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.”
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1 Kings 1: TLV
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Melachim Alef 1
1
1Now HaMelech Dovid was zaken and stricken in yamim; and they covered him with begadim, but he could get no warmth.
2Wherefore his avadim said unto him, Let there be sought for adoni HaMelech a na'arah betulah; and let her stand before HaMelech, and let her care for him, and let her lie at thy kheyk (bosom), that adoni HaMelech may be warm.
3So they sought for a na'arah yafeh throughout all the territory of Yisroel, and found Avishag HaShunammit, and brought her to HaMelech.
4And the na'arah was yafeh ad me'od, and cared for HaMelech, and waited on him; but HaMelech knew her not.
5Then Adoniyah Ben Chaggit put himself forward, saying, I will be Melech; and he prepared him merkavot and parashim, and chamishim ish to run before him.
6And Aviv had not rebuked him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? And he also was tov to'ar (good looking); and#1:6 immo bore him after Avshalom.
7And he conferred with Yoav Ben Tzeruyah, and with Evyatar (Abiathar) HaKohen; and they lent ezer (help), following after Adoniyah.
8But Tzadok HaKohen, and Benayah Ben Yehoyada, and Natan HaNavi, and Shime'i, and Re'i, and the Gibborim which belonged to Dovid, were not with Adoniyah.
9And Adoniyah sacrificed tzon and bakar and fatted bull at the Zochelet Even (Stone of Zoheleth), which is Ein-Rogel, and invited all his achim, the Bnei HaMelech, and all the anshei Yehudah who were avadim of HaMelech;
10But Natan HaNavi, and Benayah, and the Gibborim, and Sh'lomo his brother, he invited not.
11Wherefore Natan spoke unto Bat-Sheva em Sh'lomo, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adoniyah Ben Chaggit became Melech, and Dovid adoneinu knoweth it not?
12Therefore come, let me, now, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own nefesh, and the nefesh of thy ben Sh'lomo.
13Go and get thee in unto HaMelech Dovid, and say unto him, Didst not thou, adoni, O HaMelech, swear unto thine amah (maid servant, handmaid) saying, Assuredly Sh'lomo thy ben shall reign as Melech after me, and he shall sit upon my kisse? Why then doth Adoniyah reign as Melech?
14Hinei, while thou yet speakest there with HaMelech, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy devarim.
15And Bat-Sheva went in unto HaMelech into the cheder; and HaMelech was zaken me'od; and Avishag HaShunammit attended unto HaMelech.
16And Bat-Sheva bowed, and did obeisance unto HaMelech. And HaMelech said, What wouldest thou?
17And she said unto him, Adoni, thou didst swear by Hashem Eloheicha unto thine amah, saying, Assuredly Sh'lomo thy ben shall reign as Melech after me, and he shall sit upon my kisse.
18And now, hinei, Adoniyah reigneth as Melech; and now, adoni HaMelech, thou knowest it not;
19And he hath sacrificed shor and fatted bull and tzon in abundance, and hath invited all the Bnei HaMelech, and Evyatar (Abiathar) HaKohen, and Yoav the Sar HaTzava; but Sh'lomo thy eved hath he not invited.
20And thou, adoni HaMelech, the eyes of kol Yisroel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the kisse adoni HaMelech after him.
21Otherwise it shall come to pass, when adoni HaMelech shall lie with his avot, that I and beni (my son) Sh'lomo shall be counted chatta'im.
22And, hinei, while she yet was speaking with HaMelech, Natan HaNavi also came in.
23And they told HaMelech, saying, Hinei Natan HaNavi! And when he was come in before HaMelech, he bowed himself before HaMelech with his face to the ground.
24And Natan said, Adoni HaMelech, hast thou said, Adoniyah shall reign as Melech after me, and he shall sit upon my kisse?
25For he has gone down this day, and hath sacrificed shor and fatted bull and tzon in abundance, and hath invited all the Bnei HaMelech, and the sarei hatzava, and Evyatar (Abiathar) HaKohen; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, Yechi HaMelech Adoniyahu (long live HaMelech Adoniyah)!
26But me, even me thy eved, and Tzadok HaKohen, and Benayah Ben Yehoyada, and thy eved Sh'lomo, hath he not invited.
27Is this thing done by adoni HaMelech, and thou hast not showed it unto thy eved, even who should sit on the kisse adoni HaMelech after him?
28Then HaMelech Dovid answered and said, Call me Bat-Sheva. And she came into the presence of HaMelech, and stood before HaMelech.
29And HaMelech swore a shevu'a (oath), and said, As Hashem liveth, that hath redeemed my nefesh out of kol tzarah,
30Even as I swore a shevu'a unto thee by Hashem Elohei Yisroel, saying, Assuredly Sh'lomo thy ben shall reign as Melech after me, he shall sit upon my kisse in my place; so will I certainly do this day.
31Then Bat-Sheva bowed with her face to eretz, and did reverence to HaMelech, and said, Yechi adoni HaMelech Dovid l'olam (long live adoni HaMelech forever)!
32And HaMelech Dovid said, Call me Tzadok HaKohen, and Natan HaNavi, and Benayah Ben Yehoyada. And they came before HaMelech.
33HaMelech also said unto them, Take with you the avadim of adoneichem, and have Sh'lomo beni (my son) to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gichon;#1:33 See Jn 12:14
34And let Tzadok HaKohen and Natan HaNavi mashach (anoint) him there Melech over Yisroel; and blow ye with the shofar, and say, Yechi HaMelech Sh'lomo.
35Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my kisse; for he shall be Melech in my place; and I have appointed him to be Nagid (ruler) over Yisroel and over Yehudah.
36And Benayah Ben Yehoyada answered HaMelech, and said, Omein; And so may Hashem Elohei adoni HaMelech say.
37As Hashem hath been with adoni HaMelech, even so may He be with Sh'lomo, and make his kisse greater than the kisse of adoni HaMelech Dovid.
38So Tzadok HaKohen, and Natan HaNavi, and Benayah Ben Yehoyada, and the Kereti, and the Peleti, went down, and had Sh'lomo ride upon the mule of HaMelech Dovid, and brought him to Gichon.
39And Tzadok HaKohen took a keren of shemen out of the ohel, and mashach (anointed) Sh'lomo. And they blew the shofar; and kol HaAm shouted, Yechi HaMelech Sh'lomo!
40And kol HaAm came up after him, and the people played chalilim (flutes), and rejoiced with simchah gedolah, so that ha'aretz split with the sound of them.
41And Adoniyah and kol hakeru'im (all the invited ones) that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Yoav heard the kol hashofar, he said, Why is the sound of the Ir in an uproar?
42And while he yet spoke, hinei, Yonatan Ben Evyatar (Abiathar) HaKohen came; and Adoniyah said unto him, Come, for thou art an ish chayil, and tov tevaser (bringest good tidings).
43And Yonatan answered and said to Adoniyah, Just the opposite! Verily adoneinu HaMelech Dovid hath made Sh'lomo Melech!
44And HaMelech hath sent with him Tzadok HaKohen, and Natan HaNavi, and Benayah Ben Yehoyada, and the Kereti, and the Peleti, and they have had him ride upon pirdah (mule) of HaMelech:
45And Tzadok HaKohen and Natan HaNavi have anointed him Melech at Gichon; and they are come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang out. This is the noise that ye have heard.
46And also Sh'lomo sitteth on the kisse hameluchah.
47And moreover the avadim of HaMelech came to make a brocha on adoneinu HaMelech Dovid, saying, May your G-d make the shem of Sh'lomo more famous than thy shem, and make his kisse greater than thy kisse. And HaMelech bowed himself upon the mishkav (bed).
48Also so said HaMelech, Baruch Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Who hath given one to sit on my kisse this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
49And kol hakeruvim (all the invited ones) that were with Adoniyah were terrified, and rose up, and went every ish his own derech.#1:49 See Isa 53:6
50And Adoniyah feared because of Sh'lomo, and arose, and went, and caught hold of the karnayim of the Mizbe'ach.
51And it was told Sh'lomo, saying, Hinei, Adoniyah feareth HaMelech Sh'lomo; for, hinei, he hath caught hold of the karnayim of the Mizbe'ach, saying, Let Melech Sh'lomo swear a shevua (oath) unto me today that he will not slay his eved with the cherev.
52And Sh'lomo said, If he will show himself a ben chayil (a son of worthiness), there shall not a hair of him fall to ha'aretz; but if ra'ah (wickedness) shall be found in him, he shall die.#1:52 Ro 6:23
53So HaMelech Sh'lomo sent, and they brought him down from the Mizbe'ach. And he came and bowed himself to Melech Sh'lomo; and Sh'lomo said unto him, Go to thine bais.
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