Bathsheba

1Spring came, the time of year when kings went out to fight. David sent Joab, the leader of his army, with his soldiers and all Israel. They beat the Ammonites and surrounded their city, Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

NoteKings fought wars in spring. Winter roads were muddy and hard to travel. Armies could find food in the fields in spring. To surround a city meant to camp all around it. No food or help could get in. The army waited until the people inside gave up. The Ammonites were a people who lived near Israel.

2One evening David got up from his bed. He walked around on the flat roof of the king's house. From up there he saw a woman taking a bath. She was very beautiful.

And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

NoteHouses then had flat roofs, not pointed ones. A roof was like an extra room outside. People walked there, ate there, and slept there when it was hot. The king's house was a palace, a very big house.

3David sent someone to find out who she was. The man said, "That is Bathsheba. Her father is Eliam. She is the wife of Uriah the Hittite."

And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

NotePeople often said whose son or daughter you were. That told everyone which family you came from. The Hittites were a people from another land. Uriah was a Hittite, but he fought in David's army.

4David sent men to bring her to him. She came, and David slept with her. She had just made herself clean, the way God's law told women to. Then she went back home.

And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

NoteGod's law asked women to wash at certain times each month. After that washing they could join in worship again.

5Later the woman knew she was going to have a baby. She sent a message to David that said, "I am going to have a baby."

And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

6So David sent word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David.

And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

7When Uriah arrived, David asked him questions. He asked how Joab was, how the soldiers were, and how the war was going.

And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

8Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and rest." Uriah left the king's house. The king sent a gift of food after him.

And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

NoteThe King James says "wash thy feet." People wore sandals on dusty roads. Washing your feet was the first thing you did at home. So it was a way of saying, go home and rest.

9But Uriah did not go down to his house. He slept by the door of the king's house with the king's other servants.

But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

NoteThe king's servants slept right by his door. They stayed there to guard him through the night.

10People told David, "Uriah did not go home." So David asked him, "You just came back from a long trip. Why didn't you go home?"

And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?

11Uriah said, "The ark, the special gold box that showed God was with Israel, is out in a tent. The soldiers of Israel and Judah are living in tents too. Joab and my master's men sleep out in open fields. How could I go home to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you are alive, I will not do that."

And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

NoteSoldiers in a war stayed away from home comforts. They kept ready to fight at any moment. Uriah would not rest at home while his friends slept in fields. "As surely as you are alive" was a very strong promise. It was like saying, I really mean this.

12David said, "Stay here one more day. Tomorrow I will send you back." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.

And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.

13David asked Uriah to eat and drink with him, and he made Uriah drunk. That evening Uriah went out and slept with the king's servants again. He still did not go home.

And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

NoteDrunk means he drank so much wine he could not think clearly.

14The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab. He sent the letter with Uriah, who carried it himself.

And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

NoteUriah carried the letter himself and did not know what it said. Letters were folded and sealed shut with wax. Most people could not read, so a sealed letter stayed secret.

15The letter said, "Put Uriah at the front, where the fighting is hardest. Then pull the other men back from him. Let him be struck down and killed."

And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

16Joab was watching the city carefully. He put Uriah in the spot where he knew the strongest enemy soldiers were.

And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.

17The men of the city came out and fought against Joab. Some of David's soldiers were killed. Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

18Then Joab sent a messenger to tell David everything about the fighting.

Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;

NoteA messenger was a person who carried news by walking or running. There were no phones or letters that traveled fast.

19Joab told the messenger what to do. He said, "First tell the king all about the battle."

And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,

20"The king may get angry. He may ask you, 'Why did you fight so close to the city? Didn't you know they shoot arrows from the top of the wall?'"

And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

NoteCities had tall thick walls around them for safety. Men stood on top and shot arrows down at enemies.

21"'Remember Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth. A woman dropped a heavy grinding stone on him from a wall. He died in the town of Thebez. So why did you go near the wall?' If the king says that, tell him, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead too.'"

Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

NoteAbimelech was a leader in Israel long before David. Everyone knew that old story. A millstone is a heavy round stone used to crush grain into flour. It takes two hands to lift one. Jerubbesheth is another name for Abimelech's father, Gideon.

22So the messenger went to David. He told him everything Joab had sent him to say.

So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.

23The messenger said, "Their men were stronger and came out at us in the open field. But we pushed them back to the gate of the city."

And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.

NoteA city wall had one big gate that could be shut. Pushing enemies back to the gate meant pushing them all the way home.

24"Then men on top of the wall shot arrows at your soldiers. Some of the king's men were killed. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead too."

And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

25David said to the messenger, "Tell Joab this: 'Do not let this upset you. A sword kills one man as easily as another. Fight harder against the city and tear it down.' Tell Joab to keep his courage."

Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.

26Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead. She cried and mourned for him.

And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

NoteMourning was a special time of crying for someone who died. Family and friends often cried together for about seven days.

27When the time of mourning was over, David sent for her. She came to his house and became his wife, and she had a son. But what David had done was wrong in the LORD's eyes.

And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

NoteWhen LORD is printed in big letters, it stands for God's own name.

1The Lord sent Nathan to David. Nathan came and told him a story. "Two men lived in one town. One was rich. One was poor."

And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

NoteA prophet was a person God gave messages to say out loud. Even a king had to listen to a prophet. Nathan tells David a made up story on purpose. The story helps David see what he himself has done.

2"The rich man had very many sheep and cows."

The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

NoteBack then, rich people did not keep money in a bank. They counted how many sheep and cows they owned.

3"The poor man had nothing but one little girl lamb. He had bought her and raised her. She grew up with him and his children. She ate his food and drank from his cup. She slept in his arms. She was like a daughter to him."

But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

NoteA ewe lamb is a baby girl sheep. One lamb could be almost everything a poor family owned. Sheep also gave wool and milk, not just meat.

4"A traveler came to visit the rich man. The rich man did not want to cook one of his own sheep or cows. So he took the poor man's lamb instead. He cooked it for his visitor."

And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

NoteLong ago people always fed a visitor who came to their door. It was a rule of kindness. The meal often meant cooking one of your animals.

5David became very angry at that man. He said to Nathan, "As surely as the Lord lives, that man should die!"

And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

Note"As the LORD liveth" was a very serious promise. It was like saying, this is as true as God is real.

6"He must pay back four lambs for the one lamb. He did this thing, and he felt no pity at all."

And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

NoteGod's law said a stolen sheep must be paid back four times over. David is saying the man broke that law.

7Nathan said to David, "You are that man." Then he said, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. I made you king over Israel. I kept you safe from Saul."

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

NoteTo anoint a king, someone poured oil on his head. It showed that God had picked him for the job. Saul was the king before David. Saul hunted David and tried to kill him.

8"I gave you your master's house. I gave you his wives to be your own. I gave you the people of Israel and Judah. If that was not enough, I would have given you much more."

And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

NoteDavid's master was King Saul. When a new king took over, he took care of the old king's whole household. Israel and Judah were the two parts of God's people.

9"So why did you push aside what the Lord told you? Why did you do what I say is wrong? You had Uriah the Hittite killed with a sword. You took his wife to be your wife. The army of Ammon killed him for you."

Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

NoteUriah was a brave soldier in David's own army. Hittites were people from another land who lived among the Israelites. Ammon was a country next door that Israel was fighting.

10"So now fighting and killing will never leave your family. You turned away from me. You took Uriah's wife to be your own wife."

Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

Note"The sword shall never depart" means fighting will keep happening. A sword stood for war and killing.

11"This is what the Lord says. I will bring trouble on you from inside your own family. I will take your wives away while you watch. I will give them to a man close to you. He will sleep with them in the open daylight."

Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

NoteBack then, taking a king's wives was a way of saying, I am king now. So this trouble would come from someone in David's own family.

12"You did your wrong in secret. I will do this where all Israel can see it."

For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan said to David, "The Lord has taken your sin away. You will not die."

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

NoteTo sin means to do something God says is wrong.

14"But what you did gives the Lord's enemies a reason to say bad things about him. So the baby boy born to you will die."

Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

Note"Blaspheme" means to say ugly, insulting things about God.

15Then Nathan went home. The Lord made the baby sick. It was the child Uriah's wife had with David. The baby was very sick.

And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

16David begged God to let the boy live. He would not eat. He went inside and lay on the ground all night.

David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

NoteTo fast means to go without food on purpose. People fasted when they were very sad or praying hard. Lying on the bare ground showed the same deep sadness.

17The leaders of his house came and stood beside him. They tried to lift him up from the ground. He would not get up. He would not eat any food with them.

And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

NoteThese elders were older, trusted men who helped run the king's house.

18On the seventh day the baby died. David's servants were afraid to tell him. They said, "He would not listen to us while the child was alive. What will he do if we say the child is dead? He might even hurt himself."

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

19David saw his servants whispering to each other. He knew then that the baby had died. He asked them, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead."

But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

20David got up from the ground. He washed and rubbed oil on his skin. He put on clean clothes. He went to the Lord's house and worshiped there. Then he went home and asked for food, and he ate.

Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

NotePeople rubbed olive oil on their skin the way we use lotion. Stopping the oil showed you were sad. Starting again showed the sad time was over. The Lord's house here was a special tent for worship. The big temple in Jerusalem was not built yet.

21His servants asked him, "Why are you doing this? You cried and would not eat while the child was alive. Now he is dead, and you get up and eat."

Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

22David said, "While the child was alive, I cried and would not eat. I thought, who knows? Maybe God will be kind and let him live."

And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

Note"Gracious" means kind and giving, even when someone does not deserve it.

23"But now he is dead. Why should I stop eating? I cannot bring him back. One day I will go to him. He will not come back to me."

But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

NoteDavid means that he will die someday too. Then he will be where his baby is.

24David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to her, and later she had a son. They named him Solomon. The Lord loved the boy.

And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

NoteThe name Solomon sounds like the word for peace.

25The Lord sent a message through Nathan the prophet. Nathan gave the boy another name, Jedidiah. That name means "loved by the Lord."

And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

NoteNames in the Bible often had a meaning inside them. God gave this baby a name that showed love.

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?

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

Then 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, "The LORD lives, and he has saved me from every trouble.

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

NoteSaying "the LORD lives" was a way of making a very serious promise. It meant, "I promise this as surely as God is alive."

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."

Even 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 honor the king. She said, "May my lord King David live forever!"

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

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.