1 Kings 2:13–25

¹³and Adonijah son of Haggith cometh in unto Bath-Sheba, mother of Solomon, and she saith, ‘Is thy coming peace?’ and he saith, ‘Peace.’ ¹⁴And he saith, ‘I have a word unto thee,’ and she saith, ‘Speak.’ ¹⁵And he saith, ‘Thou hast known that the kingdom was mine, and towards me set their faces had all Israel for reigning, and the kingdom is turned round about, and is my brother’s, for from Jehovah it was his; ¹⁶and now, one petition I am asking of thee—turn not back my face;’ and she saith unto him, ‘Speak.’ ¹⁷And he saith, ‘Speak, I pray thee, to Solomon the king, for he doth not turn back thy face, and he doth give to me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife.’ ¹⁸And Bath-Sheba saith, ‘Good; I do speak for thee unto the king.’ ¹⁹And Bath-Sheba cometh in unto king Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, and the king riseth to meet her, and boweth himself to her, and sitteth on his throne, and placeth a throne for the mother of the king, and she sitteth at his right hand. ²⁰And she saith, ‘One small petition I ask of thee, turn not back my face;’ and the king saith to her, ‘Ask, my mother, for I do not turn back thy face.’ ²¹And she saith, ‘Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother for a wife.’ ²²And king Solomon answereth and saith to his mother, ‘And why art thou asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? also ask for him the kingdom—for he is mine elder brother—even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah.’ ²³And king Solomon sweareth by Jehovah, saying, ‘Thus doth God to me, and thus He doth add—surely against his soul hath Adonijah spoken this word; ²⁴and now, Jehovah liveth, who hath established me, and causeth me to sit on the throne of David my father, and who hath made for me an house as He spake—surely to-day is Adonijah put to death.’ ²⁵And king Solomon sendeth by the hand of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he falleth upon him, and he dieth.