| Berean Study Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. | 1Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. |
| 2So 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.” | 2Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm.” |
| 3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. | 3So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. |
| 4The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her. | 4The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not. |
| 5At 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. | 5Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. |
| 6(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.) | 6His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. |
| 7So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him. | 7He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. |
| 8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah. | 8But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah. |
| 9And 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. | 9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, |
| 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon. | 10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother. |
| 11Then 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? | 11Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king and David our lord does not know it? |
| 12Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. | 12Now therefore come, let me give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. |
| 13Go 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?’ | 13Go in at once to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then is Adonijah king?’ |
| 14Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.” | 14Then while you are still speaking with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.” |
| 15So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. | 15So Bathsheba went to the king in his chamber (now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to the king). |
| 16And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?” | 16Bathsheba bowed and paid homage to the king, and the king said, “What do you desire?” |
| 17“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.’ | 17She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the LORD your God, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ |
| 18But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it. | 18And now, behold, Adonijah is king, although you, my lord the king, do not know it. |
| 19And 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 did not invite your servant Solomon. | 19He has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but Solomon your servant he has not invited. |
| 20And 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. | 20And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. |
| 21Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.” | 21Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders.” |
| 22And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. | 22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. |
| 23So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king. | 23And they told the king, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king, he bowed before the king, with his face to the ground. |
| 24“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’? | 24And Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? |
| 25For 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!’ | 25For he has gone down this day and has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ |
| 26But me your servant he did not invite, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. | 26But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he has not invited. |
| 27Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?” | 27Has this thing been brought about by my lord the king and you have not told your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?” |
| 28Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. | 28Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. |
| 29And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, | 29And the king swore, saying, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, |
| 30I 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.” | 30as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day.” |
| 31Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!” | 31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and paid homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!” |
| 32Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. | 32King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. |
| 33“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. | 33And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. |
| 34There 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!’ | 34And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ |
| 35Then 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.” | 35You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.” |
| 36“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. | 36And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say so. |
| 37Just 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.” | 37As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.” |
| 38Then 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. | 38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon. |
| 39Zadok 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!” | 39There Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” |
| 40All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound. | 40And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise. |
| 41Now 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. | 41Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “What does this uproar in the city mean?” |
| 42As 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.” | 42While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news.” |
| 43“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. | 43Jonathan answered Adonijah, “No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king, |
| 44And 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. | 44and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they had him ride on the king’s mule. |
| 45Zadok 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. | 45And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard. |
| 46Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. | 46Solomon sits on the royal throne. |
| 47The 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, | 47Moreover, the king’s servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king bowed himself on the bed. |
| 48saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’ ” | 48And the king also said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne this day, my own eyes seeing it.’” |
| 49At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered. | 49Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way. |
| 50But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar. | 50And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. |
| 51It 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.’ ” | 51Then it was told Solomon, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” |
| 52And 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.” | 52And Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” |
| 53So 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.” | 53So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.” |
| The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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