1 King David was old and advanced in years. They covered him with blankets, but he could not get warm. 2 His servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be found for my lord the king. Let her attend the king and care for him. She can lie in your arms so that my lord the king may be warm.” 3 They searched throughout the territory of Israel for a beautiful young woman. They found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. 4 The young woman was very beautiful. She cared for the king and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her. 5 Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” He acquired a chariot and horsemen, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6 His father had never displeased him by asking, “Why have you done this?” He was also very handsome and had been born after Absalom. 7 He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest, and they supported Adonijah. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty warriors did not side with Adonijah. 9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened animals beside the stone of Zoheleth, near En-rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah who served the king. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty warriors, or his brother Solomon. 11 Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it? 12 Now come, let me advise you so that you may save your life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your servant, “Your son Solomon will reign after me and sit on my throne”? Why, then, has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.” 15 Bathsheba went in to the king in his chamber. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. 16 Bathsheba bowed down and paid homage to the king. The king asked, “What do you want?” 17 She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the LORD your God, ‘Your son Solomon will reign after me and sit on my throne.’ 18 But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it. 19 He has sacrificed many oxen, fattened animals, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon. 20 My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, waiting for you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be counted as offenders.” 22 While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 They told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” He came before the king and bowed with his face to the ground. 24 Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah will reign after me and sit on my throne’? 25 For today he has gone down and sacrificed many oxen, fattened animals, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. They are eating and drinking in his presence and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But he did not invite me, your servant, or Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon. 27 Has this happened by order of my lord the king, without your letting your servant know who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

28 King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” She came into the king’s presence and stood before him. 29 The king swore, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, 30 just as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon will reign after me and sit on my throne in my place,’ so I will do this very day.” 31 Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and paid homage to the king. She said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

32 King David said, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to me.” They came before the king. 33 The king said to them, “Take your lord’s servants with you. Have my son Solomon ride on my own mule and bring him down to Gihon. 34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then come up after him. He is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say so. 37 As the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.” 38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down. They had Solomon ride on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the ram’s horn, and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 All the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth split with the sound. 41 Adonijah and all his guests heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn, he asked, “Why is the city in such an uproar?” 42 While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in! You are a worthy man and must be bringing good news.” 43 But Jonathan answered Adonijah, “On the contrary! Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 44 The king sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites with him. They had him ride on the king’s mule. 45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king at Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the noise you heard. 46 Solomon has also taken his seat on the royal throne. 47 The king’s servants also came to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May God make Solomon’s name more renowned than yours and his throne greater than yours.’ Then the king bowed on his bed. 48 The king also said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who today has provided someone to sit on my throne while my own eyes see it.’ ” 49 All Adonijah’s guests were terrified. They got up and went their separate ways. 50 Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up, went, and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. He has taken hold of the horns of the altar and says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death by the sword.’ ” 52 Solomon said, “If he proves to be a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.” 53 King Solomon sent men to bring him down from the altar. He came and bowed before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go home.”