1 Kings 1:1-10

1King David was now a very old man. He could not stay warm, even when people put blankets over him.

2So his servants said to him, ‘We will look for a young woman who has never had sex, for you, our master the king. She can take care of you and she can be your nurse. She can also sleep beside you, so that our master the king will be warm.’

3So they looked through all the land of Israel for a beautiful young woman. They chose Abishag, who lived in Shunem. They brought her to the king.

4She was very beautiful. She took care of the king as his servant. But the king did not have sex with her.

5At that time, David's son Adonijah, was telling everyone, ‘I will become the next king.’ He got for himself chariots and men who would ride on horses. He also had 50 men to run in front of him as his guards. Haggith was Adonijah's mother.

6His father, David, had never warned him when he did something wrong. He never asked Adonijah, ‘Why are you doing that?’ Adonijah was also very handsome. He was born after Absalom as David's next son.

7Adonijah spoke with Zeruiah's son Joab and with Abiathar, the priest. They said that they would help Adonijah.

8But these people did not join Adonijah's group: Zadok the priest, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei. David's own special soldiers did not join Adonijah either.

9Then Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth that was near En Rogel. He killed sheep, cows and fat calves as sacrifices there. He asked these people to join him: all his brothers, who were King David's sons, all the men of Judah who were the king's officers.

10But he did not ask these people to come: Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David's own special soldiers, his brother Solomon.