Abishag Cares for David 1 AKJV Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he got no heat. BSB BSB: Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.
2 AKJV Why his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. BSB BSB: So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”
3 AKJV So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. BSB BSB: Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
4 AKJV And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not. BSB BSB: The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.
Adonijah Usurps the Kingdom 5 AKJV Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. BSB BSB: At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.
6 AKJV And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bore him after Absalom. BSB BSB: (His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)
7 AKJV And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. BSB BSB: So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.
8 AKJV But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. BSB BSB: But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.
9 AKJV And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brothers the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants: BSB BSB: And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.
10 AKJV But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. BSB BSB: But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
Nathan and Bathsheba before David 11 AKJV Why Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith does reign, and David our lord knows it not? BSB BSB: Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?
12 AKJV Now therefore come, let me, I pray you, give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon. BSB BSB: Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
13 AKJV Go and get you in to king David, and say to him, Did not you, my lord, O king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adonijah reign? BSB BSB: Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’
14 AKJV Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words. BSB BSB: Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
15 AKJV And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered to the king. BSB BSB: So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.
16 AKJV And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. And the king said, What would you? BSB BSB: And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”
17 AKJV And she said to him, My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne. BSB BSB: “My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’
18 AKJV And now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and now, my lord the king, you know it not: BSB BSB: But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.
19 AKJV And he has slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon your servant has he not called. BSB BSB: And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon.
20 AKJV And you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. BSB BSB: And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
21 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”
22 AKJV And, see, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. BSB BSB: And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
23 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.
24 AKJV And Nathan said, My lord, O king, have you said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? BSB BSB: “My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?
25 AKJV For he is gone down this day, and has slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and has 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. BSB BSB: For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
26 AKJV But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, has he not called. BSB BSB: But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
27 AKJV Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you have not showed it to your servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him? BSB BSB: Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”
David Renews His Oath to Bathsheba 28 AKJV Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king. BSB BSB: Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
29 AKJV And the king swore, and said, As the LORD lives, that has redeemed my soul out of all distress, BSB BSB: And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,
30 AKJV Even as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day. BSB BSB: I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”
31 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
Solomon Anointed King (1 Chronicles 29:21–25)
32 AKJV And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. BSB BSB: Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.
33 AKJV The king also said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: BSB BSB: “Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon.
34 AKJV And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow you with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon. BSB BSB: There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
35 AKJV Then you shall come up after him, that he may come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. BSB BSB: Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”
36 AKJV And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. BSB BSB: “Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.
37 AKJV As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. BSB BSB: Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”
38 AKJV So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride on king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon. BSB BSB: Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. 39 AKJV And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. BSB BSB: Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”
40 AKJV And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them. BSB BSB: All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.
Adonijah Learns of Solomon’s Kingship 41 AKJV And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar? BSB BSB: Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab.
42 AKJV And while he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said to him, Come in; for you are a valiant man, and bring good tidings. BSB BSB: As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”
43 AKJV And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Truly our lord king David has made Solomon king. BSB BSB: “Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
44 AKJV And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule: BSB BSB: And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule.
45 AKJV And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard. BSB BSB: Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.
46 AKJV And also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom. BSB BSB: Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47 AKJV And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne. And the king bowed himself on the bed. BSB BSB: The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,
48 AKJV And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which has given one to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it. BSB BSB: saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”
49 AKJV And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. BSB BSB: At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.
51 AKJV And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon: for, see, he has caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword. BSB BSB: It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”
52 AKJV And Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. BSB BSB: And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”
53 AKJV So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said to him, Go to your house. BSB BSB: So King Solomon summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”
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