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1 KIN G S 1
me, “Your son Solomon will surely be the next
king and will sit on my throne”? Why then has
Adonijah become king?’ 14 And while you are
still talking with him, I will come and confirm
everything you have said.”
15 So Bathsheba went into the king’s bedroom. (He was very old now, and Abishag was
taking care of him.) 16 Bathsheba bowed down
before the king.
“What can I do for you?” he asked her.
17 She replied, “My lord, you made a vow before the Lord your God when you said to me,
‘Your son Solomon will surely be the next king
and will sit on my throne.’ 18 But instead, Adonijah has made himself king, and my lord the king
does not even know about it. 19 He has sacrificed
many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he
has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited Abiathar the priest and
Joab, the commander of the army. But he did
not invite your servant Solomon. 20 And now,
my lord the king, all Israel is waiting for you to
announce who will become king after you. 21 If
you do not act, my son Solomon and I will be
treated as criminals as soon as my lord the king
has died.”
22 While she was still speaking with the king,
Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 The king’s officials told him, “Nathan the prophet is here to
see you.”
Nathan went in and bowed before the king
with his face to the ground. 24 Nathan asked,
“My lord the king, have you decided that Adonijah will be the next king and that he will sit
on your throne? 25 Today he has sacrificed many
cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has
invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited the commanders of the
army and Abiathar the priest. They are feasting
and drinking with him and shouting, ‘Long live
King Adonijah!’ 26 But he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or your servant Solomon. 27 Has my lord the king really done this
without letting any of his officials know who
should be the next king?”
David Makes Solomon King
28 King David responded, “Call Bathsheba!” So
she came back in and stood before the king.
29 And the king repeated his vow: “As surely as
the Lord lives, who has rescued me from every
danger, 30 your son Solomon will be the next
king and will sit on my throne this very day,
just as I vowed to you before the Lord, the God
of Israel.”
31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face
to the ground before the king and exclaimed,
“May my lord King David live forever!”
32 Then King David ordered, “Call Zadok the
priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son
of Jehoiada.” When they came into the king’s
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presence, 33 the king said to them, “Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring.
Solomon is to ride on my own mule. 34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to
anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn
and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then escort him back here, and he will sit on my throne.
He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed
him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 “Amen!” Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied.
“May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, decree that it happen. 37 And may the Lord be with
Solomon as he has been with you, my lord the
king, and may he make Solomon’s reign even
greater than yours!”
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet,
Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king’s bodyguard* took Solomon down to Gihon Spring,
with Solomon riding on King David’s own mule.
39 There Zadok the priest took the flask of olive
oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon
with the oil. Then they sounded the ram’s horn
and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 And all the people followed Solomon
into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for
joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy
that the earth shook with the sound.
41 Adonijah and his guests heard the celebrating and shouting just as they were finishing their banquet. When Joab heard the sound
of the ram’s horn, he asked, “What’s going on?
Why is the city in such an uproar?”
42 And while he was still speaking, Jonathan
son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,”
Adonijah said to him, “for you are a good man.
You must have good news.”
43 “Not at all!” Jonathan replied. “Our lord
King David has just declared Solomon king!
44 The king sent him down to Gihon Spring with
Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, protected by the king’s
bodyguard. They had him ride on the king’s own
mule, 45 and Zadok and Nathan have anointed
him at Gihon Spring as the new king. They have
just returned, and the whole city is celebrating
and rejoicing. That’s what all the noise is about.
46 What’s more, Solomon is now sitting on the
royal throne as king. 47 And all the royal officials
have gone to King David and congratulated
him, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s
fame even greater than your own, and may Solomon’s reign be even greater than yours!’ Then
the king bowed his head in worship as he lay in
his bed, 48 and he said, ‘Praise the Lord, the God
of Israel, who today has chosen a successor to
sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it.’”
49 Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in
panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered. 50 Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he
1:38 Hebrew the Kerethites and Pelethites; also in 1:44.