1 Kings 1

1 Now King Dawid was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, “Let there be sought for my lord (adoni) the king a young virgin; and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord (adoni) the king may get heat.”

3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Yisrael, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.

5 Then Adoniyah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, “Why have you done so?” And he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Avshalom.

7 And he conferred with Yoav the son of Tseruyah, and with Aviyahthar the priest (kohen); and they following Adoniyah helped him.

8 But Zadok the priest (kohen), and Benayah the son of Yehoyada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to Dawid, were not with Adoniyah.

9 And Adoniyah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah (Yehudah) the king’s servants.

10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benayah, and the mighty men, and N39Solomon (Shelomoh) his brother, he called not.

11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bat-Sheva the mother of Solomon (Shelomoh), saying, “Have you not heard that Adoniyah the son of Haggith doth reign, and Dawid our lord (adon) knoweth it not?

12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray you, give you counsel, that you mayest save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon (Shelomoh).

13 Go and get you in unto King Dawid, and say unto him, ‘Didst not you, my lord (adoni), O king, swear unto your handmaid, saying, “Assuredly Solomon (Shelomoh) your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?” Why then doth Adoniyah reign?’

14 Behold, while you yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words.”

15 And Bat-Sheva went in unto the king into the chamber; and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

16 And Bat-Sheva bowed, and prostrated herself unto the king. And the king said, “What wouldest you?”

17 And she said unto him, “My lord (Adoni), you swarest by יהוה your God (Elohim) unto your handmaid, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon (Shelomoh) your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.’

18 And now, behold, Adoniyah reigneth; and now, my lord (adoni) the king, you knowest it not.

19 And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Aviyahthar the priest (kohen), and Yoav the captain of the army; but Solomon (Shelomoh) your servant hath he not called.

20 And you, my lord (adoni), O king, the eyes of all Yisrael are upon you, that you shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord (adoni) the king after him.

21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord (adoni) the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon (Shelomoh) shall be counted offenders.”

22 And, behold, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

23 And they told the king, saying, “Behold Nathan the prophet.” And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

24 And Nathan said, “My lord (Adoni), O king, have you said, ‘Adoniyah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne’?

25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the army, and Aviyahthar the priest (kohen); and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, ‘Long live King Adoniyah!’

26 But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest (kohen), and Benayah the son of Yehoyada, and your servant Solomon (Shelomoh), hath he not called.

27 Is this thing done by my lord (adoni) the king, and you have not shewed it unto your servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord (adoni) the king after him?”

28 Then King Dawid answered and said, “Call Bat-Sheva to me.” And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.

29 And the king sware, and said, “As יהוה liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,

30 Even as I sware unto you by יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon (Shelo-moh) your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead’; even so will I certainly do this day.”

31 Then Bat-Sheva bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, “Let my lord (adoni) King Dawid live forever!”

32 And King Dawid said, “Call to me Zadok the priest (kohen), and Nathan the prophet, and Benayah the son of Yehoyada.” And they came before the king.

33 The king also said unto them, “Take with you the servants of your lord (adon), and cause Solomon (Shelomoh) my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

34 And let Zadok the priest (kohen) and Nathan the prophet anoints him there king over Yisrael: and blow you with the shofar, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon (Shelomoh)!’

35 Then you shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead; and I have appointed him to be ruler over Yisrael and over Judah (Yehudah).”

36 And Benayah the son of Yehoyada answered the king, and said, “Amen! May יהוה God of my lord (Elohei adoni) the king says so too.

37 As יהוה hath been with my lord (adoni) the king, even so be he with Solomon (Shelomoh), and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord (adoni) King Dawid.”

38 So Zadok the priest (kohen), and Nathan the prophet, and Benayah the son of Yehoyada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon (Shelomoh) to ride upon King Dawid’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.

39 And Zadok the priest (kohen) took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon (Shelomoh). And they blew the shofar; and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon (Shelomoh)!”

40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

41 And Adoniyah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Yoav heard the sound of the shofar, he said, “Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?”

42 And while he yet spake, behold, N38Yonatan the son of Aviyahthar the priest (kohen) came; and Adoniyah said unto him, “Come in, for you are a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.”

43 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) answered and said to Adoniyah, “Verily our lord (adoneinu) King Dawid hath made Solomon (Shelomoh) king.”

44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest (kohen), and Nathan the prophet, and Benayah the son of Yehoyada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule.

45 And Zadok the priest (kohen) and Nathan the prophet has anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.

46 And also Solomon (Shelomoh) sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

47 And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord (adon) King Dawid, saying, ‘God (Elohim) make the name of Solomon (Shelomoh) better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king bowed himself upon the bed.

48 And also thus said the king, ‘Blessed be יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.’”

49 And all the guests that were with Adoniyah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

50 And Adoniyah feared because of Solomon (Shelomoh), and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

51 And it was told Solomon (Shelomoh), saying, “Behold, Adoniyah feareth King Solomon (Shelomoh); for, behold, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon (Shelomoh) swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.’”

52 And Solomon (Shelomoh) said, “If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.”

53 So King Solomon (Shelomoh) sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to King Solomon (Shelomoh); and Solomon (Shelomoh) said unto him, “Go to your house.”