1 Kings 1
1
David in Old Age
1Now King David was #1:1 I.e. about seventy years old.old, advanced in years; they covered him with clothes, but he could not get warm. 2So 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.” 3So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the #1:3 The town of Shunam was located within the territory of Issachar.Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king #1:4 Lit did not know her.was not intimate with her.
5Then Adonijah the son of [David’s wife] Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I [the eldest living son] will be king.” So [following Absalom’s example] he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. [2 Sam 15:1] 6His father [David] had #1:6 David’s failure to discipline his sons always resulted in tragedy.never rebuked him at any time by asking, “Why have you done this?” Adonijah was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom. 7He had conferred with #1:7 The commander of Israel’s army.Joab the son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister] and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him. 8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s #1:8 Lit mighty men and so throughout the chapter.most formidable warriors did not side with Adonijah [in his desire to become king].
9Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened steers by the Stone of Zoheleth, which is beside [the well] En-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] 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the most formidable warriors, or his brother Solomon.
Nathan and Bathsheba
11Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba 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? 12Come now, please let me advise you and save your life and the life of your son Solomon. [2 Sam 12:24, 25] 13Go at once to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, “Solomon your son shall certainly be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
15So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom. Now the king was very old and weak, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending the king. 16So Bathsheba bowed down and paid respect to the king. And the king said, “#1:16 Lit What to you.What do you wish?” 17She said to him, “My lord, you swore by the Lord your God to your maidservant, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall certainly be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18But now, behold, Adonijah is [acting as] king; and now [as things stand], my lord the king, you do not know it. 19He 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. 20Now as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all #1:20 In general, sons of Israel or Israel or Israelites refers to all the people (males and females) of the various tribes descended from the twelve sons (Gen 35:23-26) of Jacob (later renamed Israel by God). In verses concerning things such as warfare or circumcision sons of Israel or Israel or Israelites usually refers only to the males. Tribes of ancient people were identified by the name of their founding ancestor. Therefore, this same general rule applies when referring to individual tribal groups, e.g. sons of Reuben, Reuben, Reubenites and so throughout.Israel are on you [waiting for you] to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21Otherwise it will come about when my lord the king lies down [in death] with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered #1:21 Lit sinners.political enemies.”
22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 23The 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. 24Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25Because 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, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26But he has not invited me, your servant, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. 27If 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?”
28King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. 29Then the king swore an oath and said, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul from all distress, 30even as I 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.” 31Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, and laid herself face down before the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
32Then King David said, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada to me.” And they came before the king. 33The king told them, “Take the #1:33 This group would have included David’s personal bodyguards.servants of your lord with you and have Solomon my son #1:33 Placing Solomon on his royal mule announced to the people that David had chosen Solomon as his successor.ride on my own mule, and bring him down to [the spring at] #1:33 This was near En-rogel, the site of Adonijah’s celebration.Gihon [in the Kidron Valley]. 34Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35Then 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.” 36Benaiah [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#1:37 This was a declaration of support for David and his choice of Solomon.Just as the Lord has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!”
Solomon Anointed King
38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the 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 [the spring at] Gihon. 39Zadok the priest took a horn of [olive] oil from the [sacred] tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” 40All 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.
41Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the trumpet sound, he said, “#1:41 Gihon was nearby, but because of the topography it was not visible.Why is the city in such an uproar?” 42While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. And Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a valiant and trustworthy man and you bring good news.” [2 Sam 17:17-21] 43But Jonathan replied to Adonijah, “No, on the contrary, our lord King David has made Solomon king! 44The 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. 45Also, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from there celebrating, so the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which you have heard. 46Besides, Solomon has taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom. 47Moreover, the king’s servants came to bless (congratulate) our lord King David, saying, ‘May #1:47 See note v 37.your God make the name of Solomon better (more famous) than your name and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king bowed himself [before God] upon the bed. 48The king has also said this: ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has granted one [of my descendants] to sit on my throne today and allowed my eyes to see it.’ ”
49Then 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. 50And Adonijah feared Solomon, and he got up and went [to the tabernacle on Mt. Zion] and took hold of the horns of the altar [seeking asylum]. 51Now 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.’ ” 52Solomon said, “If he [proves he] is a worthy man, not even one of his hairs shall fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” 53So 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.”
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1 Kings 1
1
Adonijah Seeks Kingship
1Now King David was old and advanced in years, and they covered him with clothes, but he could not get warm. 2Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be found for my lord the king, and let her stand before the king and care for him, and let her lie by your side so that my lord the king may keep warm.”
3#Jos 19:18; 1Sa 28:4So they searched for a beautiful young woman throughout the land of Israel and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4She was very beautiful and cared for the king and ministered to him, but the king did not know her intimately.
5#2Sa 3:4; 15:1Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king,” and he assembled chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run before him. 6#2Sa 3:3–4; 1Ch 3:2His father had not confronted him at any time by asking, “Why have you done this?” He also was a very attractive man, and he was born next after Absalom.
7#2Sa 20:25; 1Ki 2:22He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they agreed to help him. 8#1Ki 4:18; 2Sa 20:25But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men did not join Adonijah.
9#2Sa 17:17Adonijah slaughtered sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the Stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel, and invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. 10#2Sa 12:24But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
11#2Sa 3:4Therefore Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns and David our lord does not know it? 12Now please come and let me give you some advice, so that you may save your own life as well as that of your son Solomon. 13#1Ki 1:30; 1:17Go to King David and say to him, ‘Did not you, my lord, O king, swear to your handmaid, saying: Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? Why then does Adonijah reign?’ 14Then while you are still there talking with the king, I will come in and confirm your words.”
15So Bathsheba went to the king’s chamber. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite ministered to him. 16Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king.
And the king said, “What do you want?”
17#1Ki 1:13; 1:30And she said to him, “My lord, you swore by the Lord your God to your handmaid, saying: Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. 18#1Ki 1:24But Adonijah reigns, and now, my lord, O king, you are unaware. 19He has slain oxen and fat cattle 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 your servant Solomon. 20And you, my lord, O king, all the eyes of Israel are upon you that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21#Dt 31:16; 1Ki 2:10Otherwise it shall be that when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, I and my son Solomon shall be considered offenders.”
22While she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. 23The king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here,” and when he entered the king’s presence, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
24Nathan said, “My lord, O king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne’? 25#1Sa 10:24; 1Ki 1:9For he has gone down this day and has slain oxen, fat cattle, and sheep in abundance and has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the guard, and Abiathar the priest, and they eat and drink with him, saying, ‘God save King Adonijah!’ 26#1Ki 1:8; 1:10But he has not invited me, your servant, or Zadok the priest or Benaiah the son of Jehoiada or your servant Solomon. 27Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you have not let your servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
Solomon Becomes King
1Ch 29:21–25
28Then King David answered and said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.
29#2Sa 4:9The king vowed, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all distress, 30#1Ki 1:13; 1:17even as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon 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#Da 2:4; 3:9Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground in reverence to the king and said, “Let my lord King David live forever.”
32#1Ki 1:8King David said, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada for me.” So they came before the king. 33#2Ch 32:30; 1Ki 1:38And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 34#1Sa 10:1; 2Sa 15:10And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, ‘God save King Solomon!’ 35Then you shall come up after him. And he shall come and sit on my throne, for he will be king in my place as I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.”
36Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, also say so! 37#1Sa 20:13; 1Ki 1:47As the Lord has been with my lord the king, may He also be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”
38#2Sa 8:18; 1Ki 1:8So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon. 39#Ps 89:20; 1Sa 10:24Zadok the priest took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “God save King Solomon!” 40All the people came up to see him and played flutes and greatly rejoiced, so that the earth shook at the sound.
41Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard the commotion as they were finishing their meal, and when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is the city so loud and in an uproar?”
42#2Sa 15:36; 17:17While he was speaking, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Adonijah said to him, “Come in, for you are a valiant man and bring good tidings.”
43Jonathan answered Adonijah, saying, “Surely our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Kerethites, and the Pelethites. And they had him ride on the king’s mule. 45#1Ki 1:40And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from their rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you heard. 46#1Ch 29:23Also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom. 47#Ge 47:31; 1Ki 1:37Moreover, the king’s servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May God make the name of Solomon better than your name and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king bowed himself upon the bed. 48#1Ki 3:6; Ps 132:11–12The king also said, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day so that I could see with my own eyes.’ ”
49All the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid and rose up and went on their way. 50#1Ki 2:28Adonijah feared Solomon. So he got up and went to the altar and held on to its horns. 51Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah fears King Solomon, for he has caught hold of the horns on the altar, saying ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.’ ”
52#1Sa 14:45; 2Sa 14:11And Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” 53So King Solomon sent for him, and they brought him down from the altar, and he came and bowed himself to King Solomon. And Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”
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