David in His Old Age

¹King David was now an old man, and he always felt cold, even under a lot of blankets.

²His officials said, “Your Majesty, we will look for a young woman to take care of you. She can lie down beside you and keep you warm.”

^3-4They looked everywhere in Israel until they found a very beautiful young woman named Abishag, who lived in the town of Shunem. They brought her to David, and she took care of him. But David did not have sex with her.[#1.3,4 A town in northern Israel, just north of Jezreel Valley.]

Adonijah Tries To Become King

^5-6Adonijah was the son of David and Haggith. He was Absalom's younger brother and was very handsome. One day, Adonijah started bragging, “I'm going to make myself king!” So he got some chariots and horses, and he hired 50 men as bodyguards. David did not want to hurt his feelings, so he never asked Adonijah why he was doing these things.[#2 S 3.2-5.; #1.5,6 Since Absalom was dead, Adonijah was now David's oldest living son and would be next in line to be king.]

⁷Adonijah met with Joab the son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest and asked them if they would help him become king. Both of them agreed to help.

⁸But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's bodyguards all refused.[#1.8 Or “Shimei his advisor.”]

⁹Adonijah invited his brothers and David's officials from Judah to go with him to Crawling Rock near Rogel Spring, where he sacrificed some sheep, cattle, and fat calves.[#1.9 Or “Zoheleth Rock.”; #1.9 This was part of a ceremony where Adonijah was made the new king.]

¹⁰But he did not invite Nathan, Benaiah, David's bodyguards, or his own brother Solomon.

¹¹When Nathan heard what had happened, he asked Bathsheba, Solomon's mother:[#2 S 12.24.]

¹⁵Meanwhile, David was in his bedroom where Abishag was taking care of him because he was so old. Bathsheba went in

¹⁶and bowed down.

“What can I do for you?” David asked.

¹⁷Bathsheba answered:

²²Just then, Nathan the prophet arrived.

²³Someone told David that he was there, and Nathan came in. He bowed with his face to the ground

²⁴and said:

Solomon Becomes King

²⁸David said, “Tell Bathsheba to come here.” She came and stood in front of him.

^29-30Then he said, “The living Lord God of Israel has kept me safe. And so today, I will keep the promise I made to you in his name: Solomon will be the next king!”

³¹Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Your Majesty, I pray that you will live a long time!”

³²Then David said, “Tell Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah to come here.”

When they arrived,

³³he told them:

³⁶Benaiah answered, “We will do it, Your Majesty. I pray that the Lord your God will let it happen.

³⁷The Lord has always watched over you, and I pray that he will now watch over Solomon. May the Lord help Solomon to be an even greater king than you.”

³⁸Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah left and took along the two groups of David's special bodyguards. Solomon rode on David's mule as they led him to Gihon Spring.[#1.38 The Hebrew text has “the Cherethites and the Pelethites,” who were foreign soldiers hired by David to be part of his bodyguard.]

³⁹Zadok the priest brought some olive oil from the sacred tent and poured it on Solomon's head to show that he was now king. A trumpet was blown and everyone shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”

⁴⁰Then they played flutes and celebrated as they followed Solomon back to Jerusalem. They made so much noise that the ground shook.

⁴¹Adonijah and his guests had almost finished eating when they heard the noise. Joab also heard the trumpet and asked, “What's all that noise about in the city?”

⁴²Just then, Jonathan son of Abiathar came running up. “Come in,” Adonijah said. “An important man like you must have some good news.”

⁴³Jonathan answered:

⁴⁹Adonijah's guests shook with fear when they heard this news, and they left as fast as they could.

⁵⁰Adonijah himself was afraid of what Solomon might do to him, so he ran to the sacred tent and grabbed hold of the corners of the altar for protection.[#1.50 The four corners of some ancient altars looked like animal horns. Since the entire altar was sacred, anyone holding on to its corners was supposed to be safe from being killed.]

⁵¹Someone told Solomon, “Adonijah is afraid of you and is holding onto the corners of the altar. He wants you to promise that you won't kill him.”

⁵²Solomon answered, “If Adonijah doesn't cause any trouble, I won't hurt him. But if he does, I'll have him killed.”

⁵³Then he sent someone to the altar to get Adonijah.

After Adonijah came and bowed down, Solomon said, “Adonijah, go home.”