1 Kings

Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

1King David was now very old. His servants piled blankets on him, but he still felt cold.

2Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.

2So his servants said to him, "Let us find a young woman for you, our king. She can wait on you and take care of you. She can lie beside you and keep you warm."

3So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

3So they looked all through the land of Israel for a beautiful girl. They found Abishag, from the town of Shunem, and brought her to the king.

4And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

4The girl was very beautiful. She took care of the king and served him. But the king did not sleep with her.

5Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

5Then Adonijah decided he would make himself king. He was David's son, and his mother was Haggith. He got chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run ahead of him.

6And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

6His father had never once corrected him or asked, "Why are you doing this?" Adonijah was very handsome. He was born right after his brother Absalom.

7And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

7Adonijah talked with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest. Both men agreed to help him.

8But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

8But some men would not join Adonijah. They were Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, a man who told people what God said. Shimei, Rei, and David's best soldiers also stayed away.

9And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:

9Adonijah killed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves for a feast. He did this by the stone of Zoheleth, near a spring called En-rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the king's officials from Judah.

10But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, or Benaiah, or the best soldiers, or his brother Solomon.

11Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

11So Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. He said, "Have you heard? Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has made himself king. And our lord David does not even know.

12Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

12Please let me tell you what to do. This way you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

13Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

13Go in to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not promise me this? You said Solomon my son would be king after you and would sit on your throne. So why is Adonijah acting as king?'

14Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

14While you are still talking with the king, I will come in too. I will tell him that everything you said is true."

15And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

15So Bathsheba went in to see the king in his bedroom. The king was very old, and Abishag from Shunem was taking care of him.

16And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

16Bathsheba bowed low to show honor to the king. The king asked her, "What do you want?"

17And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

17She said, "My lord, you made a promise to me before the LORD your God. You said that my son Solomon would be king after you. You said he would sit on your throne.

18And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

18But now Adonijah is acting as king. And you, my lord the king, do not even know it.

19And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

19He has killed many oxen, fattened calves, and sheep for a feast. He invited all your other sons, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the leader of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon.

20And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

20My lord the king, everyone in Israel is watching you. They are waiting for you to say who will sit on your throne after you.

21Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

21If you do not, something bad will happen. When you die and rest with your ancestors, people will treat my son Solomon and me as criminals."

22And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

22While she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.

23And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

23The king was told, "Nathan the prophet is here." Nathan came in and bowed with his face to the ground.

24And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

24Nathan said, "My lord the king, did you say that Adonijah would be king after you? Did you say he would sit on your throne?

25For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.

25Today he went out and killed many oxen, fattened calves, and sheep for a feast. He invited all the king's sons, the army leaders, and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him. They are shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!'

26But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

26But he did not invite me, your servant. He did not invite Zadok the priest, or Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon.

27Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

27Did my lord the king order this? If so, you did not tell your servants who should sit on your throne after you."

28Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.

28Then King David said, "Call Bathsheba back in." So she came in and stood before the king.

29And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,

29The king made a solemn promise. He said, "The LORD lives, and He has saved me from every trouble.

30Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.

30I promised you before the LORD, the God of Israel, that Solomon your son would be king after me. I said he would sit on my throne in my place. Today I will do exactly that."

31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

31Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground to honor the king. She said, "May my lord King David live forever!"

32And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

32King David said, "Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." So they came in to the king.

33The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

33The king said to them, "Take my servants with you. Put my son Solomon on my own mule. Then take him down to the spring called Gihon.

NoteRiding the king's own mule was a sign to everyone. It meant this was the man the king had chosen to rule next.

34And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

34There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet must pour oil on him to make him king over Israel. Then blow the ram's horn and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!'

35Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

35Then come back up here with him. He will sit on my throne and rule in my place. I have chosen him to be the ruler over Israel and Judah."

36And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.

36Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Yes, let it be so. May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say the same thing.

37As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

37The LORD has been with you, my lord the king. May He be with Solomon too. May He make Solomon's rule even greater than yours."

38So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.

38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went down to Gihon. The king's special guards, the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went too. They put Solomon on King David's mule and led him there.

39And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

39Zadok the priest took the horn full of oil from the holy tent. He poured it on Solomon to make him king. They blew the ram's horn, and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!"

NotePouring special oil on someone's head was how a new king was set apart. The oil was kept in a hollow animal horn used as a container.

40And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

40All the people followed him up from the spring. They played flutes and were so happy that the ground seemed to shake with the noise.

41And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

41Adonijah and all his guests heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the ram's horn, he asked, "Why is the city making all that noise?"

42And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.

42While he was still speaking, Jonathan arrived. He was the son of Abiathar the priest. Adonijah said, "Come in. You are a good man, so you must bring good news."

43And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

43Jonathan answered, "No. Our lord King David has made Solomon king.

44And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule:

44The king sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada with him. The Cherethites and the Pelethites went too. They put Solomon on the king's own mule.

45And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.

45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet poured oil on him at Gihon to make him king. They came back up cheering, and the whole city is ringing with the sound. That is the noise you heard.

46And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

46And Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne.

47And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.

47The king's servants also came to bless our lord King David. They said, 'May your God make Solomon's name even greater than yours. May He make his throne greater than your throne.' And the king bowed low on his bed to worship.

48And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.

48The king also said, 'Praise the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has given someone to sit on my throne, and my own eyes have seen it.'"

49And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

49Then all of Adonijah's guests were afraid. They jumped up and hurried away, each man going home.

50And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up and ran to the altar and held on to its horns.

NoteThe altar was a stone table where gifts were offered to God. It had four corners shaped like horns. A person in danger could grab them and ask to be spared.

51And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

51Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. He is holding on to the horns of the altar. He says, 'Let King Solomon promise me today that he will not kill me.'"

52And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

52Solomon said, "If he shows he is a good man, not one hair on his head will be harmed. But if he does wrong, he will die."

53So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.

53So King Solomon sent men to bring Adonijah down from the altar. Adonijah came and bowed low before King Solomon. Solomon said to him, "Go home."