Abishag Cares for David
Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. 1Ch 29:27-28Jos 23:1-21Ch 23:1Psa 90:102Sa 5:4Gen 18:11Gen 24:1Luk 1:7 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.” Ecc 4:11Gen 16:5Mic 7:51Sa 16:21-222Sa 12:3Deu 10:8Deu 13:62Ch 29:11
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. Est 2:4Jos 19:18Est 2:22Ki 4:81Sa 28:41Ki 2:17-252Ki 4:25 The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her. Mat 1:25
Adonijah Usurps the Kingdom
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. 2Sa 15:12Sa 3:41Ch 28:51Ch 29:11Ki 1:111Ki 2:24Deu 17:15-16Exo 9:17
(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.) 2Sa 3:3-41Sa 3:131Ch 3:2Heb 12:5-6Pro 22:15Pro 23:13-14Pro 29:151Sa 10:23
So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him. 2Sa 20:251Ki 2:221Ch 11:61Ki 2:26-351Sa 22:20-232Sa 15:122Sa 15:24-292Sa 15:35 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah. 1Ki 4:182Sa 20:252Sa 23:8-391Ch 11:10-471Ch 27:5-61Ki 2:352Sa 12:1-152Sa 7:2-4
And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, 1 which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king. 2Sa 17:172Sa 13:23-272Sa 15:11-12Jos 15:7Pro 15:8 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon. 2Sa 12:241Ki 1:191Ki 1:82Sa 12:1-15
Nathan and Bathsheba before David
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? 2Sa 3:41Ch 22:9-101Ch 28:4-51Ch 29:12Sa 12:24-252Sa 7:12-17 Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 1Ki 1:212Ch 21:42Ch 22:102Ki 11:1Act 27:31Gen 19:17Jdg 9:5Jer 38:15 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?’ 1Ki 1:301Ki 1:171Ch 22:6-131Ki 2:12Luk 1:32-33Psa 132:11-121Ch 29:231Ki 1:11 Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.” 2Co 13:11Ki 1:17-27
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. 1Ki 1:1 And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?” 1Sa 20:411Sa 24:81Sa 25:231Ki 1:231Ki 2:20Est 7:2Mat 20:21Mat 20:32
“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.’ 1Ki 1:131Ki 1:301Pe 3:6Gen 18:12 But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it. 1Ki 1:241Ki 1:111Ki 1:271Ki 1:52Sa 15:10Act 3:17 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 did not invite your servant Solomon. 1Ki 1:251Ki 1:7-10 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. 1Ch 22:8-101Ch 28:101Ch 28:5-61Ch 29:12Ch 20:122Sa 23:2Psa 123:2Psa 25:15 Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.” 1Ki 2:10Deu 31:161Ki 2:151Ki 2:22-242Sa 7:12Gen 15:15
And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. Dan 9:20Gen 24:15Job 1:16-18 So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king. 1Ki 1:161Pe 2:17Rom 13:7
“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’? 1Ki 1:13-141Ki 1:17-181Ki 1:5 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 2of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 1Sa 10:241Ki 1:191Ki 1:91Ch 29:131Ch 29:211Ki 1:341Sa 11:14-152Ch 23:11 But me your servant he did not invite, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. 1Ki 1:81Ki 1:101Ki 1:192Sa 12:252Sa 7:12-172Sa 7:2 Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?” 1Ki 1:242Ki 4:27Jhn 15:15
David Renews His Oath to Bathsheba
Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 2Sa 4:9Psa 136:241Ki 17:11Ki 18:101Ki 2:241Sa 14:391Sa 14:451Sa 19:6 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.” 1Ki 1:131Ki 1:17
Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!” Dan 2:4Dan 3:9Dan 5:101Ki 1:252Sa 9:6Dan 6:21Dan 6:6Est 3:2
Solomon Anointed King
(1 Chronicles 29:21–25)
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. 1Ki 1:81Ki 1:261Ki 1:38
“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. 2Ch 32:301Ki 1:382Ch 33:141Ki 1:44-451Ki 1:52Sa 20:6-7Est 6:6-11Gen 41:43 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!’ 1Ki 1:251Sa 10:12Sa 15:101Ki 19:161Sa 16:32Ki 11:122Ki 9:132Ki 9:3 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.” 1Ch 23:11Ch 28:4-51Ki 1:131Ki 1:171Ki 2:121Ki 2:15Psa 2:6Psa 72:1-2
“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. 1Ch 17:271Co 14:161Sa 25:29Deu 27:15-26Jer 11:5Jer 28:6Mat 28:20Mat 6:13 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.” 1Ki 1:471Sa 20:13Jos 1:17Jos 1:51Ch 28:201Ki 3:7-92Ch 1:12Ki 2:9
Then 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. 2Sa 8:181Ki 1:81Ch 18:171Ki 1:261Ki 1:331Sa 30:142Sa 15:182Sa 20:20-23 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!” Psa 89:201Ch 29:221Ki 1:341Sa 10:241Ki 1:251Sa 16:132Ch 23:112Ch 23:13
All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound. 1Ch 12:38-401Sa 11:152Ki 11:142Ki 11:20Dan 3:5Luk 19:37Psa 97:1Rev 11:15-18
Adonijah Learns of Solomon’s Kingship
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. Act 21:31Ecc 7:4-6Exo 32:17Job 15:21-22Job 20:5Luk 17:26-29Mat 21:15Mat 21:9-11
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.” 2Sa 15:362Sa 17:172Sa 18:272Sa 15:271Ki 22:181Th 5:2-32Ki 9:22Isa 57:21
“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 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. 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. 1Ki 1:401Ki 14:61Sa 28:141Sa 4:5Dan 5:26-28Ezr 3:13
Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. 1Ch 29:23Psa 132:111Ki 1:13Hag 2:22
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.’ 1Ki 1:37Gen 47:312Sa 21:32Sa 8:10Exo 12:32Ezr 6:10Heb 11:21Luk 19:38
And the king has bowed in worship on his bed, saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one 3to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’” 1Ki 3:6Psa 132:11-121Ch 17:11-141Ch 17:171Ch 29:101Ch 29:201Pe 1:32Sa 24:3
At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered. Dan 5:4-6Isa 21:4-5Pro 28:1 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar. 1Ki 2:28Exo 21:14Exo 27:2Exo 38:2Psa 118:27
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.’”
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.” 1Sa 14:452Sa 14:11Pro 13:61Ki 2:21-25Job 15:22Pro 21:12Act 27:34Luk 21:18
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.” 1Ki 1:161Ki 1:311Ki 2:362Sa 1:22Sa 14:242Sa 14:28Pro 24:21