1 Kings 1

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Literal

Abishag Cares for David

¹Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.

¹And King David was old, entering into the days. And they covered him with garments, and he could not get warm.

²So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”

²And his servants said to him, “Let them seek for our lord the king a young woman, a virgin, and let her stand before the face of the king, and let her care for him, and let her lie in your bosom, that our lord the king may be warm.”

³Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

³And they sought a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and they found Abishag the Shunammitess and brought her to the king.

⁴The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.

⁴And the young woman was even exceedingly lovely, and she cared for the king and served him, and the king did not know her.

Adonijah Usurps the Kingdom

⁵At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

⁵And Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself a chariot and horsemen and fifty men to run before his face.

⁶(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)

⁶(And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” And He was also very good in form, and she had borne him after Absalom.)

⁷So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.

⁷And his words were with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they helped after Adonijah.

⁸But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.

⁸And Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who were to David, were not with Adonijah.

⁹And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth,^a which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.

⁹And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel. And he called all his brothers the sons of the king, and all the men of Judah the servants of the king.

¹⁰But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

¹⁰And Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he did not call.

Nathan and Bathsheba before David

¹¹Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?

¹¹And Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have not you heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?

¹²Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

¹²And come, let me advise you, please, with counsel that may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

¹³Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’

¹³Go and enter in to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your maidservant, saying, “Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? And why has Adonijah become king?’

¹⁴Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

¹⁴Behold, while you are still talking there with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

¹⁵So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.

¹⁵And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber. And the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammitess was serving the king.

¹⁶And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

¹⁶And Bathsheba bowed bowed herself low to the king. And the king said, “What is for you?”

¹⁷“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’

¹⁷And she said to him, “My lord, you swore by YHWH your God to your maidservant, ‘Surely Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’

¹⁸But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.

¹⁸And now, behold, Adonijah has become king. And, my lord the king, you do not know about it.

¹⁹And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon.

¹⁹And He has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and he has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army. And Solomon your servant he has not invited.

²⁰And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

²⁰And you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

²¹Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”

²¹And it will come to pass, in the resting on my lord the king with his fathers, that I will be counted, and my son Solomon, as sinful.”

²²And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.

²²And behold, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

²³So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.

²³And they told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet.” And he came in before the face of the king, and he bowed low before the king with his nose to the ground.

²⁴“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?

²⁴And Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’?

²⁵For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders^a of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’

²⁵For he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and he has called to all the sons of the king and the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before his face and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah.’

²⁶But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.

²⁶And me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Solomon your servant, he has not called.

²⁷Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”

²⁷Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not told your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

David Renews His Oath to Bathsheba

²⁸Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

²⁸And King David answered and said, “Call for me Bathsheba.” And she came before the face of the king and stood before the face of the king.

²⁹And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,

²⁹And the king took an oath and said, “As YHWH lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress,

³⁰I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

³⁰just as I swore to you by YHWH, God of Israel, saying, surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place, even so I will surely do this day.”

³¹Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

³¹And Bathsheba bowed with her nose to the ground and she bowed low to the king, and said, “May my lord live King David forever.”

Solomon Anointed King

³²Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.

³²And King David said, “Call for me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” And they came in before the face of the king.

³³“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon.

³³And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have ride Solomon my son on the mule that is unto me, and take him down to Gihon.

³⁴There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

³⁴And let Zadok the priest anoint him there—and Nathan the prophet—as king over Israel. And blow the shofar and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

³⁵Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

³⁵And you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”

³⁶“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.

³⁶And Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, “Amen! Thus YHWH the God of my lord the king speaks.

³⁷Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”

³⁷As YHWH has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”

³⁸Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.

³⁸And Zadok the priest went down, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they had Solomon ride on the mule of King David and took him to Gihon.

³⁹Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”

³⁹And Zadok the priest took a horn of the oil from the tabernacle, and he anointed Solomon. And they blew with the shofar, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon.”

⁴⁰All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.

⁴⁰And all the people went up after him, and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, and the earth was split by their sound.

Adonijah Learns of Solomon’s Kingship

⁴¹Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab.

⁴¹And Adonijah heard it, and all the guests who were with him, and they finished eating. And Joab heard the voice of the shofar. And he said, “Why is the noise of the city roaring?”

⁴²As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”

⁴²And while he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest came in. And Adonijah said to him, “Come in, for you are a man of valor and bring good news.”

⁴³“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.

⁴³And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, “Truly our lord King David has made Solomon king.

⁴⁴And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule.

⁴⁴And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they had him ride on the mule of the king.

⁴⁵Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.

⁴⁵And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there rejoicing, and the city rings out; it is the noise that you have heard.

⁴⁶Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.

⁴⁶And Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.

⁴⁷The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’

And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,

⁴⁷And also the servants of the king have gone to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May God make better the name of Solomon than your name, and may He make greater his throne than your throne.’ And the king bowed low on the bed.

⁴⁸saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one^a to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”

⁴⁸And thus the king said, ‘Blessed be YHWH, God of Israel, who has given one today to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”

⁴⁹At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.

⁴⁹And all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid and arose, and each man went on his way.

⁵⁰But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

⁵⁰And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. And he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

⁵¹It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”

⁵¹And it was told to Solomon, saying, “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, and behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put to death his servant with the sword.’”

⁵²And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”

⁵²And Solomon said, “If he is a son of strength not one hair of him shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”

⁵³So King Solomon summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”

⁵³And King Solomon sent and they brought him down from the altar, and he came and fell down before King Solomon. And Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”