1 Kings 1

One Son Crowned Himself; the Other Was Anointed

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Abishag the Shunammite

1:1King David was old, advanced in days. They wrapped him in garments, but he did not become warm.

1:2His attendants said, “Let them seek a young virgin for our lord the king. She shall attend the king and keep him warm; she shall lie with him, and our lord the king will become warm.”

1:3They sought a beautiful young woman from all Israel’s territory. They found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

1:4The young woman was exceedingly beautiful. She kept the king warm and ministered to him, but the king did not know her.

Adonijah Exalts Himself

1:5Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will reign!” He prepared chariots and horsemen for himself, and fifty men to run ahead of him.

1:6His father had never restrained him by saying, “Why have you done this?” He too was very handsome in appearance, and his mother bore him after Absalom.

1:7He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest, and they helped by following Adonijah.

1:8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men were not following Adonijah.

1:9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, calves, and lambs beside the stone of Zoheleth, near the spring of Rogel. He invited all his brothers and all the prominent men of Judah, the king’s attendants.

1:10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

Nathan and Bathsheba Before the King

1:11Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, while our lord David does not know it?

1:12Now come, let me give you counsel, and rescue your life and the life of your son Solomon.

1:13Come, enter King David’s presence and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why, then, has Adonijah become king?’

1:14Look, while you are still speaking there with the king, I will come in after you and complete your words.”

1:15Bathsheba entered the king’s chamber. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.

1:16Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. The king said, “What is your concern?”

1:17She said, “My lord the king, you swore by the Lord your God to your servant, saying, ‘Your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’

1:18Now look, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.

1:19He has sacrificed calves, lambs, and sheep in abundance. He has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the force, but he has not invited your servant Solomon.

1:20As for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are directed toward you, for you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

1:21When my lord the king lies down with his fathers, my son Solomon and I will be sinners.”

1:22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.

1:23The king was told, “Look, Nathan the prophet!” He came before the king and prostrated himself before the king, face to the ground.

1:24Nathan said, “My lord the king, you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’

1:25For he went down today and sacrificed calves, lambs, and sheep in abundance. He invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the force, and Abiathar the priest. Look, they are eating and drinking before him and have said, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’

1:26But me—me, your servant—and Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he did not invite.

1:27Has this matter come about through my lord the king without your informing your servant who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

David Swears That Solomon Shall Reign

1:28David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” She came before the king and stood before him.

1:29The king swore, saying, “As the Lord lives, who redeemed my life from every affliction,

1:30just as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I will indeed do this very day.”

1:31Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and prostrated herself before the king. She said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

Solomon Anointed at Gihon

1:32King David said, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to me.” They came before the king.

1:33The king said to them, “Take your lord’s servants with you. Mount my son Solomon on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.

1:34There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Sound the horn and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

1:35He shall sit on my throne and reign in my place; I have commanded that he be leader over Israel and Judah.”

1:36Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “May it be! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, confirm it so.

1:37As 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.”

1:38Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down. They seated Solomon on King David’s mule and led him away to Gihon.

1:39Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. He sounded the horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”

1:40All the people went up after him. They danced in choruses and rejoiced with great joy, and the earth burst at their sound.

The News Reaches Adonijah

1:41Adonijah and all his guests heard it, and they finished eating. Joab heard the sound of the horn and said, “What is this sound of the echoing city?”

1:42While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a man of ability; bring good news!”

1:43Jonathan answered, “Indeed, our lord King David has made Solomon king!

1:44The king sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites. They seated him on the king’s mule.

1:45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king at Gihon. They came up from there rejoicing, and the city echoed. That is the sound you heard.

1:46Solomon has sat on the royal throne.

1:47The king’s servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May God make the name of your son Solomon better than your name and make his throne greater than your throne.’ The king prostrated himself on his bed.

1:48The king also said this: ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who today has given one from my offspring to sit on my throne while my eyes see it!’”

1:49All Adonijah’s guests were astonished and rose. Each went his own way.

Adonijah Takes Hold of the Altar

1:50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He rose, went away, and took hold of the horns of the altar.

1:51Solomon was told, “Look, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. He is holding fast to the altar’s horns, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today whether he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”

1:52Solomon said, “If he becomes a man of ability, not one of his hairs shall fall to the ground! But if wickedness is found in him, he shall be put to death.”

1:53King Solomon sent and brought him down from the altar. He came and prostrated himself before King Solomon. Solomon said to him, “Come, to your house.”

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.