1 Kings 1:1-21

Common English Bible

David and Abishag

1 King David had become very old. His servants covered him with blankets, but he couldn’t stay warm. ² They said to him, “Allow us to find a young woman for our master the king. She will serve the king and take care of him by lying beside our master the king and keeping him warm.” ³ So they looked in every corner of Israel until they found Abishag from Shunem. They brought her to the king. ⁴ She was very beautiful. She cared for the king and served him, but the king didn’t have sex with her.

Adonijah’s rebellion

⁵ Adonijah, Haggith’s son, bragged about himself and said, “I’ll rule as king myself.” He got his own chariot and horses with fifty runners to go in front. ⁶ Now Adonijah’s father had never given him direction; he never questioned why Adonijah did what he did. He was very handsome and was born after Absalom. ⁷ He took advice from Joab, Zeruiah’s son, and from the priest Abiathar. They assisted Adonijah. ⁸ But Zadok the priest, Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, the prophet Nathan, Shimei and his friends, and David’s veterans didn’t join Adonijah. ⁹ So Adonijah prepared lamb, oxen, and fattened cattle at the Stone of Zoheleth, next to En-rogel. He invited his brothers (the royal princes) and all the citizens of Judah who were the royal servants to come. ¹⁰ But he didn’t invite the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, David’s veterans, or his brother Solomon.

¹¹ Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Did you hear that Adonijah, Haggith’s son, has become king, but our master David doesn’t know about it? ¹² Let me give you some advice on how you and your son Solomon can survive this. ¹³ Go to King David and say, ‘Didn’t my master the king swear to your servant, “Your son Solomon will certainly rule after me. He will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ ¹⁴ While you are speaking there with the king, I’ll come along and support your words.”

¹⁵ So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom. The king was very old, and Abishag from Shunem was serving the king. ¹⁶ Bathsheba bowed down on her face before the king.

The king asked, “What do you want?”

¹⁷ She said to him, “Your Majesty, you swore by the Lord your God to your servant, ‘Your son Solomon will certainly rule after me. He will sit on my throne.’ ¹⁸ But now, look, Adonijah has become king, and my master the king doesn’t know about it. ¹⁹ He has prepared large quantities of oxen, fattened cattle, and lamb. He has invited all the royal princes as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the general. However, he didn’t invite your servant Solomon. ²⁰ As for you, my master the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will follow you on the throne of my master the king. ²¹ When my master the king lies down with his ancestors, then I and my son Solomon will become outlaws.”