Book | Chapter | Verse | Text |
1 Kings |
1 |
1 |
Now King David was very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm. |
1 Kings |
1 |
2 |
So his advisers told him, "We will find a young virgin who will wait on you and be your nurse. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm." |
1 Kings |
1 |
3 |
So they searched throughout the country for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king. |
1 Kings |
1 |
4 |
The girl was very beautiful, and she waited on the king and took care of him. But the king had no sexual relations with her. |
1 Kings |
1 |
5 |
About that time David's son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, decided to make himself king in place of his aged father. So he provided himself with chariots and horses and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. |
1 Kings |
1 |
6 |
Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, "What are you doing?" Adonijah was a very handsome man and had been born next after Absalom. |
1 Kings |
1 |
7 |
Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. |
1 Kings |
1 |
8 |
But among those who remained loyal to David and refused to support Adonijah were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's personal bodyguard. |
1 Kings |
1 |
9 |
Adonijah went to the stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers--the other sons of King David--and all the royal officials of Judah. |
1 Kings |
1 |
10 |
But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, or Benaiah, or the king's bodyguard, or his brother Solomon. |
1 Kings |
1 |
11 |
Then Nathan the prophet went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and asked her, "Did you realize that Haggith's son, Adonijah, has made himself king and that our lord David doesn't even know about it? |
1 Kings |
1 |
12 |
If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my counsel. |
1 Kings |
1 |
13 |
Go at once to King David and say to him, `My lord, didn't you promise me that my son Solomon would be the next king and would sit upon your throne? Then why has Adonijah become king?' |
1 Kings |
1 |
14 |
And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said." |
1 Kings |
1 |
15 |
So Bathsheba went into the king's bedroom. He was very old now, and Abishag was taking care of him. |
1 Kings |
1 |
16 |
Bathsheba bowed low before him. "What can I do for you?" he asked her. |
1 Kings |
1 |
17 |
She replied, "My lord, you vowed to me by the LORD your God that my son Solomon would be the next king and would sit on your throne. |
1 Kings |
1 |
18 |
But instead, Adonijah has become the new king, and you do not even know about it. |
1 Kings |
1 |
19 |
He has sacrificed many oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all your sons and Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon. |
1 Kings |
1 |
20 |
And now, my lord the king, all Israel is waiting for your decision as to who will become king after you. |
1 Kings |
1 |
21 |
If you do not act, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals as soon as you are dead." |
1 Kings |
1 |
22 |
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. |
1 Kings |
1 |
23 |
The king's advisers told him, "Nathan the prophet is here to see you." Nathan went in and bowed low before the king. |
1 Kings |
1 |
24 |
He asked, "My lord, have you decided that Adonijah will be the next king and that he will sit on your throne? |
1 Kings |
1 |
25 |
Today he has sacrificed many oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited your sons to attend the celebration. He also invited Joab, the commander of the army, and Abiathar the priest. They are feasting and drinking with him and shouting, `Long live King Adonijah!' |
1 Kings |
1 |
26 |
But I myself, your servant, was not invited; neither were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor Solomon. |
1 Kings |
1 |
27 |
Has my lord really done this without letting any of his servants know who should be the next king?" |
1 Kings |
1 |
28 |
"Call Bathsheba," David said. So she came back in and stood before the king. |
1 Kings |
1 |
29 |
And the king vowed, "As surely as the LORD lives, who has rescued me from every danger, |
1 Kings |
1 |
30 |
today I decree that your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne, just as I swore to you before the LORD, the God of Israel." |
1 Kings |
1 |
31 |
Then Bathsheba bowed low before him again and exclaimed, "May my lord King David live forever!" |
1 Kings |
1 |
32 |
Then King David ordered, "Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came into the king's presence, |
1 Kings |
1 |
33 |
the king said to them, "Take Solomon and my officers down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my personal mule. |
1 Kings |
1 |
34 |
There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpets and shout, `Long live King Solomon!' |
1 Kings |
1 |
35 |
When you bring him back here, he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah." |
1 Kings |
1 |
36 |
"Amen!" Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied. "May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, decree it to be so. |
1 Kings |
1 |
37 |
And may the LORD be with Solomon as he has been with you, and may he make Solomon's reign even greater than yours!" |
1 Kings |
1 |
38 |
So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king's bodyguard took Solomon down to Gihon Spring, and Solomon rode on King David's personal mule. |
1 Kings |
1 |
39 |
There Zadok the priest took a flask of olive oil from the sacred tent and poured it on Solomon's head. Then the trumpets were blown, and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!" |
1 Kings |
1 |
40 |
And all the people returned with Solomon to Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound. |
1 Kings |
1 |
41 |
Adonijah and his guests heard the celebrating and shouting just as they were finishing their banquet. When Joab heard the sound of trumpets, he asked, "What's going on? Why is the city in such an uproar?" |
1 Kings |
1 |
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." |
1 Kings |
1 |
43 |
"Not at all!" Jonathan replied. "Our lord King David has just declared Solomon king! |
1 Kings |
1 |
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, |
1 Kings |
1 |
45 |
and Zadok and Nathan have anointed him as the new king. They have just returned, and the whole city is celebrating and rejoicing. That's what all the noise is about. |
1 Kings |
1 |
46 |
Moreover, Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne as king. |
1 Kings |
1 |
47 |
All the royal officials went to King David and congratulated him, saying, `May your God make Solomon's fame even greater than your own, and may Solomon's kingdom be even greater than yours!' Then the king bowed his head in worship as he lay in his bed, |
1 Kings |
1 |
48 |
and he spoke these words: `Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who today has chosen someone to sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it.'" |
1 Kings |
1 |
49 |
Then all of Adonijah's guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly went their separate ways. |
1 Kings |
1 |
50 |
Adonijah himself was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and caught hold of the horns of the altar. |
1 Kings |
1 |
51 |
Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar and that he was pleading, "Let Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!" |
1 Kings |
1 |
52 |
Solomon replied, "If he proves himself to be loyal, he will not be harmed. But if he does not, he will die." |
1 Kings |
1 |
53 |
So King Solomon summoned Adonijah, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed low before the king, and Solomon dismissed him, saying, "Go on home." |
1 Kings |
2 |
1 |
As the time of King David's death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon: |
1 Kings |
2 |
2 |
"I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. |
1 Kings |
2 |
3 |
Observe the requirements of the LORD your God and follow all his ways. Keep each of the laws, commands, regulations, and stipulations written in the law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. |
1 Kings |
2 |
4 |
If you do this, then the LORD will keep the promise he made to me: `If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.' |
1 Kings |
2 |
5 |
"And there is something else. You know that Joab son of Zeruiah murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with the blood of war. |
1 Kings |
2 |
6 |
Do with him what you think best, but don't let him die in peace. |
1 Kings |
2 |
7 |
"Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests of the king, for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom. |
1 Kings |
2 |
8 |
"And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the LORD that I would not kill him. |
1 Kings |
2 |
9 |
But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him." |
1 Kings |
2 |
10 |
Then David died and was buried in the City of David. |
1 Kings |
2 |
11 |
He had reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. |
1 Kings |
2 |
12 |
Solomon succeeded him as king, replacing his father, David, and he was firmly established on the throne. |
1 Kings |
2 |
13 |
One day Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, came to see Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. "Have you come to make trouble?" she asked him. "No," he said, "I come in peace. |
1 Kings |
2 |
14 |
In fact, I have a favor to ask of you.What is it?" she asked. |
1 Kings |
2 |
15 |
He replied, "As you know, the kingdom was mine; everyone expected me to be the next king. But the tables were turned, and everything went to my brother instead; for that is the way the LORD wanted it. |
1 Kings |
2 |
16 |
So now I have just one favor to ask of you. Please don't turn me down.What is it?" she asked. |
1 Kings |
2 |
17 |
He replied, "Speak to King Solomon on my behalf, for I know he will do anything you request. Ask him to give me Abishag, the girl from Shunem, as my wife." |
1 Kings |
2 |
18 |
"All right," Bathsheba replied. "I will speak to the king for you." |
1 Kings |
2 |
19 |
So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak on Adonijah's behalf. The king rose from his throne to meet her, and he bowed down before her. When he sat down on his throne again, he ordered that a throne be brought for his mother, and she sat at his right hand. |
1 Kings |
2 |
20 |
"I have one small request to make of you," she said. "I hope you won't turn me down.What is it, my mother?" he asked. "You know I won't refuse you." |
1 Kings |
2 |
21 |
"Then let your brother Adonijah marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem," she replied. |
1 Kings |
2 |
22 |
"How can you possibly ask me to give Abishag to Adonijah?" Solomon demanded. "You might as well be asking me to give him the kingdom! You know that he is my older brother, and that he has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side." |
1 Kings |
2 |
23 |
Then King Solomon swore solemnly by the LORD: "May God strike me dead if Adonijah has not sealed his fate with this request. |
1 Kings |
2 |
24 |
The LORD has confirmed me and placed me on the throne of my father, David; he has established my dynasty as he promised. So as surely as the LORD lives, Adonijah will die this very day!" |
1 Kings |
2 |
25 |
So King Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him, and Adonijah was put to death. |
1 Kings |
2 |
26 |
Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, "Go back to your home in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not kill you now, because you carried the Ark of the Sovereign LORD for my father, and you suffered right along with him through all his troubles." |
1 Kings |
2 |
27 |
So Solomon deposed Abiathar from his position as priest of the LORD, thereby fulfilling the decree the LORD had made at Shiloh concerning the descendants of Eli. |
1 Kings |
2 |
28 |
Although he had not followed Absalom earlier, Joab had also joined Adonijah's revolt. When Joab heard about Adonijah's death, he ran to the sacred tent of the LORD and caught hold of the horns of the altar. |
1 Kings |
2 |
29 |
When news of this reached King Solomon, he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him. |
1 Kings |
2 |
30 |
Benaiah went into the sacred tent of the LORD and said to Joab, "The king orders you to come out!" But Joab answered, "No, I will die here." So Benaiah returned to the king and told him what Joab had said. |
1 Kings |
2 |
31 |
"Do as he said," the king replied. "Kill him there beside the altar and bury him. This will remove the guilt of his senseless murders from me and from my father's family. |
1 Kings |
2 |
32 |
Then the LORD will repay him for the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he. For my father was no party to the deaths of Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. |
1 Kings |
2 |
33 |
May Joab and his descendants be forever guilty of these murders, and may the LORD grant peace to David and his descendants and to his throne forever." |
1 Kings |
2 |
34 |
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada returned to the sacred tent and killed Joab, and Joab was buried at his home in the wilderness. |
1 Kings |
2 |
35 |
Then the king appointed Benaiah to command the army in place of Joab, and he installed Zadok the priest to take the place of Abiathar. |
1 Kings |
2 |
36 |
The king then sent for Shimei and told him, "Build a house here in Jerusalem and live there. But don't step outside the city to go anywhere else. |
1 Kings |
2 |
37 |
On the day you cross the Kidron Valley, you will surely die; your blood will be on your own head." |
1 Kings |
2 |
38 |
Shimei replied, "Your sentence is fair; I will do whatever my lord the king commands." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time. |
1 Kings |
2 |
39 |
But three years later, two of Shimei's slaves escaped to King Achish of Gath. When Shimei learned where they were, |
1 Kings |
2 |
40 |
he saddled his donkey and went to Gath to search for them. When he had found them, he took them back to Jerusalem. |
1 Kings |
2 |
41 |
Solomon heard that Shimei had left Jerusalem and had gone to Gath and returned. |
1 Kings |
2 |
42 |
So he sent for Shimei and demanded, "Didn't I make you swear by the LORD and warn you not to go anywhere else, or you would surely die? And you replied, `The sentence is fair; I will do as you say.' |
1 Kings |
2 |
43 |
Then why haven't you kept your oath to the LORD and obeyed my command?" |
1 Kings |
2 |
44 |
The king also said to Shimei, "You surely remember all the wicked things you did to my father, King David. May the LORD punish you for them. |
1 Kings |
2 |
45 |
But may I receive the LORD's rich blessings, and may one of David's descendants always sit on this throne." |
1 Kings |
2 |
46 |
Then, at the king's command, Benaiah son of Jehoiada took Shimei outside and killed him. So the kingdom was now firmly in Solomon's grip. |