1By this time, King David was old and very advanced in years. Even when they covered him with blankets, he couldn’t keep warm.
2So his servants said to him, “Let’s find a young virgin for our lord the king. She can attend to the king and take care of him. She can also lie in your bed so that our lord the king may keep warm.”
3So they searched throughout all the borders of Israel for a beautiful young woman. They found Abishag, a woman from Shunem, and brought her to the king.
4The young woman was very beautiful, and she took care of the king and served him. However, the king did not have sexual relations with her.
5At that time, Adonijah, Haggith’s son, boasted, “I will be king!” He prepared chariots, horsemen, and fifty men to run in front of him.
6His father had never corrected him by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom.
7Adonijah talked with Joab, Zeruiah’s son, and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported Adonijah and helped him.
8However, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty warriors were not with Adonijah.
9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fat animals by the Stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants.
10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
11Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, saying, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah, Haggith’s son, has become king, and our lord David doesn’t know about it?
12Now, please let me advise you so that you can save your own life and your son Solomon’s life.
13Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, didn’t you swear to your servant, saying, “Your son Solomon will certainly reign after me, and he will sit on my throne?” So why is Adonijah now king?’
14While you are still talking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
15So Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old, and Abishag, the Shunammite woman, was serving him.
16Bathsheba bowed and showed her respect to the king. The king asked, “What do you want?”
17She said to him, “My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your servant, ‘Your son Solomon will certainly reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’
18But now, Adonijah is king, and you, my lord the king, don’t know it.
19He has sacrificed many cattle, fat animals, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon.
20Your Majesty, all of Israel is looking to you to tell them who will be the next king after you.
21Otherwise, when you die, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals.”
22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
23The king’s attendants said, “Look, it’s Nathan the prophet!” When Nathan came in before the king, he bowed down with his face to the ground.
24Nathan asked, “Your Majesty, have you really said that Adonijah will be king after you and sit on your throne?
25Because today he went out and sacrificed many cattle, fattened animals, and sheep. He invited all the king’s sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him, shouting, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
26But he did not invite me, your servant, nor Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon.
27Did you, my king, authorize this, without telling your servants who would sit on your throne after you?”
28King David then said, “Call Bathsheba in here.” She came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
29The king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as Yahweh lives, who has rescued me from all my troubles,
30I will keep the promise I made to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel: Your son Solomon will surely be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place. I will make sure this happens today.”
31Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, showing respect to the king, and said, “May my king, David, live forever!”
32King David said, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king.
33The king told them, “Take my loyal servants with you, have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon.
34There, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
35Afterward, follow him as he comes back and sits on my throne. He will be king in my place. I have appointed him to rule over Israel and Judah.”
36Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May Yahweh, the God of my king, confirm it.
37Just as Yahweh has been with my king, so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne even greater than the throne of my king, David.”
38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down. They had Solomon ride on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon.
39Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”
40Everyone followed him, and the people played flutes and rejoiced with such great joy that the earth shook from the sound.
41Adonijah and all his guests heard it just as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he asked, "Why is the city in such an uproar?"
42While he was still speaking, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in; you are a good man, so you must bring good news."
43Jonathan answered Adonijah, "Our master King David has certainly made Solomon king.
44The king sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethites with him, and they had Solomon ride on the king's own mule.
45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They came back from there rejoicing, so the city echoed with the sound. That is the noise you heard.
46Also, Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne.
47What’s more, the king’s servants came to congratulate our master King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name even greater than yours, and make his throne mightier than your throne.’ Then the king bowed on his bed.
48The king also said, ‘Praise Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has allowed me to see someone sitting on my throne today!’
49All of Adonijah’s guests were frightened, got up, and each one went his own way.
50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up, went, and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar.
51Someone told Solomon, "Look, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. See, he is holding onto the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’"
52Solomon said, "If he proves himself to be a worthy man, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground. But if he is found to have done wrong, he will die."
53So King Solomon sent for him, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, who told him, "Go home."