Abishag Cares for David 1 UST When King David was very old, even though his helpers put many blankets on top of him at night, he still felt cold. 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 UST So his officials said to him,“Your Majesty, please allow us to search for a young virgin who can stay with you and take care of you. She can sleep close to you and keep you warm.” 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 UST { The king gave them permission,} so they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman. They found a woman whose name was Abishag. She lived in the city of Shunem. 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 UST Abishag was very beautiful. She came to the royal court and took care of the king.{ Even though she lay in bed with him to keep him warm,} the king did not have sexual relations 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.
Adonijah Usurps the Kingdom 5 UST After Absalom died, David’ s oldest remaining son was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. He was a very handsome man. For his whole life, his father David had not corrected him about the things he did. Adonijah started to boast. He told people,“Now{ that Absalom has died,} I will be the next king.” He got a chariot to ride in and horses to pull it, and he had 50 men run in front of his chariot wherever he went. 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 UST One day Adonijah spoke with Joab, David’ s army commander, and with Abiathar the priest, and they promised to help him become the next king. BSB BSB: So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.
8 UST But other important people refused to help him. These included Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’ s greatest soldiers. 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 UST One day Adonijah went to the stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel to sacrifice some sheep and oxen and fat cattle{ for a feast}. He invited most of his brothers, King David’ s other sons, to come. He also invited most of the king’ s Judean officials to come{ to the feast, where he planned to proclaim himself 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 UST But he did not invite Nathan, Benaiah, the great soldiers, or his younger 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 UST Nathan{ found out what they were doing, so he went and} said to Solomon’ s mother Bathsheba,“I must tell you that Adonijah son of Haggith is making himself the king! And King David does not know about this! 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 UST Please allow me to give you some advice about what you can do to save your own life and your son Solomon’ s life{, because otherwise Adonijah will kill you}. BSB BSB: Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
13 UST Go right away to King David. Say to him,‘Your Majesty, you solemnly promised me that my son Solomon would become the king after you die. You said that he would sit on your throne and rule. But instead, Adonijah has proclaimed himself 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 UST Then, Bathsheba, while you are still talking to the king, I will come in and tell him that what you are saying to him about Adonijah 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 UST So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom.(He was very old, and Abishag, who was from the city 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 UST Bathsheba bowed very low in front of the king. Then the king asked her,“What do you want?” BSB BSB: And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”
17 UST She replied,“Your Majesty, you solemnly promised me, with Yahweh your God as your witness, that my son Solomon would become the king after you died. You promised that he would sit on your throne and rule. 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 UST But instead, Adonijah has made himself king without you knowing about it. BSB BSB: But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.
19 UST He has sacrificed many oxen and fat cattle and sheep, and he has invited most of your sons to the celebration. He has also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, your army commander. But he has not invited your son Solomon. 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 UST Your Majesty, all the people of Israel are expecting you to tell them who will become the next king after you die. 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 UST { If you do not confirm that you want Solomon to be king,} then after you have died, people will treat me and Solomon my son as rebels{, and they will execute us because we did not help Adonijah become king}.” BSB BSB: Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”
22 UST While Bathsheba was still talking with King David, the prophet Nathan arrived at the palace. BSB BSB: And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
23 UST David’ s servants told him,“Nathan the prophet has come.”{ David told his servants to bring Nathan in,} so{ Bathsheba left, and} Nathan came to where the king was. He knelt down and touched the ground with his face{ to show great respect}. BSB BSB: So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.
24 UST Then Nathan said,“Your Majesty, I do not recall you saying that Adonijah would become king after you. BSB BSB: “My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?
25 UST I ask about this because today he has gone to En Rogel and has sacrificed many oxen, fat cattle, and sheep. He has invited all of your other sons, Joab the army commander, and Abiathar the priest. They are all having a feast with him and telling him,‘We hope that you, King Adonijah, will reign 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 UST But he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah son of Jehoiada or your son Solomon. BSB BSB: But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
27 UST It does not seem to me that you would have given Adonijah permission to hold this feast without telling me and your other officials that you wanted him to become the king after you died.” 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 UST Then King David said,“Tell Bathsheba to come back here again.” So{ Nathan left, and someone got Bathsheba and} she came back and stood in front 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 UST King David told her,“I am going to make you a solemn promise. I guarantee it by my devotion to Yahweh, who has saved me from all my troubles. BSB BSB: And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,
30 UST I promised you that your son Solomon would become the king after I died. I promised that he would sit on my throne and rule instead of me. I guaranteed that promise by my devotion to Yahweh, the God whom we Israelites worship. Now I am promising that I will make Solomon the king this very 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 UST Bathsheba knelt down and touched her face to the ground{ to show gratitude and respect} and said,“Your Majesty, I hope that you will continue to reign for a long time!” 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 UST Then King David ordered some of his servants,“Go and tell Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to come here to me.”{ So servants went and got them, and} when they came in, 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 UST David told them,“Put my son Solomon on the special mule that I ride as king. Gather my royal bodyguards and have them escort him to the spring at 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 UST There the two of you, Zadok and Nathan, must pour olive oil on his head to appoint him as the next king of Israel. Have someone blow a ram’ s horn, and have all the people there shout,‘We hope that King Solomon will reign 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 UST Then have him ride on the mule ahead of you as you return here. Solomon should come to the palace and sit on my throne. He will then be the king instead of me. He is the one I have chosen to rule over all the people of Israel and 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 UST Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied,“We will do that! We know that Yahweh, the God whom you worship faithfully, wants Solomon to be the next king! BSB BSB: “Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.
37 UST Your Majesty, Yahweh has helped you. We hope that he will also help Solomon and enable him to become an even greater king than you have been.” 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 UST There Zadok took the container of olive oil that he had brought from the sacred tent and poured the oil on Solomon’ s head to show that he would be the next king. Then someone blew a ram’ s horn, and all the people who had gathered for the ceremony shouted,“We hope that King Solomon will reign 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 UST Then all those people followed Solomon back to Jerusalem. They were playing flutes and shouting joyfully. They were making a very loud noise that echoed off the ground. 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 UST As Adonijah and all his guests were finishing eating at their celebration, they heard the noise. When Joab heard someone blowing a ram’ s horn, he asked,“Why is there so much noise in the city?” 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 UST While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. Adonijah told him,“Come in! You are the kind of important person that someone would have sent to bring me 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 UST Jonathan replied,“No, the truth is that His Majesty King David has just made Solomon the next king. BSB BSB: “Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
44 UST David sent Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and his elite corps of royal bodyguards to go with Solomon. They put Solomon on the special mule that David rides as 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 UST They all went to the spring at Gihon, and there Zadok and Nathan poured olive oil on his head to show that he would be the next king. Then they returned from there to the city, celebrating the whole way. Many people in the city are celebrating with them. That is why you are hearing this loud noise. 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 UST Right now, Solomon is sitting on the throne where the Israelite king sits. BSB BSB: Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47 UST Furthermore, the palace officials came to His Majesty King David and thanked him{ for appointing Solomon as the king}. They said,‘We want God to make Solomon even more famous than you have been. We want God to enable him to be an even better king than you have been.’ When they said that, the king, lying on his bed, bowed his head to worship Yahweh{ and show that he agreed with what they had said}. 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 UST Then King David said,‘I praise Yahweh, the God whom we Israelites worship, because he has allowed one of my sons to become the king today while I am still alive to hear about 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 UST This report made all of Adonijah’ s guests very afraid. They all got up immediately and left. The group scattered in different directions. BSB BSB: At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.
51 UST Then someone told Solomon,“Listen, Adonijah is afraid of you, so he has gone to the sacred tent and is holding onto the altar. He is saying,‘Before I leave the sacred tent, I want King Solomon to swear to me that he will not order his soldiers to execute me.’” 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 UST Solomon promised,“If he behaves honorably, I will not harm him at all. But if I discover that he is actually disloyal to me, I will have my soldiers 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 UST Then King Solomon sent some men to get Adonijah, and they brought him back from the altar. He came to Solomon and bowed down respectfully in front of him. Then Solomon told him,“You may go 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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