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,(A) you might as well ask the kingship for him,(B) for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah.”[a](C)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 2:22 LXX, Vg, Syr read kingship for him, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah

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(A) the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”

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

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