WHEN King David became old and they covered him with bedclothes but he would not get warm,

his servants said to him: “Let us search for a young virgin for our master, the king, to attend to the king and be his caregiver. She is to lie by the king’s side so that our master the king will get warm.”

The permission granted , they searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, found Abishag the Shunammite, brought her to the king

(The girl was of unsurpassed beauty) and she became the king’s caregiver. She served him, but he did not have intimate relations with her.

Just that time, Adonijah son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying, “I will be king!” He also prepared chariots, cavalry, and fifty men to run ahead of him.

(His father never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Like Absalom, he was quite handsome. He was born after Absalom.) 

He conspired with Joab son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest – they supported him -  

but Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s warriors, did not side with him.

Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king, 

but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the warriors, or his brother, Solomon.

  When Nathan got wind of it, he went and asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith, has become king and our master, David, is not privy to it ? 

Please come and let me advise you to save your life and the life of your son, Solomon. 

Go, approach King David and say to him, ‘My master, king! Did you not swear to your servant: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one to sit on my throne?  Why then has Adonijah become king?’

While you are still there speaking with the king, I’ll come in after you and confirm your words.”

So, Bathsheba went to the king – who now, being very old, was being attended to by Abishag the Shunammite – in his bedroom,

and bowed in reverence to him. The king asked, “What do you want?”

She replied, “My master, you swore to your servant by the Self-existent, your God, that ‘Your son Solomon is to become king after me; he is the one who is to sit on my throne.’ 

Listen! Adonijah has become king and my master, king, you didn’t know it. 

He has lavishly sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. He invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he did not invite your servant, Solomon.

Now, my master, king, the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my master, king, after him.

Otherwise, when my master, king, rests with his fathers, I and my son, Solomon will be taken as criminals.”

While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan, the prophet, arrived, 

and it was announced to the king, “Nathan, the prophet, is here.” He came into the king’s presence and bowed to him with his face touching  the ground.

“My master, king,” Nathan said, “did you say, ‘Adonijah is to become king after me; he is the one who is to sit on my throne?’ 

This is because, today, he went down and lavishly sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. He invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Right now, they are eating and drinking in his presence, and are saying, ‘Long live, King Adonijah!’ 

But he did not invite me, your servant or Zadok, the priest or Benaiah son of Jehoiada or your servant, Solomon. 

I’m certain that my master, the king, would not have let this happen without letting your servant know who will sit on my master, the king’s, throne after him.”

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

The king swore an oath and said, “As the Self-existent, who has redeemed my life from every difficulty, lives, 

as I swore to you by the Self-existent, the God of Israel: ‘Your son, Solomon, is to become king after me – he is the one who is to sit on my throne in my place,’ – that is exactly what I will do this very day.”

Bathsheba bowed with her face touching the ground, paying homage to the king, and said, “May my master, King David, live forever!”

King David then said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada for me.” So, they came into the king’s presence

The king said to them, “Take my servants with you, have my son, Solomon, ride on my personal mule, and take him down to Gihon. 

There, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet shall anoint him as king over Israel. You are to blow a shofar and say, ‘Long live, King Solomon!’ 

From there, come up after him. He is to come in and sit on my throne. He is the one to become king in my place; he is the one I have commanded to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”

“So be it,” Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, replied to the king. “May the Self-existent, the God of my master, the king, so affirm it. 

Just as the Self-existent was with my master, the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my master, King David.”

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

Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent [the sanctuary – the holy dwelling] and anointed Solomon. Then they blew a shofar, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live, King Solomon!”

All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the ground shook to the sound.

Adonijah and all the invited guests who were with him heard the noise as they finished eating. Joab, hearing the sound of the ram’s horn, said, “Why is the town in such an uproar?” 

While he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in; you are an excellent man, and you must be bringing good news.”

“Unfortunately not,” Jonathan answered him. “Our master, King David, has made Solomon king.” 

With Solomon, the king has sent Zadok, the priest, Nathan, the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites – and they had him ride on the king’s mule. 

Zadok, the priest and Nathan, the prophet anointed him king in Gihon. Their return from there with rejoicing led to the jubilation in the town. That is the noise you heard. 

Solomon has even taken his seat on the royal throne.

Added to that, the king’s servants came to congratulate our master, King David, saying, “May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.” Then the king bowed in worship on his bed. 

The king rounded it up, saying, “May the Self-existent, the God of Israel, be praised! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and I am a witness.”

Then all of Adonijah’s guests got up trembling and went their separate ways. 

Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

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

Then Solomon said, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will be touched, but if evil is found in him, he dies.” 

So, King Solomon sent for him and they took him down from the altar. He came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”