1 Kings 1:11-27

Evangelical Heritage Version

Nathan and Bathsheba Support Solomon

¹¹ Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know about it? ¹² Now let me give you some advice on how to save your life and the life of your son Solomon: ¹³ Go to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, didn’t you swear to me your servant and promise me, “Your son Solomon will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Then why has Adonijah become king?’ ¹⁴ Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

¹⁵ So Bathsheba went to the king in his chamber. The king was very old, and Abishag from Shunem was taking care of him. ¹⁶ Bathsheba knelt and bowed down before the king. The king said, “Why have you come?”

¹⁷ She said, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God and promised, ‘Your son Solomon will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ ¹⁸ But now, look, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know about it. ¹⁹ He has sacrificed cattle, specially fattened calves, and sheep in abundance. He has invited all the king’s sons, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon. ²⁰ Now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, waiting for you to tell them who will sit on my lord the king’s throne after him. ²¹ If you do not, when my lord the king rests with^[a] his fathers, then I and my son Solomon will be treated like traitors.”

²² Just then, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. ²³ The king was told, “The prophet Nathan is here.” Nathan went in and bowed down to the ground before the king.

²⁴ Nathan said, “Did you, my lord the king, say, ‘Adonijah will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne’? ²⁵ Today he has gone out and sacrificed a great many cattle, specially fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. They are even eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ ²⁶ But he has not invited me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon. ²⁷ Has this command about who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him really come from my lord the king, even though you have not made this known to your servants?”