1 Kings 1 - Easy To Read Version1 King David was very old. He could not keep warm. His servants covered him with blankets, but he was still cold. 2 So his servants said to him, “We will find a young woman to care for you. She will lie close to you and keep you warm.” 3 So the king’s servants began looking everywhere in the country of Israel for a beautiful young woman to keep the king warm. They found a girl named Abishag. She was from the city of Shunem. They brought the young woman to the king. 4-6 The girl was very beautiful. She cared for the king and served him. But King David did not have sexual relations with her. 7 Adonijah talked with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. They decided to help make him the new king. 8 But several men did not agree with what Adonijah was doing. These men remained loyal to David. They were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and King David’s special guard. [1] So these men did not join with Adonijah. 9 One day, at Zoheleth Rock near En Rogel, [2] Adonijah sacrificed some sheep, cows, and fat calves as a {fellowship offering}. Adonijah invited his brothers (the other sons of King David) and all of the officers from Judah. 10 But Adonijah did not invite the men in his father’s special guard, his brother Solomon, Benaiah, or Nathan the prophet. 11 But Nathan heard about this and went to Solomon’s mother Bathsheba. Nathan asked her, “Have you heard what Haggith’s son, Adonijah, is doing? He is making himself king. And our master, King David, knows nothing about it. 12 Your life and the life of your son Solomon may be in danger. But I will tell you what you should do to save yourself. 13 Go to King David and say to him, ‘My lord and king, you made a promise to me. You promised that my son Solomon would be the next king after you. So why is Adonijah becoming the new king?’ 14 Then while you are still talking with him, I will come in. After you leave, I will tell the king what has happened. And that will show that what you said is true.” 15 So Bathsheba went in to see the king in his bedroom. The king was very old. Abishag, the girl from Shunem, was caring for him there. 16 Bathsheba bowed down before the king. The king asked, “What can I do for you?” 17 Bathsheba answered, “Sir, you used the name of the Lord your God and made a promise to me. You said, ‘Your son Solomon will be the next king after me. Solomon will sit on my throne.’ 18 Now, you don’t know this, but Adonijah is making himself the king. 19 Adonijah {is giving a big fellowship meal. He} has killed many cows and the best sheep {for a fellowship offering}. Adonijah invited all of your sons. And he invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of your army. But he did not invite your faithful son Solomon. 20 Now, my lord and king, all the people of Israel are watching you. They are waiting for you to decide who will be the next king after you. 21 {You must do something before you die.} If you don’t, then after you are buried with your fathers, those men will say that Solomon and I are criminals.” 22 While Bathsheba was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came to see him. 23 The servants told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” Nathan went in to speak to the king. Nathan bowed down before the king 24 and said, “My lord and king, did you announce that Adonijah will be the new king after you? Have you decided that Adonijah will rule the people now? 25 Because today he went down {into the valley} to offer many cows and the best sheep as {fellowship} offerings. And he invited all your other sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. They are now eating and drinking with him. And they are saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26 But he did not invite me, or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your son Solomon. 27 My lord and king, did you do this without telling us? Please tell us, who will be the next king after you?” 28 Then King David said, “Tell Bathsheba to come in!” So Bathsheba came in before the king. 29 Then the king made a promise: “The Lord God has saved me from every danger. As sure as the Lord is alive, I make this promise to you. 30 Today I will do what I promised you in the past. I made that promise by the power of the Lord God of Israel. I promised that your son Solomon would be the next king after me. And I promised that he would take my place on my throne. I will keep my promise!” 31 Then Bathsheba bowed down on the ground before the king. She said, “Long live King David!” 32 Then King David said, “Tell Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to come in here.” So the three men came in to meet with the king. 33 Then the king said to them, “Take my officers with you. Put my son Solomon on my own mule. Take him to Gihon Spring. [3] 34 At that place, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint [4] him to be the new king of Israel. Blow the trumpet and announce, ‘This is the new king, Solomon!’ 35 Then come back here with him. Solomon will sit on my throne and be the new king in my place. I have chosen Solomon to be the ruler of Israel and Judah.” 36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! The Lord God himself said it, my lord and king! 37 My lord and king, the Lord has been with you. And now I hope the Lord will be with Solomon! And I hope King Solomon’s kingdom will grow and become even more powerful than yours, my lord and king.” 38 So Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and the king’s officers obeyed King David. They put Solomon on King David’s mule and went with him to Gihon Spring. 39 Zadok the priest carried the oil from the Holy Tent. Zadok poured the oil on Solomon’s head to show that he was the king. They blew the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” 40 Then all of the people followed Solomon into the city. The people were very happy and excited. They were playing flutes and making so much noise that the ground shook. 41 Meanwhile, Adonijah and his guests with him were just finishing their meal. They heard the sound from the trumpet. Joab asked, “What is that noise? What is happening in the city?” 42 While Joab was still speaking, Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. Adonijah said, “Come here! You are a good man. [5] You must be bringing good news to me.” 43 But Jonathan answered, “No, it is not good news for you! King David has made Solomon the new king. 44 King David sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and all the king’s officers with him. They put Solomon on the king’s own mule. 45-47 Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed [6] Solomon at Gihon Spring. And then they went into the city. People followed them and now the people in the city are very happy. That is the noise that you hear. 48 and said, ‘Praise the Lord God of Israel. The Lord put one of my own sons on my throne. And he let me live to see it.” 49 All of Adonijah’s guests were scared and left very quickly. 50 Adonijah was also afraid of Solomon. So he went to the altar and held the horns of the altar. [7] 51 Then someone told Solomon, “Adonijah is scared of you, King Solomon. Adonijah is {at the Holy Tent} holding onto the horns of the altar. And he refuses to leave. Adonijah says, ‘Tell King Solomon to promise me that he will not kill me.’” 52 So Solomon answered, “If Adonijah shows that he is a good man, then I promise that not even a hair on his head will be hurt. But if he does anything wrong, then he will die.” 53 Then King Solomon sent some men to get Adonijah. The men brought Adonijah to King Solomon. Adonijah came to King Solomon and bowed down. Then Solomon said, “Go home.” |
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