1 Kings 1
1
Adonijah Tries to Seize the Throne
1 King David was very old;#tn Heb “was old, coming into the days” (i.e., advancing in years). even when they covered him with blankets,#tn Or “garments.” he could not get warm. 2 His servants advised#tn Heb “said to.” him, “A young virgin must be found for our master, the king,#tn Heb “let them seek for my master, the king, a young girl, a virgin.” The third person plural subject of the verb is indefinite (see GKC 460 §144.f). The appositional expression, “a young girl, a virgin,” is idiomatic; the second term specifically defines the more general first term (see IBHS 230 §12.3b). to take care of the king’s needs#tn Heb “and she will stand before the king.” The Hebrew phrase “stand before” can mean “to attend; to serve” (BDB 764 s.v. עָמַד). and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you#tn Heb “and she will lie down in your bosom.” The expression might imply sexual intimacy (see 2 Sam 12:3 [where the lamb symbolizes Bathsheba] and Mic 7:5), though v. 4b indicates that David did not actually have sex with the young woman. and keep our master, the king, warm.”#tn Heb “and my master, the king, will be warm.” 3 So they looked through all Israel#tn Heb “through all the territory of Israel.” for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.#tn Heb “did not know her.”
5 Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith,#tn Heb “son of Haggith,” but since this formula usually designates the father (who in this case was David), the translation specifies that David was Adonijah’s father.sn Haggith was one of David’s wives (2 Sam 3:4; 2 Chr 3:2). was promoting himself,#tn Heb “lifting himself up.” boasting,#tn Heb “saying.” “I will be king!” He managed to acquire#tn Or “he acquired for himself.” chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.#tn Heb “to run ahead of him.” 6 (Now his father had never corrected#tn Or “disciplined.” him#tn Heb “did not correct him from his days.” The phrase “from his days” means “from his earliest days,” or “ever in his life.” See GKC 382 §119.w, n. 2. by saying, “Why do you do such things?” He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.#tn Heb “and she gave birth to him after Absalom.” This does not imply they had the same mother; Absalom’s mother was Maacah, not Haggith (2 Sam 3:4).) 7 He collaborated#tn Heb “his words were.” with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported#tn Heb “helped after” (i.e., stood by). him.#tn Heb “Adonijah.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation for stylistic reasons. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s elite warriors#tn Or “bodyguard” (Heb “mighty men”). did not ally themselves#tn Heb “were not.” with Adonijah. 9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened steers at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons,#tc The ancient Greek version omits this appositional phrase. as well as all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors,#tn Or “bodyguard” (Heb “mighty men”). or his brother Solomon.
11 Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Has it been reported to you#tn Heb “Have you not heard?” that Haggith’s son Adonijah has become king behind our master David’s back?#tn Heb “and our master David does not know.” 12 Now#tn Heb “now, come.” The imperative of הָלַךְ (halakh) is here used as an introductory interjection. See BDB 234 s.v. חָלַךְ. let me give you some advice as to how#tn Or “so that.” you can save your life and your son Solomon’s life. 13 Visit#tn Heb “come, go to.” The imperative of הָלַךְ (halakh) is here used as an introductory interjection. See BDB 234 s.v. חָלַךְ. King David and say to him, ‘My master, O king, did you not solemnly promise#tn Or “swear an oath to.” your servant, “Surely your son Solomon will be king after me; he will sit on my throne”? So why has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While#tn In the Hebrew text the sentence is introduced by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”), which here draws attention to Nathan’s concluding word of assurance and support. For this use of the word, see HALOT 252 s.v. הִנֵּה. you are still there speaking to the king, I will arrive#tc The Hebrew text reads, “I will come after you.” and verify your report.”#tn Heb “fill up [i.e., confirm] your words.”
15 So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters.#tn Or “bedroom.” (The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.) 16 Bathsheba bowed down on the floor before#tn Heb “bowed low and bowed down to.” the king. The king said, “What do you want?” 17 She replied to him, “My master, you swore an oath to your servant by the Lord your God, ‘Solomon your son will be king after me and he will sit on my throne.’ 18 But now, look, Adonijah has become king! But you,#tc Instead of עַתָּה (’attah, “now”) many Hebrew mss, along with the Old Greek, Syriac Peshitta, and Latin Vulgate, have the similar sounding independent pronoun אַתָּה (’attah, “you”). This reading is followed in the present translation. my master the king, are not even aware of it!#tn Heb “you do not know [about it].” 19 He has sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon. 20 Now,#tc Many Hebrew mss have עַתָּה (’attah, “now”) rather than the similar sounding independent pronoun אַתָּה (’attah, “you”). my master, O king, all Israel is watching anxiously to see who is named to succeed my master the king on the throne.#tn Heb “the eyes of all Israel are upon you to declare to them who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him.” 21 If a decision is not made,#tn The words “if a decision is not made” are added for clarification. when my master the king is buried with his ancestors,#tn Heb “lies down with his fathers.” my son Solomon and I#tn Heb “I and my son Solomon.” The order has been reversed in the translation for stylistic reasons. will be considered state criminals.”#tn Heb “will be guilty”; NASB “considered offenders”; TEV “treated as traitors.”
22 Just then,#tn Heb “look.” The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) here draws attention to Nathan’s arrival and invites the audience to view the scene through the eyes of the participants. while she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 The king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” Nathan entered and bowed before the king with his face to the floor.#tn Heb “ground.” Since this was indoors, “floor” is more appropriate than “ground.” 24 Nathan said, “My master, O king, did you announce, ‘Adonijah will be king after me; he will sit on my throne’? 25 For today he has gone down and sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king’s sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. At this moment#tn Heb “look.” they are having a feast#tn Heb “eating and drinking.” in his presence, and they have declared, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’#tn Heb “let the king, Adonijah, live!” 26 But he did not invite me – your servant – or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon. 27 Has my master the king authorized this without informing your servants#tc Many Hebrew mss and ancient textual witnesses agree with the Qere in reading this as singular, “your servant.” who should succeed my master the king on his throne?”#tn Heb “From my master the king is this thing done, and you did not make known to your servants who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him?”
David Picks Solomon as His Successor
28 King David responded,#tn Heb “answered and said.” “Summon Bathsheba!”#sn Summon Bathsheba. Bathsheba must have left the room when Nathan arrived (see 1:22). She came and stood before the king.#tn Heb “she came before the king and stood before the king.” 29 The king swore an oath: “As certainly as the Lord lives (he who has rescued me#tn Or “ransomed my life.” from every danger), 30 I will keep#tn Or “carry out, perform.” today the oath I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel: ‘Surely Solomon your son will be king after me; he will sit in my place on my throne.’” 31 Bathsheba bowed down to the king with her face to the floor#tn Heb “bowed low, face [to] the ground, and bowed down to the king.” and said, “May my master, King David, live forever!”
32 King David said, “Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet,#sn Summon…Nathan. Nathan must have left the room when Bathsheba reentered. and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king, 33 and he#tn Heb “the king.” told them, “Take your master’s#tn The plural form is used in the Hebrew text to indicate honor and authority. servants with you, put my son Solomon on my mule, and lead him down to Gihon.#tn Heb “mount Solomon my son on the mule that belongs to me and take him down to Gihon.” 34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint#tn Or “designate” (i.e., by anointing with oil). him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then follow him up as he comes and sits on my throne. He will be king in my place; I have decreed#tn Or “commanded.” that he will be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada responded#tn Heb “answered and said.” to the king: “So be it!#tn Or “Amen.” May the Lord God of my master the king confirm it!#tn Heb “So may the Lord God of my master the king say.” 37 As the Lord is with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and may he make him an even greater king than my master King David!”#tn Heb “and may he make his throne greater than the throne of my master King David.”
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites#sn The Kerethites and Pelethites were members of David’s royal guard (see 2 Sam 8:18). The Kerethites may have been descendants of an ethnic group originating in Crete. went down, put Solomon on King David’s mule, and led him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took a horn filled with olive oil#tn Heb “the horn of oil.” This has been specified as olive oil in the translation for clarity.sn A horn filled with oil. An animal’s horn was used as an oil flask in the anointing ceremony. from the tent and poured it on#tn Or “anointed.” Solomon; the trumpet was blown and all the people declared, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 All the people followed him up, playing flutes and celebrating so loudly they made the ground shake.#tn Heb “and all the people went up after him, and the people were playing flutes and rejoicing with great joy and the ground split open at the sound of them.” The verb בָּקַע (baqa’, “to split open”), which elsewhere describes the effects of an earthquake, is obviously here an exaggeration for the sake of emphasis.
41 Now Adonijah and all his guests heard the commotion just as they had finished eating.#tn Heb “And Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard, now they had finished eating.” When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he asked, “Why is there such a noisy commotion in the city?”#tn Heb “Why is the city’s sound noisy?” 42 As he was still speaking, Jonathan#tn The Hebrew text has “look” at this point. The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh), “look draws attention to Jonathan’s arrival and invites the audience to view the scene through the eyes of the participants. son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, for#tn Or “surely.” an important man like you must be bringing good news.”#tn Heb “you are a man of strength [or “ability”] and you bring a message [that is] good.” Another option is to understand the phrase אִישׁ חַיִל (’ish khayil) in the sense of “a worthy man,” that is “loyal.” See also 1 Kgs 1:52 and HALOT 311 s.v. חַיִל. 43 Jonathan replied#tn Heb “answered and said.” to Adonijah: “No!#tn For a similar use of אֲבָל (’aval), see Gen 17:19, where God rejects Abraham’s proposal and offers an alternative. Our master#tn The plural form is used in the Hebrew text to indicate honor and authority. King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites and they put him on the king’s mule. 45 Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed#tn I.e., designated by anointing with oil. him king in Gihon. They went up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the sound you hear. 46 Furthermore, Solomon has assumed the royal throne.#tn Heb “And also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.” 47 The king’s servants have even come to congratulate#tn Heb “to bless.” our master#tn The plural form is used in the Hebrew text to indicate honor and authority. King David, saying, ‘May your God#tc Many Hebrew mss agree with the Qere in reading simply “God.” make Solomon more famous than you and make him an even greater king than you!’#tn Heb “make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.” The term שֵׁם (shem, “name”) is used here of one’s fame and reputation. Then the king leaned#tn Or “bowed down; worshiped.” on the bed 48 and said#tn The Hebrew text reads, “and the king said.” this: ‘The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because#tn Or “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who….” In this blessing formula אֲשֶׁר (’asher, “who; because”) introduces the reason why the one being blessed deserves the honor. today he has placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.’”#tn Heb “and my eyes are seeing.”
49 All of Adonijah’s guests panicked;#tn Or “were afraid, trembled.” they jumped up and rushed off their separate ways. 50 Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar.#sn Grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. The “horns” of the altar were the horn-shaped projections on the four corners of the altar (see Exod 27:2). By going to the holy place and grabbing hold of the horns of the altar, Adonijah was seeking asylum from Solomon. 51 Solomon was told, “Look, Adonijah fears you;#tn Heb “King Solomon.” The name and title have been replaced by the pronoun (“you”) in the translation for stylistic reasons. see, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘May King Solomon solemnly promise#tn Or “swear an oath to.” me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’” 52 Solomon said, “If he is a loyal subject,#tn Heb “if he is a man of strength [or ability].” In this context, where Adonijah calls himself a “servant,” implying allegiance to the new king, the phrase אִישׁ חַיִל (’ish khayil) probably carries the sense of “a worthy man,” that is, “loyal” (see HALOT 311 s.v. חַיִל). not a hair of his head will be harmed, but if he is found to be a traitor,#tn Heb “but if evil is found in him.” he will die.” 53 King Solomon sent men to bring him down#tn Heb “sent and they brought him down.” from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon told him, “Go home.”#tn Heb “Go to your house.”
Currently Selected:
1 Kings 1: NET
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
1996 - 2007 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC
1 Kings 1
1
Adonijah Wants to Be King
1King David was very old and could not keep warm. His servants covered him with blankets, but he was still cold. 2So they said to him, “We will find a young woman to care for you. She will lie next to you and keep you warm.” 3So the king’s servants began looking everywhere in the country of Israel for a beautiful young woman to keep the king warm. They found a young woman named Abishag, from the town of Shunem, and brought her to the king. 4She was very beautiful. She cared for the king and served him, but King David did not have sexual relations with her.
5-6Adonijah was the son of King David and his wife Haggith. He was born after Absalom. Adonijah was a very handsome man. King David never corrected his son Adonijah, and he never made him explain his actions. Adonijah became very proud and decided that he would be the next king. He wanted very much to be the king, so he got himself a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run ahead of him.
7Adonijah talked with Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest. They decided to help make him the new king, 8but several important men did not join Adonijah. They were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and King David’s special guard.#1:8 Shimei, Rei … guard Or “Shimei and his friends, the Heroes.”
9One day, at Zoheleth Rock near En Rogel,#1:9 En Rogel A spring of water in the valley south of Jerusalem, about 1/4 mile from Gihon Spring. Adonijah sacrificed some sheep, cattle, and fat calves as a fellowship offering. He invited his brothers (the other sons of King David) and all the officers from Judah. 10But he did not invite his brother Solomon, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, or the men in the king’s special guard.
Nathan Advises Bathsheba
11When Nathan heard about this, he went to Solomon’s mother Bathsheba and asked her, “Have you heard what Haggith’s son, Adonijah, is doing? He is making himself king. And our master, King David, knows nothing about it. 12You and your son Solomon are in danger, but I will tell you what to do to save yourself. 13Go to King David and tell him, ‘My lord and king, you promised me that my son Solomon would be the next king after you. So why is Adonijah becoming the new king?’ 14Then while you are still talking with him, I will come in. After you leave I will tell the king what has happened. This will show that what you said is true.”
15So Bathsheba went in to see the king in his bedroom. The king was very old. Abishag, the girl from Shunem, was caring for him there. 16Bathsheba bowed down before the king. The king asked, “What can I do for you?”
17Bathsheba answered, “Sir, you used the name of the Lord your God and made a promise to me. You said, ‘Your son Solomon will be the next king after me. He will sit on my throne.’ 18Now, you don’t know this, but Adonijah is making himself king. 19He is giving a big fellowship meal. He has killed many cattle and the best sheep, and he has invited all of your sons to the meal. He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of your army, but he did not invite your faithful son Solomon. 20Now, my lord and king, all the Israelites are watching you. They are waiting for you to decide who will be the next king after you. 21If you don’t decide, then after you are buried, these men will say that Solomon and I are criminals.”
22While Bathsheba was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came to see him. 23The servants told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” Nathan went in to speak to the king. He bowed down before the king 24and said, “My lord and king, did you announce that Adonijah will be the new king after you? Have you decided that he will rule the people now? 25Today he went down into the valley to offer many cattle and the best sheep as fellowship offerings. He invited all your other sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. They are now eating and drinking with him. And they are saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26But he did not invite me, or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your son Solomon. 27My lord and king, did you do this without telling us? Please tell us, who will be the next king after you?”
28Then King David said, “Tell Bathsheba to come in!” So she came in and stood before the king.
29Then the king made a promise: “The Lord has saved me from every danger. As surely as he lives, I make this promise to you. 30Today I will do what I promised you in the past. I made that promise by the power of the Lord, the God of Israel. I promised that your son Solomon would be the next king after me. I promised that he would take my place on my throne, and I will keep my promise!”
31Then Bathsheba bowed down before the king and said, “Long live King David!”
Solomon Is Anointed King
32Then King David said, “Tell Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to come in here.” So the three men came in to meet with the king. 33Then the king said to them, “Take my officers with you. Put my son Solomon on my mule and take him to Gihon Spring.#1:33 Gihon Spring A spring of water just outside the city walls in the valley east of Jerusalem. It was the main source of water for the city of Jerusalem. 34There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him to be the new king of Israel. Blow the trumpet and announce, ‘This is the new king, Solomon!’ 35Then come back here with him. Solomon will sit on my throne and be the new king in my place. I have chosen him to be the ruler of Israel and Judah.”
36Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! It is as true as if the Lord God himself had said it, my lord and king. 37My lord and king, the Lord has been with you, and now I pray that he will be with Solomon! And I pray that King Solomon’s kingdom will grow and be even more powerful than yours, my lord and king.”
38So Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and the king’s officers obeyed King David. They put Solomon on David’s mule and went with him down to Gihon Spring. 39Zadok the priest carried the oil from the Holy Tent and poured it on Solomon’s head to show that he was the new king. They blew the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40Then all the people followed Solomon back into the city. They were very happy and excited. They were playing flutes and making so much noise that the ground shook.
41Meanwhile, Adonijah and his guests were just finishing their meal. They heard the sound of the trumpet, and Joab asked, “What is that noise? What is happening in the city?”
42While Joab was still speaking, Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. Adonijah said, “Come here! You are a good man,#1:42 good man Or “important man.” This Hebrew word means a person from an important family. so you must be bringing good news.”
43But Jonathan answered, “No, it is not good news for you! King David has made Solomon the new king. 44King David sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and all the king’s officers with Solomon out to Gihon Spring. They put Solomon on the king’s mule. 45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon at Gihon Spring and then went back into the city. The people followed them, and now everyone in the city is celebrating. That is the noise you hear. 46-47Solomon is sitting on the king’s throne and the king’s officers are congratulating King David, saying, ‘King David, you are a great king!’ And now we pray that your God will make Solomon a great king too. We pray your God will make him even more famous than you. And we pray that his kingdom will be even greater than yours is! Even King David was there. From his bed, the king bowed before Solomon 48and said, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He has put one of my own sons on my throne, and he has let me live to see it.’”
49All of Adonijah’s guests were afraid and left very quickly. 50Adonijah was also afraid of Solomon, so he went to the altar and held onto the horns of the altar. 51Then someone told Solomon, “Adonijah is afraid of you, King Solomon. He is at the Holy Tent holding onto the horns of the altar, and he refuses to leave. Adonijah says, ‘Tell King Solomon to promise that he will not kill me.’”
52So Solomon answered, “If Adonijah shows that he is a good man, I promise that not a hair on his head will be hurt. But if he does anything wrong, he will die.” 53Then King Solomon sent some men to get Adonijah and brought him in. He approached the king and bowed before him. Then Solomon said, “Go home.”
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International