1 Kings 1:1-10

Complete Jewish Bible

1 King David grew old, the years took their toll, and he couldn’t get warm even when they covered him with bedclothes. ² His servants said to him, “Let us try to find a young virgin for my lord the king. She can wait on the king and be a companion for him, and she can lie next to you, so that my lord the king will get some heat.” ³ After looking through all of Isra’el’s territory for a beautiful girl, they found Avishag the Shunamit and brought her to the king. ⁴ The girl was very beautiful and became a companion for the king. She took care of him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.

⁵ Adoniyah the son of Haggit was beginning to claim that he would be king; to this end he organized chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run ahead of him. ⁶ (His father had never in his life confronted him by asking, “Why are you behaving this way?” Moreover, he was a very handsome man; he was born next after Avshalom.) ⁷ He conferred with Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah and Evyatar the cohen; and they both supported Adoniyah. ⁸ But Tzadok the cohen, B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada, Natan the prophet, Shim‘i, Re‘i and David’s elite guard were not on Adoniyah’s side.

⁹ One day Adoniyah killed sheep, oxen and fattened calves at the Stone of Zochelet, by ‘Ein-Rogel. He summoned all his brothers the king’s sons, and all the men of Y’hudah the king’s servants; ¹⁰ but he did not summon Natan the prophet, B’nayah, the elite guard or Shlomo his brother.