1 Kings 1:7-42

7Now 1he had conferred with 2Joab the son of Zeruiah and with 3Abiathar the priest; and they allied themselves with 4Adonijah. 8But 5Zadok the priest, 6Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, 7Nathan the prophet, 8Shimei, Rei, and 9the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened steers by the 10stone of Zoheleth, which is beside 11En-rogel; and he 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 his brother 12Solomon.

11Then Nathan spoke to 13Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? 12So now come, please let me 14give you advice, and save your life and the life of your son Solomon. 13Go 15at once to King David and say to him, ‘Have you not, my lord the king, sworn to your servant, saying, “16Solomon your son certainly shall 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 entered to the king in the bedroom. Now 17the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king. 16Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself 18before the king. And the king said, “What 19is on your mind?” 17So she said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to your servant by the Lord your God, saying, ‘20Your son Solomon certainly shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18But now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it. 1921He has sacrificed oxen and fattened steers and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, to announce to them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21Otherwise it will come about, 22as soon as my lord the king 23lies down with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered 24offenders.”

22And behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 23They informed the king, saying, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And when he came into the king’s presence, he prostrated himself 25before the king with his face to the ground. 24Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you yourself said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 2526For he has gone down today 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, and behold, they are eating and drinking in his presence; and they say, ‘27Long live King Adonijah!’ 2628But me, even me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not invited. 27Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not let your 29servants know who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

28Then King David responded and said, “Summon Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29Then the king vowed and said, “30As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 30certainly as 31I vowed to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon certainly shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’; I will indeed do so this day.” 31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself before the king and said, “32May my lord King David live forever.”

32Then King David said, “Summon to me 33Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” And they came into the king’s presence. 33And the king said to them, “Take with you 34the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to 35Gihon. 34And have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet 36anoint him there as king over Israel, and 37blow the trumpet and say, ‘38Long live King Solomon!’ 35Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say the same. 3739Just as the Lord has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and 40make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!”

38So 41Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, 42the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to 43Gihon. 39And Zadok the priest then 44took the horn of oil from the tent and 45anointed Solomon. Then they 46blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “47Long live King Solomon!” 40And all the people went up after him, and the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth 48shook at their noise.

41Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard this as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is the 49city making such an uproar?” 42While he was still speaking, behold, 50Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Then Adonijah said, “Come in, for 51you are a valiant man and you bring good news.”