1 Kings

King David was now old, far along in years. Even when they covered him with blankets, he could not get warm.

1Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

NoteA king's physical vigor was closely bound up with his fitness to rule; a report that David can no longer keep warm signals to the ancient reader that his grip on the throne is failing, and that the question of who follows him is now urgent.

2So his servants said to him, "Let us look for a young woman who has never been married, to serve you, our lord the king. She can wait on you, take care of you, and lie beside you, so that you will be warm."

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.

NoteThe proposal is a practical remedy of ancient medicine, body heat from a young attendant, and also a test of the king's vigor. The Hebrew word rendered "young virgin" specifies an unmarried girl of marriageable age; the point of her status is that she enters the royal household as the king's own, not merely as a nurse.

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

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

NoteShunem was a village in the Jezreel Valley in the north of Israel, a long way from Jerusalem; the search covers the whole kingdom, which is part of the point.

4The young woman was very beautiful. She took care of the king and waited on him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.

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

NoteA woman brought into a king's household in this way belonged to the royal harem whether or not the marriage was consummated. That detail matters later: in the next chapter, Adonijah's request to marry Abishag is treated as a bid for the throne itself.

5About that time Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began to promote himself, saying, "I will be king." He got chariots and horsemen for himself, and fifty men to run ahead of him.

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.

NoteDavid had many sons by different wives, and Israel had no fixed law that the eldest inherited the throne, so the succession was genuinely open. Adonijah's mother Haggith is named because a claimant's standing depended partly on his mother's rank. Chariots, horsemen, and a running escort of fifty men were the visible trappings of royalty; parading them was a public announcement that he intended to rule. David's son Absalom had made exactly the same display before his revolt.

6His father had never once corrected him or asked him, "Why are you doing this?" Adonijah was also very handsome, and he was born next after Absalom.

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.

NoteAbsalom was an older son of David who mounted an armed rebellion against his father and was killed. Adonijah was the next son born after him; with Absalom and the still older Amnon both dead, Adonijah was now, so far as we know, David's eldest surviving son, which is why the verse mentions his birth order.

7Adonijah talked things over with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they took his side and supported him.

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

NoteJoab was the commander of David's army and had been for decades; Abiathar was one of the two chief priests. Winning these two gave Adonijah the backing of the army and of the priesthood, the two institutions that could make a claim to the throne stick.

8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's elite soldiers did not join Adonijah.

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.

NoteZadok was the other chief priest and Nathan the prophet who had confronted David over Bathsheba. Benaiah commanded David's personal bodyguard. "David's elite soldiers" (the King James "mighty men") were the corps of veteran warriors who had been with David since his outlaw years and were loyal to him personally rather than to Joab. Nothing else is known of Shimei and Rei. The list is a roll call of the men who controlled the guard, the shrine, and the palace.

9Adonijah killed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves as sacrifices at the stone of Zoheleth, which is near En-rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah who served the king.

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:

NoteAn animal sacrifice was also a feast: the meat was cooked and eaten by the guests. Slaughtering on this scale and gathering the royal family and the leading men of Judah was in effect a coronation banquet. En-rogel was a spring in the valley just south of Jerusalem, outside the city, near enough to matter, far enough to be out of David's sight and hearing.

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

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

11So Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Have you not heard that Adonijah, Haggith's son, has made himself king, and our lord David does not know about it?

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?

NoteNathan speaks of Adonijah as already reigning because in Israelite practice the feast, the acclamation, and the backing of the army and priesthood were what made a king; there was no separate legal step still to come.

12So now let me give you some advice, so that you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

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.

NoteNathan's warning is not exaggerated. When a disputed succession was settled, the new king routinely killed the rival claimant and his supporters to prevent a second challenge. If Adonijah's claim held, Bathsheba and Solomon were dead.

13Go straight to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not promise me, your servant, on oath, "Your son Solomon will surely be king after me, and he will sit on my throne"? Then why has Adonijah become king?'

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?

Note"Your servant" here translates a word meaning a female servant or slave; it is the polite way a woman referred to herself when addressing a superior, not a statement about her actual position. No earlier passage of the Bible records this oath of David's; the reader is simply told it was made.

14Then, while you are still there talking with the king, I will come in after you and back up what you have said."

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

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.

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

16Bathsheba bowed low to the ground before the king to show respect. The king asked, "What do you want?"

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

17She said to him, "My lord, you swore an oath to me, your servant, by the LORD your God. You said, 'Your son Solomon will surely be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.'

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.

18But now Adonijah has made himself king, and you, my lord the king, do not even know it.

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

19He has sacrificed many oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king's sons, along with Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon.

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.

20And now, my lord the king, all Israel is watching you, waiting for you to tell them who will sit on your throne after you.

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.

21If you do not, then when you, my lord the king, die and are buried with your ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals."

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.

Note"Die and are buried with your ancestors" is a standard Hebrew way of saying "die a natural death." To be "treated as criminals" means to be executed as traitors, the expected fate of a losing claimant's family.

22Just then, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.

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

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

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.

24Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne'?

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

25Today he has gone down and sacrificed many oxen, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!'

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.

Note"Long live the king" was the formal shout of acclamation by which a new ruler was recognized; hearing it reported means the crowd at the feast has already accepted Adonijah as king.

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

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

27Has my lord the king done this without telling me, your servant, who is to sit on the throne after him?"

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?

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

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

29The king made a solemn promise. He said, "As surely as the LORD lives, who has rescued me from every trouble,

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

Note"As surely as the LORD lives" was the standard formula for a binding oath, invoking God as witness and, by implication, as the one who would punish a broken promise.

30today I will do exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: your son Solomon will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place."

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.

31Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground to show respect to the king, and she said, "May my lord King David live forever!"

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.

Note"May the king live forever" was a conventional court greeting throughout the ancient Near East, roughly equivalent to "long live the king." It is not a wish that he escape death, and it is pointedly said to a man who is visibly dying.

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

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.

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

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:

NoteRiding the king's own mount was itself the announcement: only the man the king had designated could use it, so the sight of Solomon on David's mule settled the question in public. Gihon was Jerusalem's main spring, in the valley on the east side of the city and just below the palace, close in, in full view and hearing of the city, unlike Adonijah's gathering at the more distant En-rogel.

34There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him with oil as king over Israel. Then blow the ram's horn and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!'

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.

NoteKings in Israel were installed by having olive oil poured over the head by a priest or prophet; the ceremony, not a coronation with a crown, was what made a man king. "Anointed" and "messiah" come from this word. The ram's horn was the standard instrument for public signals (alarms, assemblies, and proclamations) and its blast would carry across the city.

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

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.

36Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen. May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say the same.

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

Note"Amen" is a Hebrew word meaning roughly "let it be firm" or "so be it"; it is the formal way of endorsing an oath or a command as binding.

37The LORD has been with my lord the king. May he be with Solomon in the same way, and may he make Solomon's kingdom even greater than the kingdom of my lord King David."

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.

38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada went down, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites. They put Solomon on King David's mule and brought him to Gihon.

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.

NoteThe Cherethites and Pelethites were David's professional bodyguard, foreign mercenaries (the names probably connect them to Crete and to the Philistines). Because they were outsiders, they had no stake in Israelite factions and were loyal only to the king who paid them, which is exactly why they are the troops used here.

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

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.

NoteThe "tent of worship" is the tent David had set up in Jerusalem to house the ark, the shrine that served before the temple was built. The oil kept there was consecrated for sacred use, and it was stored in a hollowed animal horn used as a flask.

40All the people followed him up, playing flutes and celebrating with such loud joy that the ground shook with the sound.

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.

41Adonijah and all his guests heard the noise just as they were finishing their meal. When Joab heard the sound of the ram's horn, he asked, "Why is the city in such an uproar?"

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?

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

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.

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

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

44The king sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites with him, and they set him on the king's mule.

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:

45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. They have come up from there celebrating, and the whole city is ringing with the sound. That is the noise you heard.

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.

46What is more, Solomon has already taken his seat on the royal throne.

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

47The king's officials have also come to congratulate our lord King David. They said, 'May your God make Solomon's name even greater than your name, and his kingdom greater than your kingdom.' And the king bowed down in worship on his bed.

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.

NoteDavid bows on the bed rather than rising because he is too weak to stand, the gesture of worship is made from where he lies.

48The king also said, 'Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has today provided someone to sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it.'"

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.

49At this, all of Adonijah's guests were terrified. They got up and each one went his own way.

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

50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up, went to the altar, and took hold of its horns.

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

NoteThe altar had four projections at its corners, called horns. Grasping them was a recognized claim of sanctuary: a man holding the altar could not be killed there without profaning it, so the appeal bought time to negotiate terms. Israelite law allowed this refuge for accidental killing but explicitly denied it to murderers, so the protection was never absolute.

51Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. He is holding on to the horns of the altar and saying, 'Let King Solomon promise me today that he will not put me, his servant, to death by the sword.'"

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.

52Solomon said, "If he proves himself an honorable man, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground. But if he is found doing evil, he will die."

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.

Note"Not one hair of his head will fall" was a common idiom for coming through completely unharmed.

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

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.

Note"Go home" is a dismissal, not a pardon in full. Adonijah is sent to his own house and out of public life, on terms that leave him alive only as long as he stays quiet.