1 Kings 1 (NET)

1 Kings

Adonijah Tries to Seize the Throne

1 King David was very old;1 even when they covered him with blankets,2 he could not get warm. 2 His servants advised3 him, “A young virgin must be found for our master, the king,4 to take care of the king’s needs5 and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you6 and keep our master, the king, warm.”7 3 So they looked through all Israel8 for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.9

5 Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith,10 was promoting himself,11 boasting,12 “I will be king!” He managed to acquire13 chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.14 6 (Now his father had never corrected15 him16 by saying, “Why do you do such things?” He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.17) 7 He collaborated18 with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported19 him.20 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s elite warriors21 did not ally themselves22 with Adonijah. 9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened steers at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons,23 as well as all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors,24 or his brother Solomon.

11 Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Has it been reported to you25 that Haggith’s son Adonijah has become king behind our master David’s back?26 12 Now27 let me give you some advice as to how28 you can save your life and your son Solomon’s life. 13 Visit29 King David and say to him, ‘My master, O king, did you not solemnly promise30 your servant, “Surely your son Solomon will be king after me; he will sit on my throne”? So why has Adonijah become king?’ 14 While31 you are still there speaking to the king, I will arrive32 and verify your report.”33

15 So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters.34 (The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.) 16 Bathsheba bowed down on the floor before35 the king. The king said, “What do you want?” 17 She 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.’ 18 But now, look, Adonijah has become king! But you,36 my master the king, are not even aware of it!37 19 He 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. 20 Now,38 my master, O king, all Israel is watching anxiously to see who is named to succeed my master the king on the throne.39 21 If a decision is not made,40 when my master the king is buried with his ancestors,41 my son Solomon and I42 will be considered state criminals.”43

22 Just then,44 while she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23 The king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” Nathan entered and bowed before the king with his face to the floor.45 24 Nathan said, “My master, O king, did you announce, ‘Adonijah will be king after me; he will sit on my throne’? 25 For 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 moment46 they are having a feast47 in his presence, and they have declared, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’48 26 But he did not invite me – your servant – or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon. 27 Has my master the king authorized this without informing your servants49 who should succeed my master the king on his throne?”50

David Picks Solomon as His Successor

28 King David responded,51 “Summon Bathsheba!”52 She came and stood before the king.53 29 The king swore an oath: “As certainly as the Lord lives (he who has rescued me54 from every danger), 30 I will keep55 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.’” 31 Bathsheba bowed down to the king with her face to the floor56 and said, “May my master, King David, live forever!”

32 King David said, “Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet,57 and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king, 33 and he58 told them, “Take your master’s59 servants with you, put my son Solomon on my mule, and lead him down to Gihon.60 34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint61 him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 Then follow him up as he comes and sits on my throne. He will be king in my place; I have decreed62 that he will be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada responded63 to the king: “So be it!64 May the Lord God of my master the king confirm it!65 37 As 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!”66

38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites67 went down, put Solomon on King David’s mule, and led him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest took a horn filled with olive oil68 from the tent and poured it on69 Solomon; the trumpet was blown and all the people declared, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 All the people followed him up, playing flutes and celebrating so loudly they made the ground shake.70

41 Now Adonijah and all his guests heard the commotion just as they had finished eating.71 When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he asked, “Why is there such a noisy commotion in the city?”72 42 As he was still speaking, Jonathan73 son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, for74 an important man like you must be bringing good news.”75 43 Jonathan replied76 to Adonijah: “No!77 Our master78 King David has made Solomon king. 44 The 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. 45 Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed79 him king in Gihon. They went up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the sound you hear. 46 Furthermore, Solomon has assumed the royal throne.80 47 The king’s servants have even come to congratulate81 our master82 King David, saying, ‘May your God83 make Solomon more famous than you and make him an even greater king than you!’84 Then the king leaned85 on the bed 48 and said86 this: ‘The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because87 today he has placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.’”88

49 All of Adonijah’s guests panicked;89 they jumped up and rushed off their separate ways. 50 Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar.90 51 Solomon was told, “Look, Adonijah fears you;91 see, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘May King Solomon solemnly promise92 me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’” 52 Solomon said, “If he is a loyal subject,93 not a hair of his head will be harmed, but if he is found to be a traitor,94 he will die.” 53 King Solomon sent men to bring him down95 from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon told him, “Go home.”96

11:1tn Heb “was old, coming into the days” (i.e., advancing in years). 21:1tn Or “garments.” 31:2tn Heb “said to.” 41:2tn Heb “let them seek for my master, the king, a young girl, a virgin.” The third person plural subject of the verb is indefinite (see GKC 460 §144.f). The appositional expression, “a young girl, a virgin,” is idiomatic; the second term specifically defines the more general first term (see IBHS 230 §12.3b). 51:2tn Heb “and she will stand before the king.” The Hebrew phrase “stand before” can mean “to attend; to serve” (BDB 764 s.v. עָמַד). 61:2tn Heb “and she will lie down in your bosom.” The expression might imply sexual intimacy (see 2 Sam 12:3 [where the lamb symbolizes Bathsheba] and Mic 7:5), though v. 4b indicates that David did not actually have sex with the young woman. 71:2tn Heb “and my master, the king, will be warm.” 81:3tn Heb “through all the territory of Israel.” 91:4tn Heb “did not know her.” 101:5tn Heb “son of Haggith,” but since this formula usually designates the father (who in this case was David), the translation specifies that David was Adonijah’s father.sn Haggith was one of David’s wives (2 Sam 3:4; 2 Chr 3:2). 111:5tn Heb “lifting himself up.” 121:5tn Heb “saying.” 131:5tn Or “he acquired for himself.” 141:5tn Heb “to run ahead of him.” 151:6tn Or “disciplined.” 161:6tn Heb “did not correct him from his days.” The phrase “from his days” means “from his earliest days,” or “ever in his life.” See GKC 382 §119.w, n. 2. 171:6tn Heb “and she gave birth to him after Absalom.” This does not imply they had the same mother; Absalom’s mother was Maacah, not Haggith (2 Sam 3:4). 181:7tn Heb “his words were.” 191:7tn Heb “helped after” (i.e., stood by). 201:7tn Heb “Adonijah.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation for stylistic reasons. 211:8tn Or “bodyguard” (Heb “mighty men”). 221:8tn Heb “were not.” 231:9tc The ancient Greek version omits this appositional phrase. 241:10tn Or “bodyguard” (Heb “mighty men”). 251:11tn Heb “Have you not heard?” 261:11tn Heb “and our master David does not know.” 271:12tn Heb “now, come.” The imperative of הָלַךְ (halakh) is here used as an introductory interjection. See BDB 234 s.v. חָלַךְ. 281:12tn Or “so that.” 291:13tn Heb “come, go to.” The imperative of הָלַךְ (halakh) is here used as an introductory interjection. See BDB 234 s.v. חָלַךְ. 301:13tn Or “swear an oath to.” 311:14tn In the Hebrew text the sentence is introduced by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”), which here draws attention to Nathan’s concluding word of assurance and support. For this use of the word, see HALOT 252 s.v. הִנֵּה. 321:14tc The Hebrew text reads, “I will come after you.” 331:14tn Heb “fill up [i.e., confirm] your words.” 341:15tn Or “bedroom.” 351:16tn Heb “bowed low and bowed down to.” 361:18tc Instead of עַתָּה (’attah, “now”) many Hebrew mss, along with the Old Greek, Syriac Peshitta, and Latin Vulgate, have the similar sounding independent pronoun אַתָּה (’attah, “you”). This reading is followed in the present translation. 371:18tn Heb “you do not know [about it].” 381:20tc Many Hebrew mss have עַתָּה (’attah, “now”) rather than the similar sounding independent pronoun אַתָּה (’attah, “you”). 391:20tn Heb “the eyes of all Israel are upon you to declare to them who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him.” 401:21tn The words “if a decision is not made” are added for clarification. 411:21tn Heb “lies down with his fathers.” 421:21tn Heb “I and my son Solomon.” The order has been reversed in the translation for stylistic reasons. 431:21tn Heb “will be guilty”; NASB “considered offenders”; TEV “treated as traitors.” 441:22tn Heb “look.” The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) here draws attention to Nathan’s arrival and invites the audience to view the scene through the eyes of the participants. 451:23tn Heb “ground.” Since this was indoors, “floor” is more appropriate than “ground.” 461:25tn Heb “look.” 471:25tn Heb “eating and drinking.” 481:25tn Heb “let the king, Adonijah, live!” 491:27tc Many Hebrew mss and ancient textual witnesses agree with the Qere in reading this as singular, “your servant.” 501:27tn Heb “From my master the king is this thing done, and you did not make known to your servants who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him?” 511:28tn Heb “answered and said.” 521:28sn Summon Bathsheba. Bathsheba must have left the room when Nathan arrived (see 1:22). 531:28tn Heb “she came before the king and stood before the king.” 541:29tn Or “ransomed my life.” 551:30tn Or “carry out, perform.” 561:31tn Heb “bowed low, face [to] the ground, and bowed down to the king.” 571:32sn Summon…Nathan. Nathan must have left the room when Bathsheba reentered. 581:33tn Heb “the king.” 591:33tn The plural form is used in the Hebrew text to indicate honor and authority. 601:33tn Heb “mount Solomon my son on the mule that belongs to me and take him down to Gihon.” 611:34tn Or “designate” (i.e., by anointing with oil). 621:35tn Or “commanded.” 631:36tn Heb “answered and said.” 641:36tn Or “Amen.” 651:36tn Heb “So may the Lord God of my master the king say.” 661:37tn Heb “and may he make his throne greater than the throne of my master King David.” 671:38sn The Kerethites and Pelethites were members of David’s royal guard (see 2 Sam 8:18). The Kerethites may have been descendants of an ethnic group originating in Crete. 681:39tn Heb “the horn of oil.” This has been specified as olive oil in the translation for clarity.sn A horn filled with oil. An animal’s horn was used as an oil flask in the anointing ceremony. 691:39tn Or “anointed.” 701:40tn Heb “and all the people went up after him, and the people were playing flutes and rejoicing with great joy and the ground split open at the sound of them.” The verb בָּקַע (baqa’, “to split open”), which elsewhere describes the effects of an earthquake, is obviously here an exaggeration for the sake of emphasis. 711:41tn Heb “And Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard, now they had finished eating.” 721:41tn Heb “Why is the city’s sound noisy?” 731:42tn The Hebrew text has “look” at this point. The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh), “look draws attention to Jonathan’s arrival and invites the audience to view the scene through the eyes of the participants. 741:42tn Or “surely.” 751:42tn Heb “you are a man of strength [or “ability”] and you bring a message [that is] good.” Another option is to understand the phrase אִישׁ חַיִל (’ish khayil) in the sense of “a worthy man,” that is “loyal.” See also 1 Kgs 1:52 and HALOT 311 s.v. חַיִל. 761:43tn Heb “answered and said.” 771:43tn For a similar use of אֲבָל (’aval), see Gen 17:19, where God rejects Abraham’s proposal and offers an alternative. 781:43tn The plural form is used in the Hebrew text to indicate honor and authority. 791:45tn I.e., designated by anointing with oil. 801:46tn Heb “And also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.” 811:47tn Heb “to bless.” 821:47tn The plural form is used in the Hebrew text to indicate honor and authority. 831:47tc Many Hebrew mss agree with the Qere in reading simply “God.” 841:47tn Heb “make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.” The term שֵׁם (shem, “name”) is used here of one’s fame and reputation. 851:47tn Or “bowed down; worshiped.” 861:48tn The Hebrew text reads, “and the king said.” 871:48tn Or “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who….” In this blessing formula אֲשֶׁר (’asher, “who; because”) introduces the reason why the one being blessed deserves the honor. 881:48tn Heb “and my eyes are seeing.” 891:49tn Or “were afraid, trembled.” 901:50sn Grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. The “horns” of the altar were the horn-shaped projections on the four corners of the altar (see Exod 27:2). By going to the holy place and grabbing hold of the horns of the altar, Adonijah was seeking asylum from Solomon. 911:51tn Heb “King Solomon.” The name and title have been replaced by the pronoun (“you”) in the translation for stylistic reasons. 921:51tn Or “swear an oath to.” 931:52tn Heb “if he is a man of strength [or ability].” In this context, where Adonijah calls himself a “servant,” implying allegiance to the new king, the phrase אִישׁ חַיִל (’ish khayil) probably carries the sense of “a worthy man,” that is, “loyal” (see HALOT 311 s.v. חַיִל). 941:52tn Heb “but if evil is found in him.” 951:53tn Heb “sent and they brought him down.” 961:53tn Heb “Go to your house.”