”(AZ)

38 Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites(BA) went down, had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and took him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon.(BB) Then they blew the ram’s horn,(BC) and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”(BD) 40 All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy(BE) that the earth split open from the sound.[j]

Adonijah Hears of Solomon’s Coronation

41 Adonijah and all the invited guests who were with him(BF) heard the noise as they finished eating. Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn and said, “Why is the town in such an uproar?”(BG) 42 He was still speaking when Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest,(BH) suddenly arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are an excellent man, and you must be bringing good news.”(BI)

43 “Unfortunately not,” Jonathan answered him. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have had him ride on the king’s mule. 45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon.(BJ) They have gone from there rejoicing. The town has been in an uproar; that’s the noise you heard. 46 Solomon has even taken his seat on the royal throne.(BK)

47 “The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more well known than your name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’(BL) Then the king bowed in worship on his bed.(BM) 48 And the king went on to say this: ‘May the Lord God of Israel be praised! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne,(BN) and I am a witness.’”[k]

49 Then all of Adonijah’s guests got up trembling and went their separate ways. 50 Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.(BO)

51 It was reported to Solomon: “Look, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first[l] swear to me that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”

52 Then Solomon said, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground,(BP) but if evil is found in him, he dies.”(BQ) 53 So King Solomon sent for him, and they took him down from the altar. He came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your home.”

David’s Dying Instructions to Solomon

2 As the time approached for David to die,(BR) he instructed his son Solomon, 2 “As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth.(BS) Be strong and be courageous like a man,(BT) 3 and keep your obligation to the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do(BU) and wherever you turn, 4 and so that the Lord will carry out His promise that He made to me: ‘If your sons are careful to walk faithfully before Me with their whole mind and heart,(BV) you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’(BW)

5 “You also know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me(BX) and what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s army, Abner son of Ner(BY) and Amasa son of Jether.(BZ) He murdered them in a time of peace to avenge blood shed in war. He spilled that blood on his own waistband and on the sandals of his feet.[m] 6 Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head descend to Sheol in peace.

7 “Show loyalty to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be among those who eat at your table(CA) because they supported me when I fled from your brother Absalom.(CB)

8 “Keep an eye on Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim who is with you. He uttered malicious curses against me the day I went to Mahanaim.(CC) But he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, and I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will never kill you with the sword.’(CD) 9 So don’t let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man. You know how to deal with him to bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”

10 Then David rested with his fathers(CE) and was buried in the city of David.(CF) 11 The length of time David reigned over Israel was 40 years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem.(CG) 12 Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingship was firmly established.(CH)

Adonijah’s Foolish Request

13 Now Adonijah son of Haggith(CI) came to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. She asked, “Do you come peacefully?”

“Peacefully,” he replied,(CJ) 14 and then asked, “May I talk with you?”[n]

“Go ahead,” she answered.

15 “You know the kingship was mine,”(CK) he said. “All Israel expected me to be king, but then the kingship was turned over to my brother,(CL) for the Lord gave it to him.(CM) 16 So now I have just one request of you; don’t turn me down.”[o]

She said to him, “Go on.”

17 He replied, “Please speak to King Solomon since he won’t turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite(CN) as a wife.”

18 “Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”

19 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him about Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, sat down on his throne, and had a throne placed for the king’s mother.(CO) So she sat down at his right hand.(CP)

20 Then she said, “I have just one small request of you. Don’t turn me down.”

“Go ahead and ask, mother,” the king replied, “for I won’t turn you down.”

21 So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.”

22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why are you requesting Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my elder brother,(CQ) you might as well ask the kingship for him,(CR) for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah.”[p](CS) 23 Then Solomon took an oath by the Lord: “May God punish me and do so severely(CT) if Adonijah has not made this request at the cost of his life. 24 And now, as the Lord lives, the One who established me, seated me on the throne of my father David, and made me a dynasty as He promised(CU)—I swear Adonijah will be put to death today!” 25 Then King Solomon gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada,(CV) who struck down Adonijah, and he died.

Abiathar’s Banishment

26 The king said to Abiathar the priest,(CW) “Go to your fields in Anathoth.(CX) Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death today, since you carried the ark of the Lord God in the presence of my father David(CY) and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”(CZ) 27 So Solomon banished Abiathar from being the Lord’s priest, and it fulfilled the Lord’s prophecy He had spoken at Shiloh against Eli’s family.(DA)

Joab’s Execution

28 The news reached Joab. Since he had supported Adonijah(DB) but not Absalom,(DC) Joab fled to the Lord’s tabernacle and took hold of the horns of the altar.(DD)

29 It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the Lord’s tabernacle and is now beside the altar.” Then Solomon sent[q] Benaiah son of Jehoiada(DE) and told him, “Go and strike him down!”(DF)

30 So Benaiah went to the tabernacle and said to Joab, “This is what the king says: ‘Come out!’”(DG)

But Joab said, “No, for I will die here.”

So Benaiah took a message back to the king, “This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me.”

31 The king said to him, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him in order to remove from me and from my father’s house the blood that Joab shed without just cause.(DH) 32 The Lord will bring back his own blood on his head because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, without my father David’s knowledge. With his sword, Joab murdered Abner(DI) son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa(DJ) son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. 33 Their blood will come back on Joab’s head and on the head of his descendants forever, but for David, his descendants, his dynasty, and his throne, there will be peace from the Lord forever.”(DK)

34 Benaiah son of Jehoiada(DL) went up, struck down Joab, and put him to death. He was buried at his house in the wilderness.(DM) 35 Then the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army,(DN) and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

Shimei’s Banishment and Execution

36 Then the king summoned Shimei(DO) and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but don’t leave there and go anywhere else. 37 On the day you do leave and cross the Kidron Valley,(DP) know for sure that you will certainly die. Your blood will be on your own head.”(DQ)

38 Shimei said to the king, “The sentence is fair; your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.

39 But then, at the end of three years, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish(DR) son of Maacah, king of Gath.(DS) Shimei was informed, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.” 40 So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath to search for his slaves. He went and brought them back from Gath.

41 It was reported to Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned. 42 So the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Didn’t I make you swear by the Lord and warn you, saying, ‘On the day you leave and go anywhere else, know for sure that you will certainly die’? And you said to me, ‘The sentence is fair; I will obey.’ 43 So why have you not kept the Lord’s oath and the command that I gave you?” 44 The king also said, “You yourself know all the evil that you did to my father David.(DT) Therefore, the Lord has brought back your evil on your head, 45 but King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain established before the Lord forever.”(DU)

46 Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in Solomon’s hand.(DV)

The Lord Appears to Solomon

3 Solomon made an alliance[r] with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter.(DW) Solomon brought her to live in the city of David(DX) until he finished building his palace,(DY) the Lord’s temple,(DZ) and the wall surrounding Jerusalem.(EA) 2 However, the people were sacrificing on the high places,(EB) because until that time a temple for the Lord’s name(EC) had not been built. 3 Solomon loved the Lord(ED) by walking in the statutes of his father David,(EE) but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

4 The king went to Gibeon(EF) to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar.(EG) 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon(EH) in a dream at night.(EI) God said, “Ask.(EJ) What should I give you?”

6 And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and[s] integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne,(EK) as it is today.(EL)

7 “Lord my God, You have now made Your servant king in my father David’s place.(EM) Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.[t](EN) 8 Your servant is among Your people You have chosen,(EO) a[u] people too numerous to be numbered or counted.(EP) 9 So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge(EQ) Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”(ER)

10 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11 So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life[v] or riches for yourself,(ES) or the death[w] of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to understand justice,(ET) 12 I will therefore do what you have asked.(EU) I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.(EV) 13 In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor,(EW) so that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life.(EX) 14 If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”(EY)

15 Then Solomon woke up(EZ) and realized it had been a dream.(FA) He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant,(FB) and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.(FC) Then he held a feast(FD) for all his servants.

Solomon’s Wisdom

16 Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.(FE) 17 One woman said, “Please my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was in the house. 18 On the third day after I gave birth, she also had a baby and we were alone. No one else[x] was with us in the house; just the two of us were there. 19 During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. 20 She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while your servant was asleep. She laid him at her breast, and she put her dead son in my arms. 21 When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, I discovered he was dead. That morning, when I looked closely at him I realized that he was not the son I gave birth to.”

22 “No,” the other woman said. “My son is the living one; your son is the dead one.”

The first woman said, “No, your son is the dead one; my son is the living one.” So they argued before the king.

23 The king replied, “This woman says, ‘This is my son who is alive, and your son is dead,’ but that woman says, ‘No, your son is dead, and my son is alive.’” 24 The king continued, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought the sword to the king. 25 Solomon said, “Cut the living boy in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

26 The woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she felt great compassion[y](FF) for her son. “My lord, give her the living baby,” she said, “but please don’t have him killed!”

But the other one said, “He will not be mine or yours. Cut him in two!”

27 The king responded, “Give the living baby to the first woman, and don’t kill him. She is his mother.” 28 All Israel heard about the judgment the king had given, and they stood in awe of the king because they saw that God’s wisdom(FG) was in him to carry out justice.

Solomon’s Officials

4 King Solomon ruled over Israel,(FH) 2 and these were his officials:(FI)

Azariah son of Zadok, priest;
3 Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha, secretaries;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud, court historian;
4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, in charge of the army;
Zadok and Abiathar, priests;
5 Azariah son of Nathan, in charge of the deputies;
Zabud son of Nathan, a priest and adviser to the king;
6 Ahishar, in charge of the palace;
and Adoniram son of Abda, in charge of forced labor.

7 Solomon had 12 deputies for all Israel. They provided food for the king and his household; each one made provision for one month out of the year.(FJ) 8 These were their names:

Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;
9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan;
10 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (he had Socoh and the whole land of Hepher);
11 Ben-abinadab, in all Naphath-dor (Taphath daughter of Solomon was his wife);
12 Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam;
13 Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (he had the villages of Jair son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, 60 great cities with walls and bronze bars);
14 Ahinadab son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;
15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also had married a daughter of Solomon—Basemath);
16 Baana son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;
17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar;
18 Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin;
19 Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan.

There was one deputy in the land of Judah.[z]

Solomon’s Provisions

20 Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea;(FK) they were eating, drinking, and rejoicing. 21 [aa]Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and as far as the border of Egypt.(FL) They offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.(FM)

22 Solomon’s provisions for one day were 150 bushels[ab] of fine flour and 300 bushels[ac] of meal, 23 10 fattened oxen, 20 range oxen, and 100 sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and pen-fed poultry,[ad](FN) 24 for he had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza and over all the kings west of the Euphrates. He had peace on all his surrounding borders. 25 Throughout Solomon’s reign, Judah and Israel lived in safety from Dan to Beer-sheba,(FO) each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.(FP) 26 Solomon had 40,000[ae] stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.(FQ) 27 Each of those deputies for a month in turn provided food for King Solomon and for everyone who came to King Solomon’s table. They neglected nothing. 28 Each man brought the barley and the straw for the chariot teams and the other horses(FR) to the required place according to his assignment.[af]

Solomon’s Wisdom and Literary Gifts

29 God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight, and understanding(FS) as vast as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East,(FT) greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.(FU) 31 He was wiser than anyone(FV)—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite,(FW) and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol.(FX) His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations.(FY)

32 Solomon composed 3,000 proverbs,(FZ) and his songs numbered 1,005.(GA) 33 He described trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He also taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 34 People came from everywhere, sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom, to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.(GB)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 1:2 Lit them
  2. 1 Kings 1:3 Shunem was a town in the hill country of Issachar at the foot of Mt. Moreh; Jos 19:17-18.
  3. 1 Kings 1:4 Lit he did not know
  4. 1 Kings 1:5 Heralds announcing his procession
  5. 1 Kings 1:6 Or grieved
  6. 1 Kings 1:7 Lit His words were
  7. 1 Kings 1:18 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg, Syr; other Hb mss read And now
  8. 1 Kings 1:27 Some Hb mss, LXX; alt Hb tradition reads servants
  9. 1 Kings 1:37 Alt Hb tradition reads so He will
  10. 1 Kings 1:40 LXX reads the land resounded with their noise
  11. 1 Kings 1:48 Lit and my eyes are seeing
  12. 1 Kings 1:51 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg read today
  13. 1 Kings 2:5 LXX, Old Lat read on my waistband and . . . my feet; v. 31
  14. 1 Kings 2:14 Lit then said, “I have a word for you.”
  15. 1 Kings 2:16 Lit don’t make me turn my face
  16. 1 Kings 2:22 LXX, Vg, Syr read kingship for him, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah
  17. 1 Kings 2:29 LXX adds Joab a message: “What is the matter with you, that you have fled to the altar?” And Joab replied, “Because I feared you, I have fled to the Lord.” And Solomon the king sent
  18. 1 Kings 3:1 Lit Solomon made himself a son-in-law
  19. 1 Kings 3:6 Lit and with You
  20. 1 Kings 3:7 Lit am a little youth and do not know to go out or come in
  21. 1 Kings 3:8 Lit chosen many
  22. 1 Kings 3:11 Lit for many days
  23. 1 Kings 3:11 Lit life
  24. 1 Kings 3:18 Lit No stranger
  25. 1 Kings 3:26 Lit because her compassion grew hot
  26. 1 Kings 4:19 LXX; MT omits of Judah
  27. 1 Kings 4:21 1Kg 5:1 in Hb
  28. 1 Kings 4:22 Lit 30 cors
  29. 1 Kings 4:22 Lit 60 cors
  30. 1 Kings 4:23 Hb obscure
  31. 1 Kings 4:26 2Ch 9:25 reads 4,000 stalls
  32. 1 Kings 4:28 Lit judgment
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1 Kings 1-4
New International Version

Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King

1 When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. 2 So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.”

3 Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag,(A) a Shunammite,(B) and brought her to the king. 4 The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.

5 Now Adonijah,(C) whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots(D) and horses[a] ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6 (His father had never rebuked(E) him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)

7 Adonijah conferred with Joab(F) son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar(G) the priest, and they gave him their support. 8 But Zadok(H) the priest, Benaiah(I) son of Jehoiada, Nathan(J) the prophet, Shimei(K) and Rei and David’s special guard(L) did not join Adonijah.

9 Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel.(M) He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons,(N) and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite(O) Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.(P)

11 Then Nathan asked Bathsheba,(Q) Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah,(R) the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? 12 Now then, let me advise(S) you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear(T) to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.”

15 So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag(U) the Shunammite was attending him. 16 Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king.

“What is it you want?” the king asked.

17 She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore(V) to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18 But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. 19 He has sacrificed(W) great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20 My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest(X) with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.”

22 While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 And the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.

24 Nathan said, “Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? 25 Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite.(Y) 27 Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

David Makes Solomon King(Z)

28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble,(AA) 30 I will surely carry out this very day what I swore(AB) to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

32 King David said, “Call in Zadok(AC) the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule(AD) and take him down to Gihon.(AE) 34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint(AF) him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet(AG) and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 37 As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with(AH) Solomon to make his throne even greater(AI) than the throne of my lord King David!”

38 So Zadok(AJ) the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites(AK) and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.(AL) 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil(AM) from the sacred tent(AN) and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet(AO) and all the people shouted,(AP) “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him, playing pipes(AQ) and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.

41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?”(AR)

42 Even as he was speaking, Jonathan(AS) son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.”(AT)

43 “Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule, 45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds(AU) with it. That’s the noise you hear. 46 Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat(AV) on the royal throne. 47 Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater(AW) than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed 48 and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor(AX) on my throne today.’”

49 At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns(AY) of the altar. 51 Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”

52 Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair(AZ) of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”

David’s Charge to Solomon(BA)

2 When the time drew near for David to die,(BB) he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,”(BC) he said. “So be strong,(BD) act like a man, 3 and observe(BE) what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper(BF) in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise(BG) to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully(BH) before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

5 “Now you yourself know what Joab(BI) son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner(BJ) son of Ner and Amasa(BK) son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom,(BL) but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

7 “But show kindness(BM) to the sons of Barzillai(BN) of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table.(BO) They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei(BP) son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim.(BQ) When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore(BR) to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom;(BS) you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

10 Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried(BT) in the City of David.(BU) 11 He had reigned(BV) forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne(BW) of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.(BX)

Solomon’s Throne Established

13 Now Adonijah,(BY) the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. Bathsheba asked him, “Do you come peacefully?”(BZ)

He answered, “Yes, peacefully.” 14 Then he added, “I have something to say to you.”

“You may say it,” she replied.

15 “As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the Lord. 16 Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me.”

“You may make it,” she said.

17 So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag(CA) the Shunammite as my wife.”

18 “Very well,” Bathsheba replied, “I will speak to the king for you.”

19 When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother,(CB) and she sat down at his right hand.(CC)

20 “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.”

The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”

21 So she said, “Let Abishag(CD) the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”

22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag(CE) the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother(CF)—yes, for him and for Abiathar(CG) the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!”

23 Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,(CH) if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! 24 And now, as surely as the Lord lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised(CI)—Adonijah shall be put to death today!” 25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah(CJ) son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.(CK)

26 To Abiathar(CL) the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth.(CM) You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark(CN) of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.”(CO) 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling(CP) the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.

28 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns(CQ) of the altar. 29 King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar.(CR) Then Solomon ordered Benaiah(CS) son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!”

30 So Benaiah entered the tent(CT) of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!(CU)’”

But he answered, “No, I will die here.”

Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”

31 Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood(CV) that Joab shed. 32 The Lord will repay(CW) him for the blood he shed,(CX) because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa(CY) son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better(CZ) men and more upright than he. 33 May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.”

34 So Benaiah(DA) son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab(DB) and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country. 35 The king put Benaiah(DC) son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok(DD) the priest.

36 Then the king sent for Shimei(DE) and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. 37 The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley,(DF) you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”(DG)

38 Shimei answered the king, “What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.” And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.

39 But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran off to Achish(DH) son of Maakah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.” 40 At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath.

41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, 42 the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn(DI) you, ‘On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die’? At that time you said to me, ‘What you say is good. I will obey.’ 43 Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?”

44 The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong(DJ) you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. 45 But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure(DK) before the Lord forever.”

46 Then the king gave the order to Benaiah(DL) son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei(DM) down and he died.

The kingdom was now established(DN) in Solomon’s hands.

Solomon Asks for Wisdom(DO)

3 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married(DP) his daughter.(DQ) He brought her to the City of David(DR) until he finished building his palace(DS) and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places,(DT) because a temple had not yet been built for the Name(DU) of the Lord. 3 Solomon showed his love(DV) for the Lord by walking(DW) according to the instructions(DX) given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.(DY)

4 The king went to Gibeon(DZ) to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared(EA) to Solomon during the night in a dream,(EB) and God said, “Ask(EC) for whatever you want me to give you.”

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful(ED) to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son(EE) to sit on his throne this very day.

7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child(EF) and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen,(EG) a great people, too numerous to count or number.(EH) 9 So give your servant a discerning(EI) heart to govern your people and to distinguish(EJ) between right and wrong. For who is able(EK) to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked(EL) for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment(EM) in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked.(EN) I will give you a wise(EO) and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not(EP) asked for—both wealth and honor(EQ)—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal(ER) among kings. 14 And if you walk(ES) in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”(ET) 15 Then Solomon awoke(EU)—and he realized it had been a dream.(EV)

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings(EW) and fellowship offerings.(EX) Then he gave a feast(EY) for all his court.

A Wise Ruling

16 Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. 18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.

19 “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. 20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. 21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”

22 The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.”

But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.

23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

26 The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved(EZ) out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”

But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”

27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”

28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom(FA) from God to administer justice.

Solomon’s Officials and Governors

4 So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. 2 And these were his chief officials:(FB)

Azariah(FC) son of Zadok—the priest;

3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries;(FD)

Jehoshaphat(FE) son of Ahilud—recorder;

4 Benaiah(FF) son of Jehoiada—commander in chief;

Zadok(FG) and Abiathar—priests;

5 Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district governors;

Zabud son of Nathan—a priest and adviser to the king;

6 Ahishar—palace administrator;(FH)

Adoniram(FI) son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.(FJ)

7 Solomon had twelve district governors(FK) over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. 8 These are their names:

Ben-Hur—in the hill country(FL) of Ephraim;

9 Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim,(FM) Beth Shemesh(FN) and Elon Bethhanan;

10 Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Sokoh(FO) and all the land of Hepher(FP) were his);

11 Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor(FQ) (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon);

12 Baana son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan(FR) next to Zarethan(FS) below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah(FT) across to Jokmeam;(FU)

13 Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair(FV) son of Manasseh in Gilead(FW) were his, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities(FX) with bronze gate bars);

14 Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim;(FY)

15 Ahimaaz(FZ)—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon);

16 Baana son of Hushai(GA)—in Asher and in Aloth;

17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah—in Issachar;

18 Shimei(GB) son of Ela—in Benjamin;

19 Geber son of Uri—in Gilead (the country of Sihon(GC) king of the Amorites and the country of Og(GD) king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.

Solomon’s Daily Provisions

20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand(GE) on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.(GF) 21 And Solomon ruled(GG) over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River(GH) to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.(GI) These countries brought tribute(GJ) and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.

22 Solomon’s daily provisions(GK) were thirty cors[b] of the finest flour and sixty cors[c] of meal, 23 ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl.(GL) 24 For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah(GM) to Gaza, and had peace(GN) on all sides. 25 During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba,(GO) lived in safety,(GP) everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.(GQ)

26 Solomon had four[d] thousand stalls for chariot horses,(GR) and twelve thousand horses.[e]

27 The district governors,(GS) each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king’s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. 28 They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.

Solomon’s Wisdom

29 God gave Solomon wisdom(GT) and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand(GU) on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East,(GV) and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.(GW) 31 He was wiser(GX) than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs(GY) and his songs(GZ) numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop(HA) that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings(HB) of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.[f]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 1:5 Or charioteers
  2. 1 Kings 4:22 That is, probably about 5 1/2 tons or about 5 metric tons
  3. 1 Kings 4:22 That is, probably about 11 tons or about 10 metric tons
  4. 1 Kings 4:26 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 2 Chron. 9:25); Hebrew forty
  5. 1 Kings 4:26 Or charioteers
  6. 1 Kings 4:34 In Hebrew texts 4:21-34 is numbered 5:1-14.
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