Abishag Cares for David 1 ULT Now King David had aged, he had come into days, and they covered him with garments, but it was not warm for 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 ULT And his servants said to him,“Let them seek for my lord the king a young woman, a virgin, and let her stand to the face of the king, and let her be caring for him, and let her lie in your bosom, that it may be warm for my lord the king.” 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 ULT And they sought a beautiful young woman in all of the border of Israel, and they found Abishag the Shunammitess, and they 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 ULT Now the young woman was beautiful to abundance. And she became one caring for the king, and she served him, but the king did not know her. 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 ULT Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, was lifting himself up, saying,“I, I will reign.” And he made for himself a chariot and horses and 50 men running to his face. 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 ULT And his father had not grieved him from his days, saying,“Why have you done thus?” And he was also very good of appearance, and she had borne 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 ULT And his words were with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest. And they helped after Adonijah. BSB BSB: So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.
8 ULT But Zadok the priest and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and the warriors who{ were} 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 ULT And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and cattle and fatling at the stone of Zoheleth, which{ is} near En Rogel. And he called all of his brothers, the sons of the king, and to all of the men of Judah, the servants of the king. 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 ULT But he did not call Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the warriors or his brother Solomon. BSB BSB: But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
Nathan and Bathsheba before David 11 ULT And Nathan spoke to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, saying,“Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, reigns, and our master David does not know? 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 ULT And now, come, please let me counsel you counsel, and escape with your life and with 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 ULT Go, and come to King David, and you shall say to him,‘My lord the king, you, have you not sworn to your female servant, saying,“Surely Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Then why 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 ULT Behold, you will still be speaking there with the king, and I, I will come after you, and I will fill 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 ULT So Bathsheba came to the king, into the room.(Now the king had aged greatly, and Abishag the Shunammitess was serving 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 ULT And Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself to the king. And the king said,“What to you?” BSB BSB: And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”
17 ULT And she said to him,“My lord, you, you swore to your female servant by Yahweh your God,‘Surely Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will 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 ULT But now, behold, Adonijah reigns, and now, my lord the king, you do not know. BSB BSB: But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.
19 ULT And he has sacrificed ox and fatling and sheep to abundance, and he has called to all of the sons of the king and to Abiathar the priest and to Joab the commander of the army, but to Solomon your servant he has 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 ULT And you, my lord the king, the eyes of all of Israel are on you, to declare to them who will 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 ULT And it will happen, when my lord the king lies down with his fathers, that I will be, I and my son Solomon, offenders.” BSB BSB: Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”
22 ULT And behold, she was still speaking with the king, and Nathan the prophet came. BSB BSB: And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
23 ULT And they declared to the king, saying,“Behold, Nathan the prophet.” And he came to the face of the king, and he prostrated himself to the king with his nose 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 ULT And Nathan said,“My lord the king, you, have you said,‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will 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 ULT For he has gone down today and sacrificed ox and fatling and sheep to abundance, and he has called to all of the sons of the king and to the commanders of the army and to Abiathar the priest. And behold them, eating and drinking to his face. And they are saying,‘May King Adonijah live!’ 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 ULT But to me, me your servant, and to Zadok the priest and to Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and to Solomon your servant, he has 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 ULT Has this thing been done from with my lord the king and you have not made your servants know who will 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 ULT And King David answered and said,“Call to Bathsheba for me.” And she came to the face of the king, and she stood to the face of 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 ULT And the king swore and said,“The life of Yahweh, who has rescued my life from every 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 ULT that just as I swore to you by Yahweh the God of Israel, saying,‘Surely Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place,’ surely thus I will 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 ULT And Bathsheba bowed, nostrils{ to} the ground, and she prostrated herself to the king, and she said,“May my lord King David live to forever!” 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 ULT And King David said,“Call to me to Zadok the priest and to Nathan the prophet and to Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada.” And they came to the face of 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 ULT And the king said to them,“Take the servants of your master with you, and you shall make Solomon my son ride on the female mule that is to me, and you shall 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 ULT And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet shall anoint him there as king over Israel. And you shall blow on a shofar, and you shall say,‘May King Solomon live!’ 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 ULT And you shall go up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he, he will reign in my place. And I have commanded 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 ULT And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, answered the king and said,“Truly! May Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say thus! BSB BSB: “Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.
37 ULT Just as Yahweh has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon. And may he 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.”
39 ULT And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent, and he anointed Solomon. And they blew on the shofar, and all of the people said,“May King Solomon live!” 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 ULT Then all of the people went up after him. And the people were piping with pipes and rejoicing a great rejoicing. And the earth was split by their sound. 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 ULT And Adonijah and all of the called ones who{ were} with him heard, and they had finished eating. And Joab heard the sound of the shofar, and he said,“Why is the sound of the city being noisy?” 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 ULT He was still speaking, and behold, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, came. And Adonijah said,“Come, for you are a man of valor, and you will bring good news.” 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 ULT And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah,“Truly, our master King David has made Solomon reign. BSB BSB: “Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
44 ULT And the king sent with him Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethite and the Pelethite. And they made him ride on the female mule of the king. 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 ULT And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him as king at Gihon, and they have come up from there rejoicing, and the city is agitated. This{ is} the sound 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 ULT And also, Solomon is sitting on the throne of the kingdom. BSB BSB: Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47 ULT And also, the servants of the king came to bless our master King David, saying,‘May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and may he 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 ULT And also, thus said the king,‘Blessed{ be} Yahweh, the God of Israel, who today has given a sitter on my throne, and my eyes are seeing.’” 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 ULT Then all of the called ones who{ were} with Adonijah trembled and arose. And they went, a man to his way. BSB BSB: At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.
51 ULT And it was declared to Solomon, saying,“Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon. And behold, he has grasped the horns of the altar, saying,‘Let King Solomon swear to me as today if he will kill 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 ULT And Solomon said,“If he will be a son of valor, from his hair shall not fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, then 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 ULT And King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from beside the altar. And he came and prostrated 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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