1 Kings 1:11-27

International Children’s Bible

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?”