1 Kings 1
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.”
22 While she was still speaking with the king, the prophet Nathan arrived. 23 The king was informed, “The prophet Nathan is here.” Then Nathan came in before the king and bowed his face to the ground. 24 He said, “My master the king, you must have said, ‘Adonijah will become king after me and will sit on my throne.’ 25 Indeed, today he went down and prepared oxen, fattened cattle, and lamb in large numbers. He invited all the royal princes, the generals, and Abiathar the priest. They are eating and drinking with him, and they said, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 Adonijah didn’t invite me, your servant, Zadok the priest, Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, or your servant Solomon. 27 If this message was from my master the king, you didn’t make it known to your servant. Who should follow you on the throne of my master the king?”
28 King David answered, “Bring me Bathsheba.” She came and stood before the king. 29 The king made a solemn pledge and said, “As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued me from every trouble, 30 regarding what I swore to you by the Lord, Israel’s God, ‘Your son Solomon will certainly succeed me; he will sit on the throne after me’—I’ll see that it happens today.”
31 Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground. She honored the king and said, “May my master King David live forever!”
32 King David said, “Bring me Zadok the priest, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son.” They came to the king, 33 who said to them, “Take with you the servants of your masters. Put my son Solomon on my mule and bring him down to Gihon. 34 There Zadok the priest and the prophet Nathan will anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 You will follow him. He will enter and sit on my throne, and so he will succeed me as king. I have appointed him to become ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son, responded to the king, “Yes, may it happen as the Lord, the God of my king, says. 37 Just as the Lord was with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon. May his throne be even greater than the throne of my master King David.” 38 Zadok the priest, the prophet Nathan, Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and put Solomon on King David’s mule. They led him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the ram’s horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 All the people followed him playing flutes and celebrating. The ground shook at their noise.
41 Adonijah and all his invited guests heard this when they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn, he said, “What’s that noise coming from the city?” 42 While he was still speaking, Jonathan, Abiathar the priest’s son, arrived.
Adonijah said, “Come on in! You are an honest man and will bring a good report.”
43 Jonathan replied to Adonijah, “No! Our master King David has made Solomon king! 44 To support him, the king sent along Zadok the priest; the prophet Nathan; Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son; and the Cherethites and the Pelethites. They’ve put Solomon on the royal mule. 45 Zadok the priest and the prophet Nathan have anointed him king at Gihon. They went up from there celebrating so that the city was thrown into a commotion. That is the sound you heard. 46 There’s more: Solomon has taken over the throne of the kingdom. 47 The royal attendants blessed our master King David: ‘May your God make Solomon’s name better than your name. May God elevate his throne above your throne.’”
The king then worshipped on his bed 48 and said, “Bless Israel’s God, the Lord, who today has set my son[a] on my throne, and has allowed my eyes to see it.”
49 Trembling with fear, all of Adonijah’s guests got up and fled, each going a different way. 50 Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up and went to grab hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Solomon was told, “Look! Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and has grabbed the horns of the altar. He’s saying, ‘King Solomon must swear to me first that he won’t execute his servant with the sword.’”
52 Solomon said, “If he shows himself to be an honorable person, then not a hair of his head will be harmed. But if any evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 King Solomon sent word and had him brought down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon. Solomon said to him, “Go home!”
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 1:48 Heb lacks my son; other versions have it or something similar.
1 Kings 1
1599 Geneva Bible
The First Book of the Kings
1 3 Abishag keepeth David in his extreme age. 5 Adonijah usurpeth the kingdom. 30 Solomon is anointed king, 50 Adonijah fleeth to the altar.
1 Now when King David was [a]old, and stricken in years, they covered him with clothes, but no [b]heat came unto him.
2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin, and let her [c]stand before the king, and cherish him: and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the King may get heat.
3 So they sought for a fair young maid throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found one Abishag [d]a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
4 And the maid was exceedingly fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him, but the king knew her not.
5 ¶ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying, I will be king. And he got him chariots and horsemen, and [e]fifty men to run before him.
6 And his father would not displease him from his [f]childhood, to say, Why hast thou done so? And he was a very goodly man, and his mother bare him next after Absalom.
7 And he [g]took counsel of Joab the son of Zeruiah, and of Abiathar the Priest: and they [h]helped forward Adonijah.
8 But Zadok the Priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the Prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the men of might, which were with David, were not with Adonijah.
9 Then Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen, and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by [i]En Rogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants.
10 But Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah, and [j]the mighty men, and Solomon his brother he called not.
11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of (A)Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
12 Now therefore come, and I will now give thee counsel, how to save thine own [k]life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
13 Go, and get thee in unto King David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O King, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why is then Adonijah King?
14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the King, I also will come in after thee, and [l]confirm thy words.
15 ¶ So Bathsheba went in unto the King into the chamber, and the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the King.
16 And Bathsheba bowed and made obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What is thy matter?
17 And she answered him, My lord, thou swearest by the Lord thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
18 And behold, now is Adonijah king, and now my lord, O King, thou knowest [m]it not.
19 And he hath offered many oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep, and hath called all the sons of the King, and Abiathar the Priest, and Joab the Captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not bidden.
20 And thou, my lord, O King, knowest that the eyes of all Israel are on thee, that thou shouldest tell them, who should sit on the throne of my lord the King after him.
21 For else when my lord the King shall sleep with his fathers, I and my son Solomon shall be [n]reputed [o]vile.
22 And lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan also the Prophet came in.
23 And they told the King, saying, Behold, Nathan the Prophet. And when he was come in to the King, he made obeisance before the king upon his face [p]to the ground.
24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain many oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the Priest: and behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, [q]God save king Adonijah.
26 But me thy servant, and Zadok the Priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon hath he not called.
27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed it unto thy [r]servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
28 ¶ Then king David answered, and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the King.
29 And the King sware, saying, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
30 That as I [s]sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my place, so will I certainly do this day.
31 Then Bathsheba bowed her face to the earth, and did reverence unto the king, and said, God save my lord king David forever.
32 ¶ And king David said, Call me Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the King.
33 Then the king said unto them, Take with you the [t]servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and carry him down to Gihon.
34 And let Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet anoint him there king over Israel, and blow ye the trumpet, and say, God save King Solomon.
35 Then come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne: and he shall be King in my stead: for I have [u]appointed him to be prince over Israel, and over Judah.
36 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, So be it, and the Lord God of my lord the king [v]ratify it.
37 As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, so be he with Solomon, and exalt his throne above the throne of my lord king David.
38 So Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.
39 And Zadok the Priest took an horn of [w]oil out of the Tabernacle, and anointed Solomon: and they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth [x]rang with the sound of them.
41 ¶ And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him, heard it: (and they had made an end of eating) and when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, What meaneth this noise and uproar in the city?
42 And as he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the Priest came: and Adonijah said, Come in: for thou art a [y]worthy man, and bringest [z]good tidings.
43 And Jonathan answered, and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule.
45 And Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are gone up from thence with joy, and the city is moved: this is the noise that ye have heard.
46 And Solomon also sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
47 And moreover the king’s servants came [aa]to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon more famous than thy name, and exalt his throne above thy throne: therefore the king worshipped upon the [ab]bed.
48 And thus said the king also, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath made one to sit on my throne this day, even in my sight.
49 Then all the guests that were with Adonijah, were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
50 ¶ And Adonijah fearing the presence of Solomon, arose and went, and took hold on the horns of the [ac]altar.
51 And one told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah doth fear king Solomon: for lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon swear unto me this day, that he will not slay his servant with the sword.
52 Then Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth, but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.
53 Then king Solomon sent, and they brought him from the altar, and he came and did obeisance unto King Solomon. And Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 1:1 He was about 70 years old, 2 Sam. 5:4.
- 1 Kings 1:1 For his natural heat was worn away with travails.
- 1 Kings 1:2 Or, serve him.
- 1 Kings 1:3 Which city was in the tribe of Issachar, as Josh. 19:18.
- 1 Kings 1:5 Read 2 Sam. 15:1.
- 1 Kings 1:6 Hebrew, days.
- 1 Kings 1:7 Hebrew, his words were with Joab.
- 1 Kings 1:7 They took his part and followed him.
- 1 Kings 1:9 Or, the fountains.
- 1 Kings 1:10 As the Cherethites and Pelethites.
- 1 Kings 1:12 For Adonijah will destroy thee and thy son, if he reigns.
- 1 Kings 1:14 By declaring such things, as may further the same.
- 1 Kings 1:18 The king being worn with age, could not attend to the affairs of the realm, and also Adonijah had many flatterers which kept it from the king.
- 1 Kings 1:21 And so put to the death as wicked transgressors.
- 1 Kings 1:21 Hebrew, sinners.
- 1 Kings 1:23 Acknowledging him to be the true and worthy King appointed of God, as the figure of his Christ.
- 1 Kings 1:25 Hebrew, let the king Adonijah live.
- 1 Kings 1:27 Meaning, that he ought in such affairs enterprise nothing except he had consulted with the Lord.
- 1 Kings 1:30 Moved by the Spirit of God so to do, because he foresaw that Solomon should be the figure of Christ.
- 1 Kings 1:33 Meaning, the king’s servants and such as were of his guard.
- 1 Kings 1:35 Hebrew, commanded.
- 1 Kings 1:36 Hebrew, say so.
- 1 Kings 1:39 Wherewith they accustomed to anoint the Priests and the holy instruments, Exod. 30:23.
- 1 Kings 1:40 Hebrew, brake.
- 1 Kings 1:42 Hebrew, a man of power.
- 1 Kings 1:42 He praised Jonathan, thinking to have heard comfortable news but God wrought things contrary to his expectation, and so did beat down his pride.
- 1 Kings 1:47 To salute him, and to pray and praise God for him.
- 1 Kings 1:47 He gave God thanks for the good success.
- 1 Kings 1:50 Which David his father had built in the floor of Araunah, 2 Sam. 24:25.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
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