Open English Translation 1KI Chapter 1

1 Now King David had become very old, and he couldn’t keep warm even when covered with blankets, 2 so his servants suggested, “Allow us search for a young woman who can wait on you and take care of your needs. She can sleep beside you and keep our master, the king, warm.” 3 So they searched throughout Israel and found a beautiful young woman called Avishag (a Shunammite) and brought her to the king. 4 She was incredibly beautiful and she took care of the king, but he didn’t have sexual relations with her.

5 Then David and Haggit’s son Adoniyyah promoted himself saying, “I, myself, will reign.” He acquired a chariot and horsemen and fifty men who ran along in front.[ref] 6 Haggit had given birth to him after Avshalom. He was a good-looker, but his father had never disciplined him or ever asked, “Why did you do that?” 7 He had spoken with Tseruyah’s son Yoav and the priest Evyatar and they had both agreed to support him. 8 But the priest Tsadok and Yehoyada’s son Benayah, the prophet Natan, Shimei and Rei, and David’s top warriors were all against Adoniyyah.

9 Then Adoniyyah sacrificed sheep and cattle and fattened calves near the Zohelet stone (which is beside Eyn-Rogel), and he invited all his brothers (the king’s sons), and all the men of Yehudah including the king’s servants. 10 However, he didn’t invite the prophet Natan, Benayah, the top warriors, or his brother Shelomoh.

11 Then Natan asked Shelomoh’s mother Batsheva, “Haven’t you heard that Haggit’s son Adoniyyah has made himself king, and our master David doesn’t even realise?[ref] 12 So please let me advise you now so that you can save your own life and that of your son Shelomoh (Solomon). 13 Go and ask King David, ‘My master the king, didn’t you promise your female servant, saying, “Surely your son Shelomoh will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne?” So why has Adoniyyah become king?’ 14 Then while you’re still there talking to the king, I’ll come in behind you and confirm what you said.”

15 So Batsheva went to the king’s bedroom where Avishag (the Shunammite) was attending him in his old age. 16 Batsheva bowed low to show respect to the king, and he asked her what she wanted.

17 “My master,” she replied, “you yourself promised to your female servant in front of your God Yahweh that your son Shelomoh would be the one to reign after you and sit on your throne. 18 But now, listen, Adoniyyah has become king instead, and you haven’t even been told about it. 19 He’s sacrificing many oxen and calves and sheep, and he invited the priest Evyatar, and Yoav the commander of the army, and all your sons except for your servant Shelomoh. 20 So now everyone’s waiting to see what you’ll do, my master the king. They want you to make it clearly known who’ll be the king on the throne after you. 21 Otherwise, as soon as my master the king passes on to join his ancestors, my son Shelomoh and I will be considered to be ‘in the way’.”

22 Just then, while she was still talking with the king, the prophet Natan appeared 23 and his arrival was announced to the king. He went into the room and knelt in front of the king and bowed his face to the floor. 24 Then he asked, “My master the king, did you announce that Adoniyyah will reign after you and sit on your throne? 25 I ask because today he sacrificed plenty of oxen and calves and sheep. He’d invited all your sons and army commanders, and Evyatar the priest. They’re all eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adoniyyah!’ 26 But as for me, I’m your servant, and nor did he invite Tsadok the priest or Yehoyada’s son Benayah, or Shelomoh your servant. 27 Did my master the king organise that without telling your servants who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him?”

28 Then King David said, “Call Batsheva back in.” So she came back into the king’s room and stood in front of him. 29 Then the king promised, “As Yahweh lives and has rescued me from every danger, 30 I promise you in front of Israel’s God Yahweh that your son Shelomoh will reign after me and will sit on my throne in my place. I’ll put it in action today.”

31 Batsheva knelt down and bowed her face to the floor and said, “May my master, the king David live forever.”

32 Then King David called out, “Summon Tsadok the priest for me, and Natan the prophet, and Yehoyada’s son Benayah.” So they came into the king’s room. 33 “Take some of my servants,” the king instructed them. “and put my son Shelomoh on my mule and lead him to the Gihon Spring. 34 Then you two, Tsadok and Natan, must anoint him there as king over Israel. Then blow the horn and shout, ‘Let King Shelomoh live!’ 35 Then follow him back here where he must come and sit on my throne. Then he’ll reign in my place as ruler of Israel and Yehudah.”

36 “Certainly,” Benayah replied. “Just as Yahweh, the God of my master the king has instructed. 37 Just as Yahweh has been with my master the king, so may he be with Shelomoh. And may his rule be even greater than that of my master, the king David.”

38 So Tsadok the priest and Natan the prophet and Yehoyada’s son Benayah and the kings bodyguards went and put Shelomoh on the king’s mule, and took him to Gihon. 39 Tsadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Shelomoh with it, and they blew the horn and all the people shouted, “Let King Shelomoh live!” 40 Then all the people followed him back uphill to the city, and the people were playing flutes and were so exuberant in their celebrations that the ground shook with the noise.

41 When Adoniyyah and all his invited guests had finished eating, they heard the noise, and Yoav heard the sound of the horn and asked, “What’s all that commotion in the city?” 42 He was still speaking when Yonatan the son of Evyatar the priest suddenly turned up, and Adoniyyah called him, “Come over here because you’re a good fellow and you’ll bring good news.”

43 “Actually, no,” Yonatan answered. “Our master the king David has just made Shelomoh king. 44 The king sent Tsadok the priest and Natan the prophet and Yehoyada’s son Benayah and the king’s bodyguards, and they placed Shelomoh on the king’s mule. 45 Then Tsadok and Natan anointed him as king at Gihon. Now they’ve gone back from there cheering all the way, and the whole city is happily celebrating. That’s the noise that you’re all hearing. 46 What’s more, Shelomoh’s sitting on the royal throne right now. 47 As well as that, the king’s servants went in to bless our master the king David, saying, ‘May God make Shelomoh’s reputation even better than yours, and may he make his reign even greater than yours.’ Then the king in his bed, bowed down 48 and said, ‘Blessed be Israel’s God Yahweh who has provided a son to sit on my throne today, and I’ve been able to see it before my death.’ ”

49 Then all Adoniyyah’s invited guests started trembling, and they all got up and quietly slipped back to their homes. 50 Adoniyyah himself was now afraid of what Shelomoh would do, so he went to the sacred tent and held on to the horns of the altar. 51 Shelomoh was told, “Listen, Adoniyyah is afraid of the new king because he’s grabbed the horns of the altar and said, ‘Let Shelomoh the king promise me as soon as possible, that he won’t execute his servant with the sword.’ ”

52 “If he shows himself as a loyal subject,” Shelomoh responded, “then he’ll be able to keep his head. But if he’s found to be a traitor, then he’ll die.” 53 So King Shelomoh sent for Adoniyyah, and they brought him down from beside the altar. He came and bowed down to Shelomoh the king and Shelomoh told him, “Go home.”