1 Kings 2:13–25

The Death of Adonijah

¹³Then Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, went to Bathsheba, who was Solomon’s mother. “Is this a friendly visit?” she asked. “It is,” he answered, ¹⁴and then he added, “I have something to ask of you.”

“What is it?” she asked.

¹⁵He answered, “You know that I should have become king and that everyone in Israel expected it. But it happened differently, and my brother became king, because it was the Lord’s will. ¹⁶And now I have one request to make; please do not refuse me.”

“What is it?” Bathsheba asked.

^17*He answered, “Please ask King Solomon—I know he won’t refuse you—to let me have Abishag, the woman from Shunem, as my wife.”

¹⁸“Very well,” she answered. “I will speak to the king for you.”

¹⁹So Bathsheba went to the king to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. The king stood up to greet his mother and bowed to her. Then he sat on his throne and had another one brought in on which she sat at his right. ²⁰She said, “I have a small favour to ask of you; please do not refuse me.”

“What is it, mother?” he asked. “I will not refuse you.”

²¹She answered, “Let your brother Adonijah have Abishag as his wife.” ²²“Why do you ask me to give Abishag to him?” the king asked. “You might as well ask me to give him the throne too. After all, he is my elder brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab are on his side!”^{e 23}Then Solomon made a solemn promise in the Lord’s name, “May God strike me dead if I don’t make Adonijah pay with his life for asking this! ²⁴The Lord has firmly established me on the throne of my father David; he has kept his promise and given the kingdom to me and my descendants. I swear by the living Lord that Adonijah will die this very day!”

²⁵So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah, who went out and killed Adonijah.