1 Kings 1
International Children’s Bible
Adonijah Tries to Become King
1 At this time King David was very old. His servants covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm. 2 So they said to him, “We will find a young woman to care for you. She will lie close to you and keep you warm.” 3 So the king’s servants looked everywhere in Israel for a beautiful young woman. They found a girl named Abishag from the Shunammite people. They brought her to the king. 4 The girl was very beautiful. She cared for the king and served him. But King David did not have physical relations with her.
5-6 Adonijah was King David and Haggith’s son. He was born next after Absalom. He was a very handsome man. He said, “I will be the king.” So he got chariots and horses for himself. And he got 50 men to run ahead of him. Now David had never interfered with him by questioning what he did.
7 Adonijah talked with Joab son of Zeruiah. He also talked with Abiathar the priest. They told him they would help him. 8 But several men did not join Adonijah. These men were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei and King David’s special guard.
9 Then Adonijah killed some sheep, cows and fat calves for sacrifices. He made these sacrifices at the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring, En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the other sons of King David, to come. He invited all the rulers and leaders of Judah also. 10 But Adonijah did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, his father’s special guard or his brother Solomon.
11 When Nathan heard about this, he went to Bathsheba. She was the mother of Solomon. Nathan asked her, “Have you heard what Adonijah, Haggith’s son, is doing? He has made himself king. And our real king, David, does not know it. 12 Your life and the life of your son Solomon may be in danger. But I will tell you how to save yourselves. 13 Go to King David and say to him, ‘My master and king, you made a promise to me. You promised that my son Solomon would be the king after you. You said he would rule on your throne. So why has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While you are still talking to him, I will come in. I will tell the king that what you have said about Adonijah is true.”
15 So Bathsheba went in to see the king in his bedroom. He was now very old. Abishag, the girl from Shunam, was caring for him there. 16 Bathsheba bowed down before the king.
He asked, “What do you want?”
17 She answered, “My master, you made a promise to me in the name of the Lord your God. You said, ‘Your son Solomon will become king after me. He will rule on my throne.’ 18 But now Adonijah has become king. And you did not know it. 19 Adonijah has killed many cows, fat calves and sheep for sacrifices. And he has invited all your sons. He also has invited Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of your army. But he did not invite Solomon, your son who serves you. 20 My master and king, all the people of Israel are watching you. They are waiting for you to decide who will be king after you. 21 As soon as you die, Solomon and I will be treated as criminals.”
22 While Bathsheba was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 The servants told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So Nathan went to the king and bowed facedown on the ground before him.
24 Then Nathan said, “My master and king, have you said that Adonijah will be the king after you? Have you decided he will rule on your throne after you? 25 Today he has sacrificed many cows, fat calves and sheep. And he has invited all your other sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him. They are saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But he did not invite me, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada or your son Solomon. 27 Did you do this? We are your servants. Why didn’t you tell us whom you chose to be the king after you?”
David Makes Solomon King
28 Then King David said, “Tell Bathsheba to come in!” So she came in and stood before the king.
29 Then the king said, “The Lord has saved me from all trouble. As surely as he lives, I make this promise to you. 30 Today I will do what I promised you in the past. I made that promise in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. I promised that your son Solomon would be king after me. I promised he would rule on my throne after me.”
31 Then Bathsheba bowed facedown on the ground before the king. She said, “Long live my master King David!”
32 Then King David said, “Tell Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to come in here.” So they came before the king. 33 Then the king said to them, “Take my servants with you and put my son Solomon on my own mule. Take him down to the spring called Gihon. 34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet should pour olive oil on him and make him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then come back here with him. He will sit on my throne and rule in my place. I have chosen him to be the ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “This is good! And may your God make it happen. 37 The Lord has always helped you, our king. Let the Lord also help Solomon. And let King Solomon be an even greater king than you.”
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada went down. The Kerethites and Pelethites, the king’s bodyguards, went with them. They put Solomon on King David’s mule and went with him to the spring called Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took with him the container of olive oil from the Holy Tent. He poured the olive oil on Solomon’s head to show he was the king. Then they blew the trumpet. And all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 All the people followed Solomon into the city. They were playing flutes and shouting for joy. They made so much noise the ground shook.
41 At this time Adonijah and all the guests with him were finishing their meal. They heard the sound from the trumpet. Joab asked, “What does all that noise from the city mean?”
42 While Joab was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in! You are an important man. So you must be bringing good news.”
43 But Jonathan answered, “No! Our master King David has made Solomon the new king. 44 King David sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada and all the king’s bodyguards with him. They put Solomon on the king’s own mule. 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet poured olive oil on Solomon at Gihon to make him king. Then they went into the city, shouting with joy. Now the whole city is excited. That is the noise you hear. 46 Solomon has now become the king. 47 All the king’s officers have come to tell King David that he has done a good thing. They are saying, ‘May your God make Solomon even more famous than you. And may your God make Solomon an even greater king than you.’” Jonathan continued, “And King David bowed down on his bed to worship God. 48 He said, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. Today he has made one of my sons the king and allowed me to see it.’”
49 Then all of Adonijah’s guests were afraid, and they left quickly. 50 Adonijah was also afraid of Solomon. So he went and took hold of the corners of the altar.[a] 51 Then someone told Solomon, “Adonijah is afraid of you. He is at the altar, holding on to its corners. He says, ‘Tell King Solomon to promise me today that he will not kill me.’”
52 So Solomon answered, “Adonijah must show that he is a man of honor. If he does, I promise that he will not lose even a hair from his head. But if he does anything wrong, he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent some men to get Adonijah. They brought him to King Solomon. So Adonijah came before King Solomon and bowed down. Then Solomon said, “Go home.”
Footnotes
- 1:50 corners of the altar If a person were innocent of a crime, he could run into the Holy Place. If he held on to the corners of the altar there, he would not be punished. The corners looked like horns.
Melachim Alef 1
Orthodox Jewish Bible
1 Now HaMelech Dovid was zaken and stricken in yamim; and they covered him with begadim, but he could get no warmth.
2 Wherefore his avadim said unto him, Let there be sought for adoni HaMelech a na’arah betulah; and let her stand before HaMelech, and let her care for him, and let her lie at thy kheyk (bosom), that adoni HaMelech may be warm.
3 So they sought for a na’arah yafeh throughout all the territory of Yisroel, and found Avishag HaShunammit, and brought her to HaMelech.
4 And the na’arah was yafeh ad me’od, and cared for HaMelech, and waited on him; but HaMelech knew her not.
5 Then Adoniyah Ben Chaggit put himself forward, saying, I will be Melech; and he prepared him merkavot and parashim, and chamishim ish to run before him.
6 And Aviv had not rebuked him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? And he also was tov to’ar (good looking); and [immo] bore him after Avshalom.
7 And he conferred with Yoav Ben Tzeruyah, and with Evyatar (Abiathar) HaKohen; and they lent ezer (help), following after Adoniyah.
8 But Tzadok HaKohen, and Benayah Ben Yehoyada, and Natan HaNavi, and Shim’i, and Re’i, and the Gibborim which belonged to Dovid, were not with Adoniyah.
9 And Adoniyah sacrificed tzon and bakar and fatted bull at the Zochelet Even (Stone of Zoheleth), which is Ein Rogel, and invited all his achim, the Bnei HaMelech, and all the anshei Yehudah who were avadim of HaMelech;
10 But Natan HaNavi, and Benayah, and the Gibborim, and Sh’lomo his brother, he invited not.
11 Wherefore Natan spoke unto Bat-Sheva em Sh’lomo, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adoniyah Ben Chaggit became Melech, and Dovid adoneinu knoweth it not?
12 Therefore come, let me, now, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own nefesh, and the nefesh of thy ben Sh’lomo.
13 Go and get thee in unto HaMelech Dovid, and say unto him, Didst not thou, adoni, O HaMelech, swear unto thine amah (maid servant, handmaid) saying, Assuredly Sh’lomo thy ben shall reign as Melech after me, and he shall sit upon my kisse? Why then doth Adoniyah reign as Melech?
14 Hinei, while thou yet speakest there with HaMelech, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy devarim.
15 And Bat-Sheva went in unto HaMelech into the cheder; and HaMelech was zaken me’od; and Avishag HaShunammit attended unto HaMelech.
16 And Bat-Sheva bowed, and did obeisance unto HaMelech. And HaMelech said, What wouldest thou?
17 And she said unto him, Adoni, thou didst swear by Hashem Eloheicha unto thine amah, saying, Assuredly Sh’lomo thy ben shall reign as Melech after me, and he shall sit upon my kisse.
18 And now, hinei, Adoniyah reigneth as Melech; and now, adoni HaMelech, thou knowest it not;
19 And he hath sacrificed shor and fatted bull and tzon in abundance, and hath invited all the Bnei HaMelech, and Evyatar (Abiathar) HaKohen, and Yoav the Sar HaTzava; but Sh’lomo thy eved hath he not invited.
20 And thou, adoni HaMelech, the eyes of kol Yisroel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the kisse adoni HaMelech after him.
21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when adoni HaMelech shall lie with his avot, that I and beni (my son) Sh’lomo shall be counted chatta’im.
22 And, hinei, while she yet was speaking with HaMelech, Natan HaNavi also came in.
23 And they told HaMelech, saying, Hinei Natan HaNavi! And when he was come in before HaMelech, he bowed himself before HaMelech with his face to the ground.
24 And Natan said, Adoni HaMelech, hast thou said, Adoniyah shall reign as Melech after me, and he shall sit upon my kisse?
25 For he has gone down this day, and hath sacrificed shor and fatted bull and tzon in abundance, and hath invited all the Bnei HaMelech, and the sarei hatzava, and Evyatar (Abiathar) HaKohen; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, Yechi HaMelech Adoniyahu (long live HaMelech Adoniyah)!
26 But me, even me thy eved, and Tzadok HaKohen, and Benayah Ben Yehoyada, and thy eved Sh’lomo, hath he not invited.
27 Is this thing done by adoni HaMelech, and thou hast not showed it unto thy eved, even who should sit on the kisse adoni HaMelech after him?
28 Then HaMelech Dovid answered and said, Call me Bat-Sheva. And she came into the presence of HaMelech, and stood before HaMelech.
29 And HaMelech swore a shevu’a (oath), and said, As Hashem liveth, that hath redeemed my nefesh out of kol tzarah,
30 Even as I swore a shevu’a unto thee by Hashem Elohei Yisroel, saying, Assuredly Sh’lomo thy ben shall reign as Melech after me, he shall sit upon my kisse in my place; so will I certainly do this day.
31 Then Bat-Sheva bowed with her face to eretz, and did reverence to HaMelech, and said, Yechi adoni HaMelech Dovid l’olam (long live adoni HaMelech forever)!
32 And HaMelech Dovid said, Call me Tzadok HaKohen, and Natan HaNavi, and Benayah Ben Yehoyada. And they came before HaMelech.
33 HaMelech also said unto them, Take with you the avadim of adoneichem, and have Sh’lomo beni (my son) to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gichon [See Yn 12:14];
34 And let Tzadok HaKohen and Natan HaNavi mashach (anoint) him there Melech over Yisroel; and blow ye with the shofar, and say, Yechi HaMelech Sh’lomo.
35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my kisse; for he shall be Melech in my place; and I have appointed him to be Nagid (ruler) over Yisroel and over Yehudah.
36 And Benayah Ben Yehoyada answered HaMelech, and said, Omein; And so may Hashem Elohei adoni HaMelech say.
37 As Hashem hath been with adoni HaMelech, even so may He be with Sh’lomo, and make his kisse greater than the kisse of adoni HaMelech Dovid.
38 So Tzadok HaKohen, and Natan HaNavi, and Benayah Ben Yehoyada, and the Kereti, and the Peleti, went down, and had Sh’lomo ride upon the mule of HaMelech Dovid, and brought him to Gichon.
39 And Tzadok HaKohen took a keren of shemen out of the ohel, and mashach (anointed) Sh’lomo. And they blew the shofar; and kol HaAm shouted, Yechi HaMelech Sh’lomo!
40 And kol HaAm came up after him, and the people played chalilim (flutes), and rejoiced with simchah gedolah, so that ha’aretz split with the sound of them.
41 And Adoniyah and kol hakeru’im (all the invited ones) that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Yoav heard the kol hashofar, he said, Why is the sound of the Ir in an uproar?
42 And while he yet spoke, hinei, Yonatan Ben Evyatar (Abiathar) HaKohen came; and Adoniyah said unto him, Come, for thou art an ish chayil, and tov tevaser (bringest good tidings).
43 And Yonatan answered and said to Adoniyah, Just the opposite! Verily adoneinu HaMelech Dovid hath made Sh’lomo Melech!
44 And HaMelech hath sent with him Tzadok HaKohen, and Natan HaNavi, and Benayah Ben Yehoyada, and the Kereti, and the Peleti, and they have had him ride upon pirdah (mule) of HaMelech:
45 And Tzadok HaKohen and Natan HaNavi have anointed him Melech at Gichon; and they are come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang out. This is the noise that ye have heard.
46 And also Sh’lomo sitteth on the kisse hameluchah.
47 And moreover the avadim of HaMelech came to make a brocha on adoneinu HaMelech Dovid, saying, May your G-d make the shem of Sh’lomo more famous than thy shem, and make his kisse greater than thy kisse. And HaMelech bowed himself upon the mishkav (bed).
48 Also so said HaMelech, Baruch Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Who hath given one to sit on my kisse this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
49 And kol hakeruvim (all the invited ones) that were with Adoniyah were terrified, and rose up, and went every ish his own derech [see Isa 53:6].
50 And Adoniyah feared because of Sh’lomo, and arose, and went, and caught hold of the karnayim of the Mizbe’ach.
51 And it was told Sh’lomo, saying, Hinei, Adoniyah feareth HaMelech Sh’lomo; for, hinei, he hath caught hold of the karnayim of the Mizbe’ach, saying, Let Melech Sh’lomo swear a shevua (oath) unto me today that he will not slay his eved with the cherev.
52 And Sh’lomo said, If he will show himself a ben chayil (a son of worthiness), there shall not a hair of him fall to ha’aretz; but if ra’ah (wickedness) shall be found in him, he shall die [Ro 6:23].
53 So HaMelech Sh’lomo sent, and they brought him down from the Mizbe’ach. And he came and bowed himself to Melech Sh’lomo; and Sh’lomo said unto him, Go to thine bais.
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