| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. | 1King David was very old; even when they covered him with blankets, 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.” | 2His servants advised him, "A young virgin must be found for our master, the king, to take care of the king's needs and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you and keep our master, the king, warm." |
| 3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. | 3So they looked through all Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a 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; she became the king's nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her. |
| 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, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, boasting, "I will be king!" He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. |
| 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.) | 6(Now his father had never corrected him by saying, "Why do you do such things?" He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.) |
| 7So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him. | 7He collaborated with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported 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, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's elite warriors did not ally themselves 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, cattle, and fattened steers at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, as well as all the men of Judah, the king's servants. |
| 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon. | 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors, or his brother Solomon. |
| 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? | 11Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Has it been reported to you that Haggith's son Adonijah has become king behind our master David's back? |
| 12Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. | 12Now let me give you some advice as to how you can save your life and your son Solomon's life. |
| 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?’ | 13Visit King David and say to him, 'My master, O king, did you not solemnly promise your servant, "Surely your son Solomon will be king after me; he will sit on my throne"? So why has Adonijah become king?' |
| 14Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.” | 14While you are still there speaking to the king, I will arrive and verify your report." |
| 15So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. | 15So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters. (The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.) |
| 16And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?” | 16Bathsheba bowed down on the floor before the king. The king said, "What do you want?" |
| 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 replied to him, "My master, you swore an oath to your servant by the LORD your God, 'Solomon your son will be king after me and he will sit on my throne.' |
| 18But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it. | 18But now, look, Adonijah has become king! But you, my master the king, are not even aware of 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 many cattle, steers, and sheep and 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. |
| 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. | 20Now, my master, O king, all Israel is watching anxiously to see who is named to succeed my master the king on the throne. |
| 21Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.” | 21If a decision is not made, when my master the king is buried with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be considered state criminals." |
| 22And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. | 22Just then, while she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. |
| 23So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king. | 23The king was told, "Nathan the prophet is here." Nathan entered and bowed before the king with his face to the floor. |
| 24“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’? | 24Nathan said, "My master, O king, did you announce, 'Adonijah will be king after me; he will 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 today he has gone down and sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. At this moment they are having a feast in his presence, and they have declared, '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 he did not invite me--your servant--or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon. |
| 27Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?” | 27Has my master the king authorized this without informing your servants who should succeed my master the king on his throne?" |
| 28Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. | 28King David responded, "Summon Bathsheba!" She came 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, | 29The king swore an oath: "As certainly as the LORD lives (he who has rescued me from every danger), |
| 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.” | 30I will keep today the oath I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel: 'Surely Solomon your son will be king after me; he will sit in my place on my throne.'" |
| 31Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!” | 31Bathsheba bowed down to the king with her face to the floor and said, "May my master, 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, "Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." 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 he told them, "Take your master's servants with you, put my son Solomon on my mule, and lead 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!’ | 34There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and declare, '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.” | 35Then follow him up as he comes and sits on my throne. He will be king in my place; I have decreed that he will be ruler over Israel and Judah." |
| 36“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. | 36Benaiah son of Jehoiada responded to the king: "So be it! May the LORD God of my master the king confirm it! |
| 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 is with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and may he make him an even greater king than my master 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, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites went down, put Solomon on King David's mule, and led 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!” | 39Zadok the priest took a horn filled with olive oil from the tent and poured it on Solomon; the trumpet was blown and all the people declared, "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. | 40All the people followed him up, playing flutes and celebrating so loudly they made the ground shake. |
| 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. | 41Now Adonijah and all his guests heard the commotion just as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he asked, "Why is there such a noisy commotion in the city?" |
| 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.” | 42As he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in, for an important man like you must be bringing good news." |
| 43“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. | 43Jonathan replied to Adonijah: "No! Our master 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. | 44The king sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites and they put him 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. | 45Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king in Gihon. They went up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the sound you hear. |
| 46Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. | 46Furthermore, Solomon has assumed 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, | 47The king's servants have even come to congratulate our master King David, saying, 'May your God make Solomon more famous than you and make him an even greater king than you!' Then the king leaned 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 said this: 'The LORD God of Israel is worthy of praise because today he has placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.'" |
| 49At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered. | 49All of Adonijah's guests panicked; they jumped up and rushed off their separate ways. |
| 50But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar. | 50Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went and grabbed 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.’ ” | 51Solomon was told, "Look, Adonijah fears you; see, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'May King Solomon solemnly promise me today that he will not kill his servant 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.” | 52Solomon said, "If he is a loyal subject, not a hair of his head will be harmed, but if he is found to be a traitor, he will 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.” | 53King Solomon sent men to bring him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon told him, "Go home." |
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