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David Makes Solomon King

28 Then the king said, “Tell Bathsheba to come in!” So she came in and stood before the king.

29 Then the king made this promise, “The Lord has saved me from all trouble. As surely as he lives, 30 I will do today what I have promised you in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. I promised that your son Solomon would be king after me and rule on my throne in my place.”

31 Then Bathsheba bowed facedown on the ground and knelt before the king and 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.” When they came before the king, 33 he 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 up here with him. He will sit on my throne and rule in my place, because he is the one I have chosen to be the ruler over Israel and Judah.”

36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! This is what the Lord, the God of my master, has declared! 37 The Lord has always helped you, our king. May he also help Solomon and make King Solomon’s throne an even greater throne than yours.”

38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada left with the Kerethites and Pelethites.[a] They put Solomon on King David’s mule and took him to the spring called Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the container of olive oil from the Holy Tent and poured the 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. Playing flutes and shouting for joy, they made so much noise the ground shook.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:38 Kerethites and Pelethites These were probably special units of the army that were responsible for the king’s safety, a kind of palace guard.

David Makes Solomon King(A)

28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble,(B) 30 I will surely carry out this very day what I swore(C) to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

32 King David said, “Call in Zadok(D) the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule(E) and take him down to Gihon.(F) 34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint(G) him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet(H) and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 37 As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with(I) Solomon to make his throne even greater(J) than the throne of my lord King David!”

38 So Zadok(K) the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites(L) and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.(M) 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil(N) from the sacred tent(O) and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet(P) and all the people shouted,(Q) “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him, playing pipes(R) and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.

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