1 Kings 1
1
Rivalry for the Throne
1Now King David was old, advanced in years. Though they covered him with clothes, he could not keep warm.
2So his servants said to him: “Let them seek a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her attend the king and be his nurse; and let her lie by your side, so my lord the king may keep warm.”
3So they sought for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
4The girl was very beautiful. So she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king was not intimate with her.
5Now Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying: “I’ll be king!” So he prepared for himself chariots, horsemen and 50 men to run before him.
6His father had not scolded him at any time by asking: “Why have you behaved this way?” He was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.
7So he conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the kohen. Following Adonijah, they supported him.
8But Zadok the kohen, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei and David’s mighty men, were not on Adonijah’s side.
9Then Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel, and invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants,
10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or Solomon.
11But Nathan spoke to Bath-sheba, Solomon’s mother, saying: “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has assumed the kingship—and our lord David doesn’t know it?
12Now come, please let me give you advice. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon!
13Go at once to King David, and say to him: ‘My lord the king, haven’t you sworn to your handmaid, saying: “Surely your son Solomon will become king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Then why does Adonijah reign?’
14Behold, while you are still there talking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
15So Bath-sheba went to the king into the chamber. Now the king was very old, with Abishag the Shunammite serving the king.
16Bath-sheba bowed and prostrated herself to the king. The king asked, “What troubles you?”
17She said to him: “My lord, you swore by Adonai your God to your handmaid: ‘Surely, Solomon your son will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’
18Yet now, behold, Adonijah reigns, though you do not know it—my lord the king.
19He has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the kohen and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.
20As for you, 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.
21Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered traitors.”
22Then behold, while she was still talking with the king, the prophet Nathan came in,
23and they informed the king, saying: “Behold the prophet Nathan is here.” When he came in before the king, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground.
24Then Nathan said: “My lord the king, did you say: ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne?’
25For he has gone down today, slain oxen, fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, the captains of the army and Abiathar the kohen—and behold, they are eating and drinking with him, and they are saying: ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
26But he did not invite me, your servant, Zadok the kohen, Benaiah son of Jehoiada or your servant Solomon.
27Was this thing done by my lord the king, without letting your servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
28Then King David answered and said: “Summon Bath-sheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.
29Then the king swore an oath: “As Adonai lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all distress,
30as surely as I swore to you by Adonai, the God of Israel, saying that your son Solomon will be king after me and will sit on my throne in my place. Thus I will surely fulfill it this day!”
31Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the ground and prostrated herself before the king, and said: “Let my lord King David live forever!”
32Then King David said: “Summon to me Zadok the kohen, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king,
33the king said to them: “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
34There let Zadok the kohen and Nathan the prophet anoint him as king over Israel, blow the shofar and say: ‘Long live King Solomon!’
35Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne. For he shall be king in my place, as I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king and said: “Amen! Thus says Adonai, the God of my lord the king.
37As Adonai has been with my lord the king, so will He be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!”
38So Zadok the kohen, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down, and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.
39Then Zadok the kohen took the horn of oil out of the Tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the shofar, and all the people said: “Long live King Solomon!”
40All the people went up after him, while the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the ground shook at their noise.
41Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it, just as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the shofar, he said: “Why is the city in an uproar?”
42While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan son of Abiathar the kohen came, and Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a valiant man, and surely bringing good news.”
43But Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah: “No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king.
44Also the king has sent with him Zadok the kohen, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they had him ride on the king’s mule.
45Zadok the kohen and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have come up rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar—that’s the noise that you heard.
46Also Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47Moreover, the king’s courtiers came to bless our lord King David, saying: ‘May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and his throne greater than your throne!’ Then the king bowed down on the bed.
48Furthermore the king said, ‘Blessed be Adonai, God of Israel, who this day has given one to sit on my throne, while my eyes are seeing it.’”
49Trembling, all the guests of Adonijah got up and each went his own way.
50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he arose, went, and grasped the horns of the altar.
51 So it was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for look, he grasped the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”
52Then Solomon said, “If he shows himself a worthy man, then not a hair of him will fall to the ground. But if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”
53So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him: “Go to your home.”
Currently Selected:
1 Kings 1: TLV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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.”
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Military Bible Association