1 Kings 1:1–31

Now king David was old, and advanced in years: and when he was covered with clothes he was not warm.

2 His servants therefore, said to him: Let us seek for our Lord the king, a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherish him, and sleep in his bosom and warm our lord the king.

3 So they sought a beautiful young woman, in all the coasts of Israel and they found Abisag, a Sunamitess, and brought her to the king.

4 And the damsel was exceedingly beautiful, and she slept with the king, and served him, but the king did not know her.

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

6 Neither did his father rebuke him at any time, saying: Why hast thou done this? And he also was very beautiful, the next in birth after Absalom.

7 And he conferred with Joab, the son of Sarvia, and with Abiathar, the priest, who furthered Adonias’s side.

8 But Sadoc, the priest, and Banaias, the son of Joiada, and Nathan, the prophet, and Semei, and Rei, and the strength of David’s army, was not with Adonias.

9 And Adonias having slain rams and calves, and all fat cattle, by the stone of Zoheleth, which was near the fountain Rogel, invited all his brethren, the king’s sons, and all the men of Juda, the king’s servants:

10 But Nathan, the prophet, and Banaias, and all the valiant men, and Solomon, his brother, he invited not.

11 And Nathan said to Bethsabee, the mother of Solomon: Hast thou not heard that Adonias, the son of Haggith, reigneth, and our lord David knoweth it not?

12 Now then, come, take my counsel, and save thy life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

13 Go, and get thee in to king David, and say to him: Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear to me, thy handmaid, saying: Solomon, thy son, shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then doth Adonias reign?

14 And while thou art yet speaking there with the king, I will come in after thee, and will fill up thy words.

15 So Bethsabee went in to the king into the chamber. Now the king was very old, and Abisag, the Sunamitess, ministered to him.

16 Bethsabee bowed herself, and worshipped the king. And the king said to her: What is thy will?

17 She answered, and said: My lord, thou didst swear to thy handmaid, by the Lord thy God, saying: Solomon, thy son, shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.

18 And behold, now Adonias reigneth, and thou, my lord the king, knowest nothing of it.

19 He hath killed oxen, and all fat cattle, and many rams, and invited all the king’s sons, and Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, the general of the army: but Solomon, thy servant, he invited not.

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

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

22 As she was yet speaking with the king, Nathan, the prophet, came.

23 And they told the king, saying: Nathan, the prophet, is here. And when he was come in before the king, and had worshipped, bowing down to the ground,

24 Nathan said: My lord, O king, hast thou said: Let Adonias reign after me, and let him sit upon my throne?

25 Because he is gone down to day, and hath killed oxen, and fatlings, and many rams, and invited all the king’s sons, and the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest: and they are eating and drinking before him, and saying: God save king Adonias:

26 But me, thy servant, and Sadoc, the priest, and Banaias, the son of Joiada, and Solomon, thy servant, he hath not invited.

27 Is this word come out from my lord the king, and hast thou not told me, thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

28 And king David answered, and said: Call to me Bethsabee. And when she was come in to the king, and stood before him,

29 The king swore, and said: As the Lord liveth, who hath delivered my soul out of all distress,

30 Even as I swore to thee, by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying: Solomon thy son, shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead, so will I do this day.

31 And Bethsabee, bowing with her face to the earth, worshipped the king, saying: May my lord David live for ever.