1 Kings 1:28-40

The Voice

King David: ²⁸Tell Bathsheba to come here.

So Bathsheba entered the king’s chambers and stood in front of him.

King David (swearing): ²⁹As certain as the life of the Eternal One, the One who rescued me from all trouble, ³⁰today I will uphold what I promised to you by the Eternal, the God of Israel, when I said, “Your son, Solomon, will reign as king after me. He will inherit my throne.”

³¹Bathsheba was overwhelmed with gratefulness, and she bowed down before King David, putting her face to the floor.

Bathsheba: May you live forever, my lord, King David.

King David: ³²Tell Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son) to come here.

They entered the king’s chambers.

King David: ³³Lead my servants and my son, Solomon, down to Gihon. Give Solomon one of my own mules to ride.

³⁴Zadok and Nathan, listen. When you arrive at Gihon, anoint Solomon as Israel’s king. Sound the trumpet, and proclaim, “May King Solomon have a long life!” ³⁵Then follow after him, for he will then sit on my throne and replace me as king. I have named him ruler over Israel and Judah even though he is not my oldest son.

Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son): ³⁶So be it! May the Eternal One, the True God of my lord and king, agree and bless Solomon. ³⁷Just as the Eternal One has been a friend to my lord, King David, may He be so to Solomon. May He make Solomon’s reign even greater than David’s!

³⁸So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son), and David’s mercenary guards—the Cherethites and the Pelethites—journeyed together to Gihon; and Solomon rode on the back of one of David’s mules.

³⁹Zadok the priest anointed Solomon with the horn of oil from the congregation tent. Then the trumpet was sounded, and everyone proclaimed, “May King Solomon have a long life!” ⁴⁰Everyone then followed after Solomon. They played their wind instruments and joyfully celebrated until the sound shook the earth.

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