El rey David era ya viejo, entrado en días, y lo cubrían de ropas pero no entraba en calor. 2 Entonces sus siervos le dijeron: Que se busque para mi señor el rey una joven virgen para que atienda al¹ rey y sea quien lo cuide; que ella se acueste en tu seno y entrará en calor mi señor el rey. 3 Se buscó a una joven hermosa por toda la tierra de Israel, y hallaron a Abisag sunamita^a y la trajeron al rey. 4 La joven era muy hermosa; ella cuidaba al rey y le servía, pero el rey no la conoció.

5 Entretanto Adonías, hijo de Haguit^a, se ensalzaba diciendo: Yo seré rey. Y preparó para sí carros y hombres de a caballo y cincuenta hombres que corrieran¹ delante de él^b. 6 Su padre nunca lo había contrariado¹ preguntándole: ¿Por qué has hecho esto? Era también hombre de muy hermoso parecer, y había nacido² después de Absalón^a. 7 Y había consultado¹ con Joab, hijo de Sarvia^a, y con el sacerdote Abiatar^b, que respaldaban a Adonías^c. 8 Pero el sacerdote Sadoc^a, Benaía, hijo de Joiada^b, el profeta Natán^c, Simei^d, Rei y los valientes que tenía David^e, no estaban con Adonías. 9 Y Adonías sacrificó ovejas, bueyes y animales cebados junto a la piedra de Zohélet¹, que está al lado de En-rogel^a; e invitó a todos sus hermanos, los hijos del rey, y a todos los hombres de Judá, siervos del rey. 10 Pero no invitó al profeta Natán, ni a Benaía, ni a los valientes, ni a Salomón su hermano^a.

11 Entonces Natán habló a Betsabé, madre de Salomón^a, diciendo: ¿No has oído que Adonías, hijo de Haguit, se ha hecho rey y que David nuestro señor no lo sabe? 12 Ahora pues, ven, voy a darte un consejo^a para que salves tu vida y la vida de tu hijo Salomón. 13 Ve ahora mismo¹ al rey David y dile: «¿No has jurado tú, oh rey mi señor, a tu sierva, diciendo: “Ciertamente tu hijo Salomón será rey después de mí y se sentará en mi trono^a”? ¿Por qué, pues, se ha hecho rey Adonías?». 14 He aquí, mientras estés aún hablando con el rey, yo entraré tras de ti y confirmaré tus palabras.

15 Y Betsabé vino a ver al rey en la alcoba. El rey era muy anciano^a, y Abisag sunamita le servía¹. 16 Entonces Betsabé se inclinó y se postró ante el¹ rey. Y el rey dijo: ¿Qué deseas?² 17 Ella le respondió: Mi señor, tú juraste a tu sierva por el SEÑOR tu Dios, diciendo: «Ciertamente tu hijo Salomón será rey después de mí y se sentará en mi trono^a». 18 Y he aquí, ahora Adonías es rey; y tú, mi señor el rey, hasta ahora no lo sabes. 19 Él ha sacrificado bueyes, animales cebados y ovejas en abundancia, y ha invitado a todos los hijos del rey^a, al sacerdote Abiatar y a Joab, comandante del ejército, pero no ha invitado a Salomón tu siervo. 20 Y en cuanto a ti, mi señor el rey, los ojos de todo Israel están sobre ti, para que les hagas saber quién ha de sentarse en el trono de mi señor el rey después de él. 21 Pues sucederá que en cuanto mi señor el rey duerma con sus padres^a, yo y mi hijo Salomón seremos tenidos por culpables¹.

22 Y he aquí que mientras ella estaba aún hablando con el rey, entró el profeta Natán. 23 E informaron al rey, diciendo: Aquí está el profeta Natán. Cuandoeste entró a la presencia del rey, se postró ante el¹ rey rostro en tierra. 24 Entonces Natán dijo: Mi señor el rey, ¿has dicho tú: «Adonías será rey después de mí y se sentará en mi trono»? 25 Porque él ha descendido hoy y ha sacrificado bueyes, animales cebados y ovejas en abundancia, ha invitado a todos los hijos del rey, a los comandantes del ejército^a y al sacerdote Abiatar, y he aquí, están comiendo y bebiendo en su presencia, y gritan¹: «¡Viva el rey^b Adonías!». 26 Pero ni a mí, tu siervo, ni al sacerdote Sadoc, ni a Benaía, hijo de Joiada, ni a tu siervo Salomón ha invitado^a. 27 ¿Ha sido hecho esto por mi señor el rey, y no has declarado a tus siervos¹ quién había de sentarse en el trono de mi señor el rey después de él?

28 Entonces el rey David respondió y dijo: Llamadme a Betsabé. Y ella entró a la presencia del rey, y se puso delante del rey. 29 Y el rey juró, diciendo: Vive el SEÑOR, que ha redimido mi vida de toda angustia^a, 30 que ciertamente como te juré por el SEÑOR, Dios de Israel, diciendo: «Tu hijo Salomón será rey después de mí, y él se sentará sobre mi trono en mi lugar^a», así lo haré hoy mismo. 31 Betsabé se inclinó rostro en tierra, se postró ante el¹ rey y dijo: Viva para siempre mi señor el rey David^a.

32 Entonces el rey David dijo: Llamadme al sacerdote Sadoc, al profeta Natán y a Benaía, hijo de Joiada^a. Ellos entraron a la presencia del rey, 33 y el rey les dijo: Tomad con vosotros a los siervos de vuestro señor^a, haced montar a mi hijo Salomón en mi propia mula y bajadle a Gihón^b. 34 Que allí el sacerdote Sadoc y el profeta Natán lo unjan como rey sobre Israel^a; y tocad trompeta y decid^b: «¡Viva el rey^c Salomón!». 35 Después subiréis tras él, y él vendrá, se sentará en mi trono y reinará en mi lugar; porque lo he escogido para que sea príncipe sobre Israel y sobre Judá. 36 Y Benaía, hijo de Joiada, respondió al rey y dijo: ¡Amén! Así lo diga también el SEÑOR, el Dios de mi señor el rey. 37 Como el SEÑOR ha estado con mi señor el rey^a, así esté con Salomón, y haga su trono más grande que el trono de mi señor el rey David^b.

38 Entonces el sacerdote Sadoc, el profeta Natán, Benaía, hijo de Joiada^a, los cereteos y los peleteos^b, descendieron e hicieron que Salomón montara en la mula del rey David, y lo llevaron a Gihón^c. 39 El sacerdote Sadoc tomó el cuerno de aceite de la tienda^a y ungió a Salomón^b. Entonces tocaron trompeta, y todo el pueblo gritó¹: ¡Viva el rey^c Salomón^d! 40 Luego todo el pueblo subió tras él; y el pueblo tocaba flautas y se regocijaba con gran alegría, de modo que la tierra se estremecía¹ con su sonido.

41 Y lo oyó Adonías y todos los invitados que estaban con él cuando habían terminado de comer. Al oír Joab el sonido de la trompeta, dijo: ¿Por qué hace la ciudad tal alboroto¹? 42 Estaba aún hablando, cuando he aquí, llegó Jonatán, hijo del sacerdote Abiatar^a. Y Adonías le dijo: Entra, pues tú eres hombre valiente y traerás buenas noticias^b. 43 Pero Jonatán respondió y dijo a Adonías: Al contrario. Nuestro señor el rey David ha hecho rey a Salomón. 44 El rey también ha enviado con él al sacerdote Sadoc, al profeta Natán, a Benaía, hijo de Joiada, a los cereteos y a los peleteos, y ellos lo han montado en la mula del rey. 45 Y el sacerdote Sadoc y el profeta Natán lo han ungido rey en Gihón, y de allí han subido gozosos y se ha alborotado la ciudad^a. Este es el ruido que habéis oído. 46 Además, Salomón ya se ha sentado en el trono del reino^a, 47 y aun los siervos del rey han ido a bendecir a nuestro señor el rey David, diciendo: «Que tu Dios haga el nombre de Salomón más célebre¹ que tu nombre y su trono más grande que tu trono^a». Y el rey ha adorado en el lecho^b. 48 El rey también ha dicho así: Bendito sea el SEÑOR, Dios de Israel, que ha concedido que se siente hoy en mi trono^a un descendiente mío¹ mientras mis ojos lo ven.

49 Entonces todos los invitados de Adonías se aterrorizaron, y se levantaron y cada uno se fue por su camino. 50 Adonías tuvo miedo de Salomón, y se levantó, se fue y se asió de los cuernos del altar^a. 51 Y avisaron a Salomón, diciéndole: He aquí, Adonías tiene miedo del rey Salomón, y¹ se ha asido de los cuernos del altar, diciendo: «Que el rey Salomón me jure hoy que no matará a espada a su siervo». 52 Y Salomón dijo: Si es hombre digno, ni uno de sus cabellos caerá en tierra^a; pero si se halla maldad en él, morirá. 53 Entonces el rey Salomón envió que lo hicieran descender del altar. Y él vino y se postró ante el¹ rey Salomón, y Salomón le dijo: Vete a tu casa.

Now King David was old, advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm. 2 So his servants said to him, “Let them seek a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her ¹attend the king and become his nurse; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.” 3 So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the ^aShunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not ¹cohabit with her.

5 Now ^aAdonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” So ^bhe prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him. 6 His father had never ¹crossed him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?” And he was also a very handsome man, and ^2ahe was born after Absalom. 7 ¹He had conferred with ^aJoab the son of Zeruiah and with ^bAbiathar the priest; and following ^cAdonijah they helped him. 8 But ^aZadok the priest, ^bBenaiah the son of Jehoiada, ^cNathan the prophet, ^dShimei, Rei, and ^ethe mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the ¹stone of Zoheleth, which is beside ^aEn-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and ^aSolomon his brother.

11 Then Nathan spoke to ^aBathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? 12 So now come, please let me ^agive you counsel and save your life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go ¹at once to King David and say to him, ‘Have you not, my lord, O king, sworn to your maidservant, saying, “^aSurely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

15 So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom. Now ^athe king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king. 16 Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself ¹before the king. And the king said, “What ²do you wish?” 17 She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God, saying, ‘^aSurely your son Solomon shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18 Now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it. 19 ^aHe has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20 As for you now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it will come about, ^aas soon as my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered ¹offenders.”

22 Behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 23 They told the king, saying, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king, he prostrated himself ¹before the king with his face to the ground. 24 Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25 ^aFor he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons and the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they are eating and drinking before him; and they say, ‘^bLong live King Adonijah!’ 26 ^aBut me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and your servant Solomon, he has not invited. 27 Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not shown to your ¹servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

28 Then King David said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29 The king vowed and said, “^aAs the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 30 surely as ^aI vowed to you by the LORD the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’; I will indeed do so this day.” 31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself ¹before the king and said, “^aMay my lord King David live forever.”

32 Then King David said, “Call to me ^aZadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” And they came into the king’s presence. 33 The king said to them, “Take with you ^athe servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to ^bGihon. 34 Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet ^aanoint him there as king over Israel, and ^bblow the trumpet and say, ‘^cLong live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne and be king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! Thus may the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say. 37 ^aAs the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and ^bmake his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!”

38 So ^aZadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, ^bthe Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to ^cGihon. 39 Zadok the priest then ^atook the horn of oil from the tent and ^banointed Solomon. Then they ^cblew the trumpet, and all the people said, “^dLong live King Solomon!” 40 All the people went up after him, and the people ¹were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth ²shook at their noise.

41 Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why ¹is the city making such an uproar?” 42 While he was still speaking, behold, ^aJonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Then Adonijah said, “Come in, for ^byou are a valiant man and bring good news.” 43 But Jonathan replied to Adonijah, “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king has also sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have made him ride on the king’s mule. 45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from there rejoicing, ^aso that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which you have heard. 46 Besides, ^aSolomon has even taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom. 47 Moreover, the king’s servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May ^ayour God make the name of Solomon better than your name and his throne greater than your throne!’ And ^bthe king bowed himself on the bed. 48 The king has also said thus, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who ^ahas granted one to sit on my throne today while my own eyes see it.’”

49 Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified; and they arose and each went on his way. 50 And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went and ^atook hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Now it was told Solomon, saying, “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 52 Solomon said, “If he is a worthy man, ^anot one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die.” 53 So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself ¹before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

Now King David was old, ¹advanced in age; and they covered him with garments, but he could not keep warm. 2 So his servants said to him, “Have them search for a young virgin for my lord the king, and have her ¹attend the king and become his nurse; and have her lie on your chest, so that my lord the king may keep warm.” 3 So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the ^aShunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not ¹become intimate with her.

5 Now ^aAdonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” So ^bhe prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run before him. 6 And his father had never rebuked him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?” And he was also a very handsome man, and ^1ahe was born after Absalom. 7 Now ¹he had conferred with ^aJoab the son of Zeruiah and with ^bAbiathar the priest; and they allied themselves with ^cAdonijah. 8 But ^aZadok the priest, ^bBenaiah the son of Jehoiada, ^cNathan the prophet, ^dShimei, Rei, and ^ethe mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened steers by the ¹stone of Zoheleth, which is beside ^aEn-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother ^aSolomon.

11 Then Nathan spoke to ^aBathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? 12 So now come, please let me ^agive you advice, and save your life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go ¹at once to King David and say to him, ‘Have you not, my lord the king, sworn to your servant, saying, “^aSolomon your son certainly shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

15 So Bathsheba entered to the king in the bedroom. Now ^athe king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king. 16 Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself ¹before the king. And the king said, “What ²is on your mind?” 17 So she said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to your servant by the LORD your God, saying, ‘^aYour son Solomon certainly shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18 But now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it. 19 ^aHe has sacrificed oxen and fattened steers and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20 And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, to announce to them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it will come about, ^aas soon as my lord the king ¹lies down with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered ²offenders.”

22 And behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 23 They informed the king, saying, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And when he came into the king’s presence, he prostrated himself ¹before the king with his face to the ground. 24 Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you yourself said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25 ^aFor he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fattened steers and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they are eating and drinking in his presence; and they say, ‘^bLong live King Adonijah!’ 26 ^aBut me, even me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not invited. 27 Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not let your ¹servants know who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

28 Then King David responded and said, “Summon Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29 Then the king vowed and said, “^aAs the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 30 certainly as ^aI vowed to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon certainly shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’; I will indeed do so this day.” 31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself before the king and said, “^aMay my lord King David live forever.”

32 Then King David said, “Summon to me ^aZadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” And they came into the king’s presence. 33 And the king said to them, “Take with you ^athe servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to ^bGihon. 34 And have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet ^aanoint him there as king over Israel, and ^bblow the trumpet and say, ‘^cLong live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say the same. 37 ^aJust as the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and ^bmake his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!”

38 So ^aZadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, ^bthe Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to ^cGihon. 39 And Zadok the priest then ^atook the horn of oil from the tent and ^banointed Solomon. Then they ^cblew the trumpet, and all the people said, “^dLong live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people went up after him, and the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth ¹shook at their noise.

41 Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard this as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is the ¹city making such an uproar?” 42 While he was still speaking, behold, ^aJonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Then Adonijah said, “Come in, for ^byou are a valiant man and you bring good news.” 43 But Jonathan replied to Adonijah, “On the contrary! Our lord King David has made Solomon king! 44 The king has also sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have mounted him on the king’s mule. 45 Furthermore, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from there rejoicing, ^aso that the city is going wild. This is the noise which you have heard. 46 Besides, ^aSolomon has even taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom. 47 Moreover, the king’s servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May ^ayour God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and his throne greater than your throne!’ And ^bthe king bowed himself on the bed. 48 The king has also said this: ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who ^ahas granted one to sit on my throne today while my own eyes see it.’”

49 Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and got up, and each went on his way. 50 Adonijah also was afraid of Solomon, and he got up, and went, and ^atook hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Now it was reported to Solomon, saying, “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘May King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 52 And Solomon said, “If he is a worthy man, ^anot one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die.” 53 So King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

Now King David was ¹old, advanced in years; they covered him with clothes, but he could not get warm. 2 So his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be found for my lord the king and let her attend him and become his nurse; let her lie against your chest, so that my lord the king may feel warm.” 3 So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the ^1aShunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king ¹was not intimate with her.

5 Then ^aAdonijah the son of David’s wife Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I the eldest living son will be king.” So following Absalom’s example ^bhe prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 2+@Sam 15:1 6 His father David had ¹never rebuked him at any time by asking, “Why have you done this?” Adonijah was also a very handsome man, and ^ahe was born after Absalom. 7 He had conferred with ^1aJoab the son of Zeruiah David’s half-sister and with ^bAbiathar the priest; and they followed ^cAdonijah and helped him. 8 But ^aZadok the priest, ^bBenaiah the son of Jehoiada, ^cNathan the prophet, ^dShimei, Rei, and David’s ^1emost formidable warriors did not side with Adonijah in his desire to become king.

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened steers by the Stone of Zoheleth, which is beside the well ^aEn-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants to this feast. 2+@Sam 15:7-12 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the most formidable warriors, or his brother ^aSolomon.

11 Then Nathan spoke to ^aBathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know about it? 12 Come now, please let me ^aadvise you and save your life and the life of your son Solomon. 2+@Sam 12:24, 25 13 Go at once to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, “^aSolomon your son shall certainly be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14 Behold, 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 bedroom. Now ^athe king was very old and weak, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending the king. 16 So Bathsheba bowed down and paid respect to the king. And the king said, “¹What do you wish?” 17 She said to him, “My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your maidservant, saying, ‘^aSolomon your son shall certainly be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18 But now, behold, Adonijah is acting as king; and now as things stand, my lord the king, you do not know it. 19 ^aHe has sacrificed oxen and fattened steers and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army to a feast, but he did not invite your servant Solomon. 20 Now as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all ¹Israel are on you waiting for you to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it will come about ^awhen my lord the king lies down in death with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered ¹political enemies.”

22 While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 23 The king was told, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came before the king, he bowed before the king with his face to the ground. 24 Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25 ^aBecause he has gone down today to En-Rogel and has sacrificed oxen and fattened steers and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest to this feast; and right now they are eating and drinking in his presence; and they say, ‘^bLong live King Adonijah!’ 26 ^aBut he has not invited me, your servant, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. 27 If this thing has been done by my lord the king, why have you not shown your servants who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

28 King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. 29 Then the king swore an oath and said, “^aAs the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul from all distress, 30 even as ^aI swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall certainly be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’; I will indeed do so this very day.” 31 Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, and laid herself face down before the king and said, “^aMay my lord King David live forever!”

32 Then King David said, “Call ^aZadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada to me.” And they came before the king. 33 The king told them, “Take ^athe ¹servants of your lord with you and have Solomon my son ²ride on my own mule, and bring him down to ^bthe spring at ³Gihon in the Kidron Valley. 34 Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet ^aanoint him there as king over Israel. Then ^bblow the trumpet and say, ‘^cLong live King Solomon!’ 35 Then you shall come up to Jerusalem after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne and he shall reign as king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah the overseer of the king’s bodyguards, the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! (So be it!) May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say so too. 37 ^1aJust as the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and ^bmake his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!”

38 So ^aZadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, ^bthe Cherethites, and the Pelethites the king’s bodyguards went down from Jerusalem and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to ^cthe spring at Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest ^atook a horn of olive oil from the sacred tent and ^banointed Solomon. They ^cblew the trumpet, and all the people said, “^dLong live King Solomon!” 40 All the people went up after him, and they were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook and seemed to burst open with their joyful sound.

41 Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the trumpet sound, he said, “¹Why is the city in such an uproar?” 42 While he was still speaking, behold, ^aJonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. And Adonijah said, “Come in, for ^byou are a valiant and trustworthy man and you bring good news.” 2+@Sam 17:17-21 43 But Jonathan replied to Adonijah, “No, on the contrary, our lord King David has made Solomon king! 44 The king has sent him with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have had him ride on the king’s own royal mule. 45 Also, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from there celebrating, ^aso the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which you have heard. 46 ^aBesides, Solomon has taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom. 47 Moreover, the king’s servants came to bless (congratulate) our lord King David, saying, ‘May ^1ayour God make the name of Solomon better (more famous) than your name and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And ^bthe king bowed himself before God upon the bed. 48 The king has also said this: ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who ^ahas granted one of my descendants to sit on my throne today and allowed my eyes to see it.’”

49 Then all Adonijah’s guests were terrified of being branded as traitors and stood up and left the feast, and each one went on his way. 50 And Adonijah feared Solomon, and he got up and went to the tabernacle on Mt. Zion and ^atook hold of the horns of the altar seeking asylum. 51 Now Solomon was told, “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, and behold, he has grasped the horns of the altar seeking God’s protection, saying, ‘King Solomon must swear to me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’” 52 Solomon said, “If he proves he is a worthy man, ^anot even one of his hairs shall fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” 53 So King Solomon sent soldiers, and they brought Adonijah down from the altar that was in front of the tabernacle. And he came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”