Adonijah

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.

Then 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.

NoteA chariot is a small cart pulled by horses. Kings and soldiers rode in them. Men running ahead of him showed everyone that he was important.

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.

And 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 another son of David. He had also tried to take his father's throne.

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

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

NoteA priest was a man who led people in worshiping God. Joab was the leader of David's army.

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.

But 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.

NoteA prophet was a person who told others what God said. David's best soldiers were the brave men who had fought beside him for years.

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.

And 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:

NoteKilling animals like this was a way of giving a gift to God. Then everyone ate the meat together at a big feast. En-rogel was a spring of water just outside the city. Judah was the part of Israel where David's own family came from.

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

But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called 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.

Wherefore 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?

NoteBathsheba was one of David's wives. Solomon was her son.

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

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

NoteIn those days, a new king often killed anyone else who wanted the throne. That is why she and Solomon were in danger.

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?'

Go 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?

NoteA throne is the special chair a king sits on. To sit on the throne means to be the king.

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

Behold, 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.

And 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 show honor to the king. The king asked her, "What do you want?"

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

NotePeople bowed low in front of a king to show honor. It was a way of saying, "You are the ruler."

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.

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

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

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.

And 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.

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.

And 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, something bad will happen. When you die and rest with your ancestors, people will treat my son Solomon and me as criminals."

Otherwise 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.

NoteTo "rest with your ancestors" is a gentle way of saying to die. Ancestors are family members who lived long before you.

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

And, 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 and bowed with his face to the ground.

And 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, did you say that Adonijah would be king after you? Did you say he would sit on your throne?

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

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!'

For 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 what people shouted for a new king. It meant they hoped he would rule for many years.

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.

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

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

Is 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?

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?"

And 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 arrived. He was the son of Abiathar the priest. Adonijah said, "Come in. You are a good man, so you must bring good news."

And 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, "No. Our lord King David has made Solomon king.

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

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.

And 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 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.

And 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.

46And Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne.

And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

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.

And 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 was too old and weak to get out of bed. So he bowed where he lay to thank God.

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.'"

And 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.

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

And 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 and ran to the altar and held on to its horns.

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

NoteAn altar was a stone table where gifts to God were burned. Its top corners stuck up like little horns. Someone in trouble could hold on to them and ask to be kept safe.

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.'"

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

And 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 on his head will be harmed" was a way of saying he will not be hurt at all.

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."

So 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" meant Adonijah could live. But he had to stop trying to be king.

13Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked, "Do you come in peace?" He said, "Yes, in peace."

And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

NoteAdonijah was Solomon's older brother. He had already tried to make himself king. That is why Bathsheba asks if he comes in peace.

14Then he said, "I have something to tell you." She said, "Go ahead."

He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.

15He said, "You know the kingdom was going to be mine. All Israel expected me to be king. But it went to my brother instead. The LORD gave it to him.

And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother’s: for it was his from the LORD.

NoteUsually the oldest son became king when his father died. Adonijah was older than Solomon.

16Now I want to ask you for one thing. Please do not say no." She said, "Ask."

And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.

17He said, "Please ask King Solomon for me. He will not say no to you. Ask him to give me Abishag from Shunem as my wife."

And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

NoteAbishag was the young woman who cared for David when he was very old. She belonged to the old king's house. Asking to marry her was almost like asking to be king.

18Bathsheba said, "All right. I will speak to the king for you."

And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.

19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak for Adonijah. The king stood up and bowed to her. Then he sat on his throne. He had a seat brought in for his mother. She sat down at his right side.

Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.

NoteBowing was a way of showing honor. The seat at a king's right side was the best seat of all.

20She said, "I have one small thing to ask. Please do not say no." The king said, "Ask, mother. I will not say no to you."

Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.

21She said, "Let Abishag from Shunem marry your brother Adonijah."

And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

22King Solomon answered his mother, "Why ask that for Adonijah? He is my older brother. You might as well ask me to give him the kingdom. And give it to Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah too!"

And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

NoteA priest was a man who helped people worship God at God's holy tent.

23Then King Solomon made a promise before the LORD. He said, "May God punish me hard if Adonijah does not die for asking this.

Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

NoteThis was a very strong promise. It means, if I do not do this, let God punish me.

24The LORD made me king. He put me on my father David's throne. He gave me a family line, just as he promised. As surely as he lives, Adonijah will die today."

Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

Note"A family line" means children and grandchildren who would be kings after him.

25So King Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada. Benaiah struck Adonijah down, and he died.

And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

NoteBenaiah was the leader of the king's own soldiers.