1 ARST When King David was very old, he often felt cold.{ That was true} even though his servants put many blankets on him. 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 ARST His officials told him,“Your Majesty, some people should locate a young female attendant who has never had sex. She will stay near you, and she will take care of you. She will sleep in your bed with you. That will keep you from feeling cold, Your Majesty.” 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 ARST So, people searched throughout the country of Israel for a young female attendant who was pretty. Eventually, they located{ a woman whose name was} Abishag. She was from the town of Shunem. They took her to King{ David}. BSB BSB: Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
4 ARST Abishag was extremely pretty. She took care of the king and served him. However, King{ David} did not have sex with her. BSB BSB: The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.
5 ARST Now{ David’ s next son} after Absalom was Adonijah. His mother’ s name was Haggith. He was a very handsome man. However, his father{ David} had never rebuked him for anything that he did. Adonijah decided that he wanted to become king. So, he got a chariot, soldiers who rode horses, and 50 men to run in front of him{ as an escort}. 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.
7 ARST He made plans with Joab, who was Zeruiah’ s son{ and the leader of the army}, and with Abiathar the priest. They supported Adonijah{ as the next king}. BSB BSB: So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.
8 ARST However, Zadok the priest, Benaiah, who was Jehoiada’ s son{ and the leader of the king’ s guards}, Nathan, who spoke for God, Shimei, Rei, and David’ s most capable soldiers did not support Adonijah{ as the next king}. 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 ARST Now Adonijah went to the large rock that people call Zoheleth, which is near the spring that people call Rogel. He offered as sacrifices some sheep and oxen and fat animals. He invited most of his brothers, King David’ s other sons. He also invited most of the king’ s officials who were from Judah. 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 ARST However, he did not invite Nathan, who spoke for God, Benaiah,{ David’ s} most capable soldiers, or his{ younger} brother Solomon. BSB BSB: But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
11 ARST Then Nathan went to Solomon’ s mother Bathsheba and told her,“You should know that Adonijah, Haggith’ s son, is trying to become king. Further, King David has not heard about it! 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 ARST So if you want to save yourself and your son Solomon from dying, allow me to tell you what you should do. BSB BSB: Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
13 ARST Leave this place and visit King David. Remind him that he, the king, promised you that your son Solomon would rule as the next king. Then, tell him that Adonijah is trying to be the next king. 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 ARST Then, as you are telling those things to King David, I too will visit. I will tell King David that what you are telling him is true.” BSB BSB: Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
15 ARST So Bathsheba visited the king in his bedroom. He was very old, and Abishag, who was from the town of Shunem, was taking care of him. 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 ARST Bathsheba kneeled before King David to honor him. Then, he asked her,“What do you want?” BSB BSB: And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”
17 ARST She replied,“Your Majesty, you had Yahweh our God authorize it when you solemnly promised me that my son Solomon would certainly rule as the next king. 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 ARST However, listen to this: Adonijah is trying to become king. Further, Your Majesty, you have not heard about it. BSB BSB: But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.
19 ARST He has offered as sacrifices many oxen and fat animals and sheep. He has invited most of your sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the leader of the army. However, he has not invited Solomon, who obeys you. 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 ARST So, Your Majesty, all the Israelite people are waiting for you to declare who will rule as the next king. 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 ARST If you do not do that, Your Majesty, when you die, people will punish me and Solomon, my son, as if we had done something wrong.” BSB BSB: Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”
22 ARST Then, as Bathsheba was saying that to King David, Nathan, who spoke for God, arrived there. BSB BSB: And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
23 ARST So David’ s servants told King David,“Nathan, who speaks for God, is here.” Then{ Bathsheba left, and} Nathan went to where King David was. He knelt before King David to honor him very much. BSB BSB: So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.
24 ARST Then Nathan said,“Your Majesty, you must have declared that Adonijah would rule as the next king. BSB BSB: “My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?
25 ARST { I say that} because this very day Adonijah has visited{ Rogel spring}.{ There,} he has offered as sacrifices many oxen and fat animals and sheep. He has invited most of your sons, the leaders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. They are feasting with him and declaring,‘We hope that King Adonijah will live for a long time!’ 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 ARST However, he did not invite me, who obeys you, or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah, who is Jehoiada’ s son, or Solomon, who obeys you. BSB BSB: But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
27 ARST Did you, Your Majesty, tell Adonijah and the people with him to do those things without informing us who obey you about who will rule as the next king?” 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?”
28 ARST Then King David told{ his servants},“Have Bathsheba come{ in here again}.” So,{ Nathan left, and} Bathsheba entered in{ again} and waited before King David. BSB BSB: Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
29 ARST Then King David declared,“Whenever anything might have hurt me, Yahweh rescued me. As surely as he lives,{ I promise solemnly} BSB BSB: And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,
30 ARST that I will do today what I previously solemnly promised to you and had Yahweh, the God whom we Israelites worship, guarantee. I will declare that your son Solomon will certainly rule as the next king.” 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 ARST Then Bathsheba knelt before King David to honor him very much. She declared,“Your Majesty, I hope that you will live for a long time!” BSB BSB: Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
32 ARST Then King David told{ his servants},“Have Zadok the priest, Nathan, who speaks for God, and Benaiah, who is Jehoiada’ s son, come{ in here}.” So, these three men entered in to where King David was. 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 ARST King David commanded them,“Assemble my officials. Have my son Solomon ride on my own mule. Then, all of you must go to the spring that people call 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 ARST There, you two, Zadok the priest and Nathan who speaks for God, must pour olive oil on Solomon’ s head to show that he will be the next king of the Israelite people. Then, you must have people play trumpets loudly. You must declare,‘We hope that King Solomon will live for a long time!’ 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 ARST After that, you must follow him back here, where he must sit down on my throne. That way, he will be the next king. Further, I have appointed him to rule over both the region of Israel and the region of 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 ARST Benaiah, who was Jehoiada’ s son, replied,“May it be so!{ What you have said is} what Yahweh, the God whom Your Majesty{ and I} worship, also has declared. BSB BSB: “Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.
37 ARST Your Majesty, Yahweh has helped you. I hope that Yahweh will help Solomon in the same way. I hope that Yahweh will enable Solomon to become an even greater king than you have been, Your Majesty.” 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 ARST After that, Zadok the priest, Nathan who spoke for God, Benaiah who was Jehoiada’ s son, and the Kerethites and Pelethites{, who were the king’ s guards,} went{ to Solomon}. They had him ride on King David’ s mule. Then, all of them went to the spring that people call 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 ARST Now Zadok the priest had taken olive oil in a special container from the sacred tent. He poured the olive oil on Solomon’ s head{ to show that he would be the next king}. Then, some people played trumpets loudly. Everyone who was there declared,“We hope that King Solomon will live for a long time!” 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 ARST Then, they followed Solomon back{ into the city of Jerusalem}. They played musical instruments, and they were very happy. They were extremely loud! BSB BSB: All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.
41 ARST While Adonijah and the people he had invited were almost done feasting, they heard{ the loud noise}. When Joab noticed that people were playing trumpets, he asked,“Why are people in the city{ of Jerusalem} being so loud?” 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 ARST As he was asking that, Jonathan, who was Abiathar the priest’ s son, arrived. Adonijah said,“I welcome you! You are a capable man, so you must have something good to tell us.” 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 ARST Jonathan replied,“{ I do} not{ have something good to tell you}. His Majesty, King David, has declared that Solomon will be the next king! BSB BSB: “Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
44 ARST { Here is what has happened:} King David told Zadok the priest, Nathan who speaks for God, Benaiah who is Jehoiada’ s son, and the Kerethites and Pelethites{, who are the king’ s guards,} to go with Solomon. They had Solomon ride on King David’ 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 ARST { They went} to the spring that people call Gihon. There, Zadok the priest and Nathan who speaks for God poured olive oil on Solomon’ s head to show that he would be the next king. Then, all the people there walked back{ to the city of Jerusalem}, and they were very happy. Many people in the city of Jerusalem are shouting. That is why you can hear loud noises. 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 ARST Further, Solomon has sat down on the throne as the next king. BSB BSB: Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47 ARST In addition, the king’ s officials visited His Majesty, King David, to praise him{ for what he had done}. They told King David that they wished that God would make Solomon even more famous than he was and that God would enable Solomon to become an even greater king than he had been. Then, King David, who was sitting on his bed, bowed down{ to honor God}. 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 ARST Even more, King David praised Yahweh, the God whom we Israelites worship.{ He thanked Yahweh} for appointing someone this very day to be the next king while he was still alive.” 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 ARST Then all the people whom Adonijah had invited and who had supported him{ as the next king} were very afraid. They left{ Rogel spring}, and each person went to a different place. BSB BSB: At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.
51 ARST Then someone informed Solomon,“Adonijah is afraid of you, the king. So,{ he has gone to the sacred tent} and is holding onto the projections of the altar{ because he thinks that no one will kill him there}. He asks you, the king, to solemnly promise right now that you will not have someone execute him.” 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 ARST Solomon replied,“Suppose that he proves that he is trustworthy. In that case, I will not punish him at all. However, suppose that he does anything that is wrong. In that case, I will have someone execute him.” 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 ARST Then King Solomon sent{ some men to the sacred tent}. They took Adonijah from the altar. Then, Adonijah visited King Solomon and knelt before him to honor him. Solomon told him,“Return home.” 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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