Worthy.Bible » Parallel » 1 Kings » Chapter 1 » Verse 1-53

1 Kings 1:1-53 King James Version (KJV)

1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.

3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:

10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

15 And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

19 And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.

26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,

30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.

37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.

43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:

45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.

46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

47 And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.

48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.

49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

52 And Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.


1 Kings 1:1-53 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Now king H4428 David H1732 was old H2204 and stricken H935 in years; H3117 and they covered H3680 him with clothes, H899 but he gat no heat. H3179

2 Wherefore his servants H5650 said H559 unto him, Let there be sought H1245 for my lord H113 the king H4428 a young H5291 virgin: H1330 and let her stand H5975 before H6440 the king, H4428 and let her cherish H5532 him, and let her lie H7901 in thy bosom, H2436 that my lord H113 the king H4428 may get heat. H2552

3 So they sought H1245 for a fair H3303 damsel H5291 throughout all the coasts H1366 of Israel, H3478 and found H4672 Abishag H49 a Shunammite, H7767 and brought H935 her to the king. H4428

4 And the damsel H5291 was very H3966 fair, H3303 and cherished H5532 the king, H4428 and ministered H8334 to him: but the king H4428 knew H3045 her not.

5 Then Adonijah H138 the son H1121 of Haggith H2294 exalted H4984 himself, saying, H559 I will be king: H4427 and he prepared H6213 him chariots H7393 and horsemen, H6571 and fifty H2572 men H376 to run H7323 before H6440 him.

6 And his father H1 had not displeased H6087 him at any time H3117 in saying, H559 Why hast thou done so? H6213 and he also was a very H3966 goodly H2896 H8389 man; and his mother bare H3205 him after H310 Absalom. H53

7 And he conferred H1697 with Joab H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 and with Abiathar H54 the priest: H3548 and they following H310 Adonijah H138 helped H5826 him.

8 But Zadok H6659 the priest, H3548 and Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 and Nathan H5416 the prophet, H5030 and Shimei, H8096 and Rei, H7472 and the mighty men H1368 which belonged to David, H1732 were not with Adonijah. H138

9 And Adonijah H138 slew H2076 sheep H6629 and oxen H1241 and fat cattle H4806 by the stone H68 of Zoheleth, H2120 which is by H681 Enrogel, H5883 and called H7121 all his brethren H251 the king's H4428 sons, H1121 and all the men H582 of Judah H3063 the king's H4428 servants: H5650

10 But Nathan H5416 the prophet, H5030 and Benaiah, H1141 and the mighty men, H1368 and Solomon H8010 his brother, H251 he called H7121 not.

11 Wherefore Nathan H5416 spake H559 unto Bathsheba H1339 the mother H517 of Solomon, H8010 saying, H559 Hast thou not heard H8085 that Adonijah H138 the son H1121 of Haggith H2294 doth reign, H4427 and David H1732 our lord H113 knoweth H3045 it not?

12 Now therefore come, H3212 let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, H3289 H6098 that thou mayest save H4422 thine own life, H5315 and the life H5315 of thy son H1121 Solomon. H8010

13 Go H3212 and get thee in H935 unto king H4428 David, H1732 and say H559 unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, H113 O king, H4428 swear H7650 unto thine handmaid, H519 saying, H559 Assuredly H3588 Solomon H8010 thy son H1121 shall reign H4427 after H310 me, and he shall sit H3427 upon my throne? H3678 why then doth Adonijah H138 reign? H4427

14 Behold, while thou yet talkest H1696 there with the king, H4428 I also will come in H935 after H310 thee, and confirm H4390 thy words. H1697

15 And Bathsheba H1339 went in H935 unto the king H4428 into the chamber: H2315 and the king H4428 was very H3966 old; H2204 and Abishag H49 the Shunammite H7767 ministered H8334 unto the king. H4428

16 And Bathsheba H1339 bowed, H6915 and did obeisance H7812 unto the king. H4428 And the king H4428 said, H559 What wouldest thou?

17 And she said H559 unto him, My lord, H113 thou swarest H7650 by the LORD H3068 thy God H430 unto thine handmaid, H519 saying, Assuredly Solomon H8010 thy son H1121 shall reign H4427 after H310 me, and he shall sit H3427 upon my throne. H3678

18 And now, behold, Adonijah H138 reigneth; H4427 and now, my lord H113 the king, H4428 thou knowest H3045 it not:

19 And he hath slain H2076 oxen H7794 and fat cattle H4806 and sheep H6629 in abundance, H7230 and hath called H7121 all the sons H1121 of the king, H4428 and Abiathar H54 the priest, H3548 and Joab H3097 the captain H8269 of the host: H6635 but Solomon H8010 thy servant H5650 hath he not called. H7121

20 And thou, my lord, H113 O king, H4428 the eyes H5869 of all Israel H3478 are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell H5046 them who shall sit H3427 on the throne H3678 of my lord H113 the king H4428 after H310 him.

21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord H113 the king H4428 shall sleep H7901 with his fathers, H1 that I and my son H1121 Solomon H8010 shall be counted offenders. H2400

22 And, lo, while she yet talked H1696 with the king, H4428 Nathan H5416 the prophet H5030 also came in. H935

23 And they told H5046 the king, H4428 saying, H559 Behold Nathan H5416 the prophet. H5030 And when he was come in H935 before H6440 the king, H4428 he bowed H7812 himself before the king H4428 with his face H639 to the ground. H776

24 And Nathan H5416 said, H559 My lord, H113 O king, H4428 hast thou said, H559 Adonijah H138 shall reign H4427 after H310 me, and he shall sit H3427 upon my throne? H3678

25 For he is gone down H3381 this day, H3117 and hath slain H2076 oxen H7794 and fat cattle H4806 and sheep H6629 in abundance, H7230 and hath called H7121 all the king's H4428 sons, H1121 and the captains H8269 of the host, H6635 and Abiathar H54 the priest; H3548 and, behold, they eat H398 and drink H8354 before H6440 him, and say, H559 God save H2421 king H4428 Adonijah. H138

26 But me, even me thy servant, H5650 and Zadok H6659 the priest, H3548 and Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 and thy servant H5650 Solomon, H8010 hath he not called. H7121

27 Is this thing H1697 done H1961 by my lord H113 the king, H4428 and thou hast not shewed H3045 it unto thy servant, H5650 who should sit H3427 on the throne H3678 of my lord H113 the king H4428 after H310 him?

28 Then king H4428 David H1732 answered H6030 and said, H559 Call H7121 me Bathsheba. H1339 And she came H935 into the king's H4428 presence, H6440 and stood H5975 before H6440 the king. H4428

29 And the king H4428 sware, H7650 and said, H559 As the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 that hath redeemed H6299 my soul H5315 out of all distress, H6869

30 Even as I sware H7650 unto thee by the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Assuredly Solomon H8010 thy son H1121 shall reign H4427 after H310 me, and he shall sit H3427 upon my throne H3678 in my stead; even so will I certainly do H6213 this day. H3117

31 Then Bathsheba H1339 bowed H6915 with her face H639 to the earth, H776 and did reverence H7812 to the king, H4428 and said, H559 Let my lord H113 king H4428 David H1732 live H2421 for ever. H5769

32 And king H4428 David H1732 said, H559 Call H7121 me Zadok H6659 the priest, H3548 and Nathan H5416 the prophet, H5030 and Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada. H3077 And they came H935 before H6440 the king. H4428

33 The king H4428 also said H559 unto them, Take H3947 with you the servants H5650 of your lord, H113 and cause Solomon H8010 my son H1121 to ride H7392 upon mine own mule, H6506 and bring him down H3381 to Gihon: H1521

34 And let Zadok H6659 the priest H3548 and Nathan H5416 the prophet H5030 anoint H4886 him there king H4428 over Israel: H3478 and blow H8628 ye with the trumpet, H7782 and say, H559 God save H2421 king H4428 Solomon. H8010

35 Then ye shall come up H5927 after H310 him, that he may come H935 and sit H3427 upon my throne; H3678 for he shall be king H4427 in my stead: and I have appointed H6680 him to be ruler H5057 over Israel H3478 and over Judah. H3063

36 And Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada H3077 answered H6030 the king, H4428 and said, H559 Amen: H543 the LORD H3068 God H430 of my lord H113 the king H4428 say H559 so too.

37 As the LORD H3068 hath been with my lord H113 the king, H4428 even so be he with Solomon, H8010 and make H1431 his throne H3678 greater H1431 than the throne H3678 of my lord H113 king H4428 David. H1732

38 So Zadok H6659 the priest, H3548 and Nathan H5416 the prophet, H5030 and Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 and the Cherethites, H3774 and the Pelethites, H6432 went down, H3381 and caused Solomon H8010 to ride H7392 upon king H4428 David's H1732 mule, H6506 and brought H3212 him to Gihon. H1521

39 And Zadok H6659 the priest H3548 took H3947 an horn H7161 of oil H8081 out of the tabernacle, H168 and anointed H4886 Solomon. H8010 And they blew H8628 the trumpet; H7782 and all the people H5971 said, H559 God save H2421 king H4428 Solomon. H8010

40 And all the people H5971 came up H5927 after H310 him, and the people H5971 piped H2490 with pipes, H2485 and rejoiced H8056 with great H1419 joy, H8057 so that the earth H776 rent H1234 with the sound H6963 of them.

41 And Adonijah H138 and all the guests H7121 that were with him heard H8085 it as they had made an end H3615 of eating. H398 And when Joab H3097 heard H8085 the sound H6963 of the trumpet, H7782 he said, H559 Wherefore is this noise H6963 of the city H7151 being in an uproar? H1993

42 And while he yet spake, H1696 behold, Jonathan H3129 the son H1121 of Abiathar H54 the priest H3548 came: H935 and Adonijah H138 said H559 unto him, Come in; H935 for thou art a valiant H2428 man, H376 H381 and bringest H1319 good H2896 tidings. H1319

43 And Jonathan H3129 answered H6030 and said H559 to Adonijah, H138 Verily H61 our lord H113 king H4428 David H1732 hath made Solomon H8010 king. H4427

44 And the king H4428 hath sent H7971 with him Zadok H6659 the priest, H3548 and Nathan H5416 the prophet, H5030 and Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 and the Cherethites, H3774 and the Pelethites, H6432 and they have caused him to ride H7392 upon the king's H4428 mule: H6506

45 And Zadok H6659 the priest H3548 and Nathan H5416 the prophet H5030 have anointed H4886 him king H4428 in Gihon: H1521 and they are come up H5927 from thence rejoicing, H8056 so that the city H7151 rang again. H1949 This is the noise H6963 that ye have heard. H8085

46 And also Solomon H8010 sitteth H3427 on the throne H3678 of the kingdom. H4410

47 And moreover the king's H4428 servants H5650 came H935 to bless H1288 our lord H113 king H4428 David, H1732 saying, H559 God H430 make the name H8034 of Solomon H8010 better H3190 than thy name, H8034 and make H1431 his throne H3678 greater H1431 than thy throne. H3678 And the king H4428 bowed H7812 himself upon the bed. H4904

48 And also thus said H559 the king, H4428 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 which hath given H5414 one to sit H3427 on my throne H3678 this day, H3117 mine eyes H5869 even seeing H7200 it.

49 And all the guests H7121 that were with Adonijah H138 were afraid, H2729 and rose up, H6965 and went H3212 every man H376 his way. H1870

50 And Adonijah H138 feared H3372 because H6440 of Solomon, H8010 and arose, H6965 and went, H3212 and caught hold H2388 on the horns H7161 of the altar. H4196

51 And it was told H5046 Solomon, H8010 saying, H559 Behold, Adonijah H138 feareth H3372 king H4428 Solomon: H8010 for, lo, he hath caught hold H270 on the horns H7161 of the altar, H4196 saying, H559 Let king H4428 Solomon H8010 swear H7650 unto me to day H3117 that he will not slay H4191 his servant H5650 with the sword. H2719

52 And Solomon H8010 said, H559 If he will shew himself a worthy H2428 man, H1121 there shall not an hair H8185 of him fall H5307 to the earth: H776 but if wickedness H7451 shall be found H4672 in him, he shall die. H4191

53 So king H4428 Solomon H8010 sent, H7971 and they brought him down H3381 from the altar. H4196 And he came H935 and bowed H7812 himself to king H4428 Solomon: H8010 and Solomon H8010 said H559 unto him, Go H3212 to thine house. H1004


1 Kings 1:1-53 American Standard (ASV)

1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.

3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 And the damsel was very fair; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom.

7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men that belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he called all his brethren, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants:

10 but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

11 Then Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thy handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

15 And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering unto the king.

16 And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by Jehovah thy God unto thy handmaid, `saying', Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and thou, my lord the king, knowest it not:

19 and he hath slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host; but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

20 And thou, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

23 And they told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and say, `Long' live king Adonijah.

26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed unto thy servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

28 Then king David answered and said, Call to me Bath-sheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

29 And the king sware, and said, As Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

30 verily as I sware unto thee by Jehovah, the God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; verily so will I do this day.

31 Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did obeisance to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

32 And king David said, Call to me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

33 And the king said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

34 and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow ye the trumpet, and say, `Long' live king Solomon.

35 Then ye shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead; and I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.

36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: Jehovah, the God of my lord the king, say so `too'.

37 As Jehovah hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

39 And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, `Long' live king Solomon.

40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

42 While he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said, Come in; for thou art a worthy man, and bringest good tidings.

43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king:

44 and the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule;

45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.

46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

47 And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Thy God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne: and the king bowed himself upon the bed.

48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.

49 And all the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon; for, lo, he hath laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me first that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

52 And Solomon said, If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.

53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and did obeisance to king Solomon; and Solomon said unto him, Go to thy house.


1 Kings 1:1-53 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And king David `is' old, entering into days, and they cover him with garments, and he hath no heat,

2 and his servants say to him, `Let them seek for my lord the king a young woman, a virgin, and she hath stood before the king, and is to him a companion, and hath lain in thy bosom, and my lord the king hath heat.'

3 And they seek a fair young woman in all the border of Israel, and find Abishag the Shunammite, and bring her in to the king,

4 and the young woman `is' very very fair, and she is to the king a companion, and serveth him, and the king hath not known her.

5 And Adonijah son of Haggith is lifting himself up, saying, `I do reign;' and he prepareth for himself a chariot and horsemen, and fifty men running before him,

6 and his father hath not grieved him `all' his days, saying, `Wherefore thus hast thou done?' and he also `is' of a very good form, and `his mother' bare him after Absalom.

7 And his words are with Joab son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, and they help after Adonijah;

8 and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty ones whom David hath, have not been with Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah sacrificeth sheep and oxen and fatlings near the stone of Zoheleth, that `is' by En-Rogel, and calleth all his brethren, sons of the king, and for all the men of Judah, servants of the king;

10 and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty ones, and Solomon his brother, he hath not called.

11 And Nathan speaketh unto Bath-Sheba, mother of Solomon, saying, `Hast thou not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith hath reigned, and our lord David hath not known?

12 and now, come, let me counsel thee, I pray thee, and deliver thy life, and the life of thy son Solomon;

13 go and enter in unto king David, and thou hast said unto him, Hast thou not, my lord, O king, sworn to thy handmaid, saying, Surely Solomon thy son doth reign after me, and he doth sit on my throne? and wherefore hath Adonijah reigned?

14 Lo, thou are yet speaking there with the king, and I come in after thee, and have completed thy words.'

15 And Bath-Sheba cometh in unto the king, to the inner chamber, and the king `is' very aged, and Abishag the Shunammite is serving the king:

16 and Bath-Sheba boweth and doth obeisance to the king, and the king saith, `What -- to thee?'

17 And she saith to him, `My lord, thou hast sworn by Jehovah thy God to thy handmaid: Surely Solomon thy son doth reign after me, and he doth sit on my throne;

18 and now, lo, Adonijah hath reigned, and now, my lord, O king, thou hast not known;

19 and he sacrificeth ox, and fatling, and sheep in abundance, and calleth for all the sons of the king, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab head of the host -- and for Solomon thy servant he hath not called.

20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel `are' on thee, to declare to them who doth sit on the throne of my lord the king after him;

21 and it hath been, when my lord the king lieth with his fathers, that I have been, I and my son Solomon -- `reckoned' sinners.'

22 And lo, she is yet speaking with the king, and Nathan the prophet hath come in;

23 and they declare to the king, saying, `Lo, Nathan the prophet;' and he cometh in before the king, and boweth himself to the king, on his face to the earth.

24 And Nathan saith, `My lord, O king, thou hast said, Adonijah doth reign after me, and he doth sit on my throne;

25 for he hath gone down to-day, and doth sacrifice ox, and fatling, and sheep, in abundance, and calleth for all the sons of the king, and for the heads of the host, and for Abiathar the priest, and lo, they are eating and drinking before him, and they say, Let king Adonijah live!

26 `And for me -- me, thy servant, and for Zadok the priest, and for Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, and for Solomon thy servant, he hath not called;

27 if from my lord the king this thing hath been, then thou hast not caused thy servant to know who doth sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.'

28 And king David answereth and saith, `Call for me for Bath-Sheba;' and she cometh in before the king, and standeth before the king.

29 And the king sweareth and saith, `Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity;

30 surely as I sware to thee by Jehovah, God of Israel, saying, Surely Solomon thy son doth reign after me, and he doth sit on my throne in my stead; surely so I do this day.'

31 And Bath-Sheba boweth -- face to the earth -- and doth obeisance to the king, and saith, `Let my lord, king David, live to the age.'

32 And king David saith, `Call for me for Zadok the priest, and for Nathan the prophet, and for Benaiah son of Jehoiada;' and they come in before the king.

33 And the king saith to them, `Take with you the servants of your lord, and ye have caused Solomon my son to ride on mine own mule, and caused him to go down unto Gihon,

34 and anointed him there hath Zadok the priest -- and Nathan the prophet -- for king over Israel, and ye have blown with a trumpet, and said, Let king Solomon live;

35 and ye have come up after him, and he hath come in and hath sat on my throne, and he doth reign in my stead, and him I have appointed to be leader over Israel, and over Judah.'

36 And Benaiah son of Jehoiada answereth the king, and saith, `Amen! so doth Jehovah, God of my lord the king, say;

37 as Jehovah hath been with my lord the king, so is He with Solomon, and doth make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.'

38 And Zadok the priest goeth down, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethite, and the Pelethite, and they cause Solomon to ride on the mule of king David, and cause him to go unto Gihon,

39 and Zadok the priest taketh the horn of oil out of the tent, and anointeth Solomon, and they blow with a trumpet, and all the people say, `Let king Solomon live.'

40 And all the people come up after him, and the people are piping with pipes, and rejoicing -- great joy, and the earth rendeth with their voice.

41 And Adonijah heareth, and all those called, who `are' with him, and they have finished to eat, and Joab heareth the noise of the trumpet, and saith, `Wherefore `is' the noise of the city roaring?'

42 He is yet speaking, and lo, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest hath come in, and Adonijah saith, `Come in, for a man of valour thou `art', and thou bearest good tidings.'

43 And Jonathan answereth and saith to Adonijah, `Verily our lord king David hath caused Solomon to reign,

44 and the king sendeth with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethite, and the Pelethite, and they cause him to ride on the king's mule,

45 and they anoint him -- Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet -- for king in Gihon, and are come up thence rejoicing, and the city is moved; it `is' the noise that ye have heard.

46 `And also Solomon hath sat on the throne of the kingdom,

47 and also the servants of the king have come into bless our lord king David, saying, Thy God doth make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and his throne greater than thy throne; and the king boweth himself on the bed,

48 and also thus hath the king said, Blessed `is' Jehovah, God of Israel, who hath given to-day `one' sitting on my throne, and mine eyes seeing.'

49 And they tremble, and rise -- all those called who `are' for Adonijah -- and go, each on his way;

50 and Adonijah feareth because of Solomon, and riseth, and goeth, and layeth hold on the horns of the altar.

51 And it is declared to Solomon, saying, `Lo, Adonijah feareth king Solomon, and lo, he hath laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me as to-day -- he doth not put to death his servant by the sword.'

52 And Solomon saith, `If he becometh a virtuous man -- there doth not fall of his hair to the earth, and if evil is found in him -- then he hath died.'

53 And king Solomon sendeth, and they bring him down from off the altar, and he cometh in and boweth himself to king Solomon, and Solomon saith to him, `Go to thy house.'


1 Kings 1:1-53 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And king David was old [and] advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he obtained no warmth.

2 And his servants said to him, Let there be found for my lord the king a young virgin; and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get warm.

3 And they sought for a fair damsel throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 And the damsel was very fair; and cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.

5 And Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king; and he provided himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 And his father had not grieved him at any time in saying, Why doest thou so? and he was also a very comely man; and [his mother] bore him after Absalom.

7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they helped Adonijah and followed [him].

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men whom David had, were not with Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatted cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel, and invited all his brethren, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants;

10 but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he did not invite.

11 And Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith is king, and David our lord does not know [it]?

12 And now, come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

13 Go and get thee in to king David, and say to him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear to thy handmaid saying, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adonijah reign?

14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee and confirm thy words.

15 And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber; and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered to the king.

16 And Bathsheba bowed and did obeisance to the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

17 And she said to him, My lord, thou hast sworn by Jehovah thy God to thy handmaid, [saying,] Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.

18 And now behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not.

19 And he has sacrificed oxen and fatted cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the captain of the host; but Solomon thy servant has he not invited.

20 And thou, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 Otherwise it shall come to pass when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders.

22 And behold, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

23 And they told the king saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?

25 For he is gone down this day, and has sacrificed oxen and fatted cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah!

26 But me, [even] me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, he has not invited.

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewn to thy servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

29 And the king swore, and said, [As] Jehovah liveth, who has redeemed my soul out of all distress,

30 even as I swore to thee by Jehovah the God of Israel, saying, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.

31 And Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

33 And the king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon;

34 and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, Long live king Solomon!

35 And ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit on my throne; for he shall reign in my stead, and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, Amen: Jehovah, the God of my lord the king, say so too.

37 As Jehovah has been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

38 And Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

39 And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon!

40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard [it] as they were finishing their repast; and Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, and he said, Wherefore this noise of the city in an uproar?

42 While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said [to him], Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good news.

43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Indeed, our lord king David has made Solomon king.

44 And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule;

45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which ye have heard.

46 And also Solomon is sitting on the throne of the kingdom.

47 And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Thy God make the name of Solomon more excellent than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne! And the king bowed himself on the bed.

48 And also thus said the king: Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.

49 And all Adonijah's guests were afraid, and rose up and went every man his way.

50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose and went and caught hold of the horns of the altar.

51 And it was told Solomon saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for behold, he has caught hold of the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me this day that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.

52 And Solomon said, If he be a worthy man, there shall not one of his hairs fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.

53 And king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to thy house.


1 Kings 1:1-53 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he got no heat.

2 Therefore his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.

3 So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king didn't know her intimately.

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom.

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

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants:

10 but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he didn't call.

11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Haven't you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn't know it?

12 Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon.

13 Go and get you in to king David, and tell him, Didn't you, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adonijah reign?

14 Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words.

15 Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.

16 Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. The king said, What would you?

17 She said to him, My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your handmaid, [saying], Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.

18 Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don't know it:

19 and he has slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host; but he hasn't called Solomon your servant.

20 You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

22 Behold, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

23 They told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. When he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

24 Nathan said, My lord, king, have you said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?

25 For he is gone down this day, and has slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and say, [Long] live king Adonijah.

26 But he hasn't called me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven't shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

28 Then king David answered, Call to me Bathsheba. She came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

29 The king swore, and said, As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

30 most assuredly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place; most assuredly so will I do this day.

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did obeisance to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live forever.

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

33 The king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

34 and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow you the trumpet, and say, [Long] live king Solomon.

35 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place; and I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.

36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so [too].

37 As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride on king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, [Long] live king Solomon.

40 All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with the sound of them.

41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

42 While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said, Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.

43 Jonathan answered Adonijah, Most assuredly our lord king David has made Solomon king:

44 and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king's mule;

45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.

46 Also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.

47 Moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne: and the king bowed himself on the bed.

48 Also thus said the king, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it.

49 All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

50 Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

51 It was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, behold, he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.

52 Solomon said, If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.

53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and did obeisance to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.


1 Kings 1:1-53 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Now King David was old and far on in years; and though they put covers over him, his body was cold.

2 So his servants said to him, Let search be made for a young virgin for my lord the king, to take care of him and be waiting on him; and you may take her in your arms, and so my lord the king will be warm.

3 So after searching through all the land of Israel for a fair young girl, they saw Abishag the Shunammite, and took her to the king.

4 Now she was very beautiful; and she took care of the king, waiting on him at all times; but the king had no connection with her.

5 Then Adonijah, the son of Haggith, lifting himself up in pride, said, I will become king; and he made ready his carriages of war and his horsemen, with fifty runners to go before him.

6 Now all his life his father had never gone against him or said to him, Why have you done so? and he was a very good-looking man, and younger than Absalom.

7 And he had talk with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they were on his side and gave him their support.

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei, and David's men of war did not take the side of Adonijah.

9 Then Adonijah put to death sheep and oxen and fat beasts by the stone of Zoheleth, by En-rogel; and he sent for all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants, to come to him:

10 But he did not send for Nathan the prophet and Benaiah and the other men of war and Solomon his brother.

11 Then Nathan said to Bath-sheba, the mother of Solomon, Has it not come to your ears that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has made himself king without the knowledge of David our lord?

12 So now, let me make a suggestion, so that you may keep your life safe and the life of your son Solomon.

13 Come now, go to King David and say to him, Did you not, O my lord, take an oath to me, your servant, saying, Truly Solomon your son will be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom? why then is Adonijah acting as king?

14 And while you are still talking there with the king, see, I will come in after you and say that your story is true.

15 Then Bath-sheba went into the king's room; now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was waiting on him.

16 And Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour. And he said, What is your desire?

17 And she said to him, My lord, you took an oath by the Lord your God and gave your word to your servant, saying, Truly, Solomon your son will be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom.

18 And now, see, Adonijah has made himself king without my lord's knowledge;

19 And has put to death oxen and fat beasts and sheep in great numbers, and has sent for all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the captain of the army; but he has not sent for Solomon your servant.

20 And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, waiting for you to say who is to take the place of my lord the king after him.

21 For as things are, it will come about, when my lord the king is sleeping with his fathers, that I and Solomon my son will be made outlaws.

22 And while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

23 And they said to the king, Here is Nathan the prophet. And when he came in before the king, he went down on his face on the earth.

24 And Nathan said, O my lord king, have you said, Adonijah is to be king after me, seated on the seat of my kingdom?

25 Because today he has gone down and has put to death oxen and fat beasts and sheep in great numbers, and has sent for all the king's sons to come to him, with the captains of the army and Abiathar the priest; and they are feasting before him and crying, Long life to King Adonijah!

26 But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not sent for.

27 Has this thing been done by my lord the king, without giving word to your servants who was to be placed on my lord the king's seat after him?

28 Then King David in answer said, Send for Bath-sheba to come to me. And she came in and took her place before the king.

29 And the king took an oath, and said, By the living Lord, who has been my saviour from all my troubles,

30 As I took an oath to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, Certainly Solomon your son will become king after me, seated on my seat in my place; so will I do this day.

31 Then Bath-sheba went down on her face on the earth before the king giving him honour, and said, May my lord King David go on living for ever.

32 And King David said, Send for Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

33 And the king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and put Solomon my son on my beast, yes, mine, and take him down to Gihon;

34 And there let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet put the holy oil on him to make him king over Israel; and sounding the horn say, Long life to King Solomon!

35 Then come up after him and he will come in and take his place on the seat of my kingdom; for he is to be king in my place, and I have given orders that he is to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

36 And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, answering the king, said, So be it: and may the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so.

37 As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon and make the seat of his authority greater than that of my lord King David.

38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and put Solomon on King David's beast and took him to Gihon.

39 And Zadok the priest took the vessel of oil out of the Tent, and put the holy oil on Solomon. And when the horn was sounded, all the people said, Long life to King Solomon!

40 And all the people came up after him, piping with pipes, and they were glad with great joy, so that the earth was shaking with the sound.

41 And it came to the ears of Adonijah and all the guests who were with him, when their meal was ended. And Joab, hearing the sound of the horn, said, What is the reason of this noise as if the town was worked up?

42 And while the words were on his lips, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, came; and Adonijah said, Come in; for you are a man of good faith and the news which you have for us will be good.

43 And Jonathan, answering, said to Adonijah, Not so, but our lord King David has made Solomon king:

44 And he sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they put him on the king's beast:

45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet put the holy oil on him and made him king in Gihon; and they came back from there with joy, and the town was all worked up. This is the noise which has come to your ears.

46 And now Solomon is seated on the seat of the kingdom.

47 And the king's servants came to our lord King David, blessing him and saying, May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and the seat of his authority greater than your seat; and the king was bent low in worship on his bed.

48 Then the king said, May the God of Israel be praised, who has given one of my seed to be king in my place this day and has let my eyes see it.

49 And all the guests of Adonijah got up in fear and went away, every man to his place.

50 And Adonijah himself was full of fear because of Solomon; and he got up and went to the altar, and put his hands on its horns.

51 And they gave Solomon word of it, saying, See, Adonijah goes in such fear of King Solomon, that he has put his hands on the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon first give me his oath that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.

52 And Solomon said, If he is seen to be a man of good faith, not a hair of him will be touched; but if any wrongdoing is seen in him, he is to be put to death.

53 So King Solomon sent, and they took him down from the altar. And he came and gave honour to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on 1 Kings 1

Commentary on 1 Kings 1 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary


Introduction

Anointing And Accession Of Solomon - 1 Kings 1

The attempt of Adonijah to seize upon the throne when David's strength was failing (1 Kings 1:1-10), induced the aged king, as soon as it was announced to him by Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan, to order Solomon to be anointed king, and to have the anointing carried out (vv. 11-40); whereupon Adonijah fled to the altar, and received pardon from Solomon on condition that he would keep himself quiet (1 Kings 1:41-53).


Verse 1-2

When king David had become so old that they could no longer warm him by covering him with clothes, his servants advised him to increase his vitality by lying with a young and robust virgin, and selected the beautiful Abishag of Shunem to perform this service. This circumstance, which is a trivial one in itself, is only mentioned on account of what follows - first, because it shows that David had become too weak from age, and too destitute of energy, to be able to carry on the government any longer; and, secondly, because Adonijah the pretender afterwards forfeited his life through asking for Abishag in marriage. - The opening of our book, והמּלך ( and the King), may be explained from the fact that the account which follows has been taken from a writing containing the earlier history of David, and that the author of these books retained the Vav cop . which he found there, for the purpose of showing at the outset that his work was a continuation of the books of Samuel. בּיּמים בּא זקן as in Joshua 13:1; Joshua 23:1; Genesis 24:1, etc. “ They covered him with clothes, and he did not get warm .” It follows from this that the king was bedridden, or at least that when lying down he could no longer be kept warm with bed-clo thes. בּגדים does not mean clothes to wear here, but large cloths, which were used as bed-clothes, as in 1 Samuel 19:13 and Numbers 4:6. יחם is used impersonally, and derived from חמם , cf. Ewald, §193, b ., and 138, b . As David was then in his seventieth year, this decrepitude was not the natural result of extreme old age, but the consequence of a sickly constitution, arising out of the hardships which he had endured in his agitated and restless life. The proposal of his servants, to restore the vital warmth which he had lost by bringing a virgin to lie with him, is recommended as an experiment by Galen ( Method. medic. viii. 7). And it has been an acknowledged fact with physicians of all ages, that departing vitality may be preserved and strengthened by communicating the vital warmth of strong and youthful persons (compare Trusen, Sitten Gebräuche u. Krankheiten der Hebräer , p. 257ff.). The singular suffix in לאדני is to be explained on the ground that one person spoke. בתוּלה נערה , a maid who is a virgin. לפני עמד , to stand before a person as servant = to serve (cf. Deuteronomy 1:38 with Exodus 24:13). סכנת , an attendant or nurse, from סכן = שׁכן , to live with a person, then to be helpful or useful to him. With the words “that she may lie in thy bosom,” the passage passes, as is frequently the case, from the third person to a direct address.


Verse 3-4

They then looked about for a beautiful girl for this purpose, and found Abishag of Shunem , the present Sulem or Solam , at the south-eastern foot of the Duhy of Little Hermon (see at Joshua 19:18), who became the king's nurse and waited upon him. The further remark, “and the king knew her not,” is not introduced either to indicate the impotence of David or to show that she did not become David's concubine, but simply to explain how it was that it could possibly occur to Adonijah (1 Kings 2:17) to ask for her as his wife. Moreover, the whole affair is to be judged according to the circumstances of the times, when there was nothing offensive in polygamy.


Verses 5-10

Adonijah seized the opportunity of David's decrepitude to make himself king. Although he was David's fourth son (2 Samuel 3:4), yet after the death of Ammon and Absalom he was probably the eldest, as Chileab, David's second son, had most likely died when a child, since he is never mentioned again. Adonijah therefore thought that he had a claim to the throne (cf. 1 Kings 2:15), and wanted to secure it before his father's death. But in Israel, Jehovah, the God-King of His people, had reserved to Himself the choice of the earthly king (Deuteronomy 17:15), and this right He exercised not only in the case of Saul and David, but in that of Solomon also. When He gave to David the promise that his seed should rule for ever (2 Samuel 7:12-16), He did not ensure the establishment of the throne to any one of his existing sons, but to him that would come out of his loins (i.e., to Solomon, who was not yet born); and after his birth He designated him through the prophet Nathan as the beloved of Jehovah (2 Samuel 12:24-25). David discerned from this that the Lord had chosen Solomon to be his successor, and he gave to Bathsheba a promise on oath that Solomon should sit upon the throne (1 Kings 1:13 and 1 Kings 1:30). This promise was also acknowledged in the presence of Nathan (1 Kings 1:11.), and certainly came to Adonijah's ears. Adonijah said, “I will be king,” and procured chariots and horsemen and fifty runners, as Absalom had done before (2 Samuel 15:1). רכב , in a collective sense, does not mean fighting or war chariots, but state carriages, like מרכּבה in 2 Samuel 15:1; and פּרשׁים are neither riding nor carriage horses, but riders to form an escort whenever he drove out.

1 Kings 1:6

“And (= for) his father had never troubled him in his life ( מיּמיו , a diebus ejus , i.e., his whole life long), saying, “Why hast thou done this?” Such weak oversight on the part of his father encouraged him to make the present attempt. Moreover, he “was very beautiful,” like Absalom (see at 2 Samuel 14:25), and born after Absalom, so that after his death he appeared to have the nearest claim to the throne. The subject to ילדה is left indefinite, because it is implied in the idea of the verb itself: “she bare,” i.e., his mother, as in Numbers 26:59 (vid., Ewald, §294, b .). There was no reason for mentioning the mother expressly by name, as there was nothing depending upon the name here, and it had already been given in Numbers 26:5.

1 Kings 1:7

He conferred (for the expression, compare 2 Samuel 3:17) with Joab and Abiathar the priest, who supported him. אהרי עזר , to lend a helping hand to a person, i.e., to support him by either actually joining him or taking his part. Joab joined the pretender, because he had fallen out with David for a considerable time (cf. 1 Kings 2:5-6), and hoped to secure his influence with the new king if he helped him to obtain possession of the throne. But what induced Abiathar the high priest (see at 2 Samuel 8:17) to join in conspiracy with Adonijah, we do not know. Possibly jealousy of Zadok, and the fear that under Solomon he might be thrown still more into the shade. For although Zadok was only high priest at the tabernacle at Gibeon, he appears to have taken the lead; as we may infer from the fact that he is always mentioned before Abiathar (cf. 2 Samuel 8:17; 2 Samuel 20:25, and 2 Samuel 15:24.). For we cannot imagine that Joab and Abiathar had supported Adonijah as having right on his side (Thenius), for the simple reason that Joab did not trouble himself about right, and for his own part shrank from no crime, when he thought that he had lost favour with the king.

1 Kings 1:8

If Adonijah had powerful supporters in Joab the commander-in-chief and the high priest Abiathar, the rest of the leading officers of state, viz., Zadok the high priest (see at 2 Samuel 8:17), Benaiah, captain of the king's body-guard (see at 2 Samuel 8:18 and 2 Samuel 23:20-21), the prophet Nathan, Shimei (probably the son of Elah mentioned in 1 Kings 4:18), and Rei (unknown), and the Gibborim of David (see at 2 Samuel 23:8.), were not with him.

1 Kings 1:9-10

Adonijah commenced his usurpation, like Absalom ( 2 Samuel 15:2), with a solemn sacrificial meal, at which he was proclaimed king, “at the stone of Zocheleth by the side of the fountain of Rogel ,” i.e., the spy's fountain, or, according to the Chaldee and Syriac, the fuller's fountain, the present fountain of Job or Nehemiah, below the junction of the valley of Hinnom with the valley of Jehoshaphat (see at 2 Samuel 7:17 and Joshua 15:7). E. G. Schultz ( Jerusalem, eine Vorlesung , p. 79) supposes the stone or rock of Zocheleth to be “the steep, rocky corner of the southern slope of the valley of Hinnom, which casts so deep a shade.” “The neighbourhood ( Wady el Rubâb ) is still a place of recreation for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” To this festal meal Adonijah invited all his brethren except Solomon, and “all the men of Judah, the king's servants,” i.e., all the Judaeans who were in the king's service, i.e., were serving at court as being members of his own tribe, with the exception of Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, and the Gibborim. The fact that Solomon and the others mentioned were not included in the invitation, showed very clearly that Adonijah was informed of Solomon's election as successor to the throne, and was also aware of the feelings of Nathan and Benaiah.


Verses 11-31

Adonijah ' s attempt was frustrated by the vigilance of the prophet Nathan.

1 Kings 1:11-13

Nathan informed Solomon's mother, Bathsheba (see at 2 Samuel 11:3), that Adonijah was making himself king ( מלך כּי , that he had become as good as king: Thenius), and advised her, in order to save her life and that of her son Solomon ( וּמלטי , and save = so that thou mayest save; cf. Ewald, §347, a .), to go to the king and remind him of his promise on oath, that her son Solomon should be king after him, and to inquire why Adonijah had become king. If Adonijah had really got possession of the throne, he would probably have put Solomon and his mother out of the way, according to the barbarous custom of the East, as his political opponents.

1 Kings 1:14

While she was still talking to the king, he (Nathan) would come in after her and confirm her words. דּבר מלּא , to make a word full, i.e., not to supply what is wanting, but to make full, like πληροῦν , either to fill by accomplishing, or (as in this case) to confirm it by similar assertion.

1 Kings 1:15-21

Bathsheba followed this advice, and went to the king into the inner chamber ( החדרה ), since the very aged king, who was waited upon by Abishag, could not leave his room ( משׁרת for משׁרתת ; cf. Ewald, §188, b ., p. 490), and, bowing low before him, communicated to him what Adonijah had taken in hand in opposition to his will and without his knowledge. The second ועתּה is not to be altered into ואתּה , inasmuch as it is supported by the oldest codices and the Masora,

(Note: Kimchi says: “ Plures scribae errant in hoc verbo, scribentes ואתה cum Aleph, quia sensui hoc conformius est; sed constat nobis ex correctis MSS et masora, scribendum esse ועתה cum Ain . ” Hence both Norzi and Bruns have taken ועתה under their protection.Compare de Rossi, variae lectt. ad h. l .)

although about two hundred codd. contain the latter reading. The repetition of ועתּה (“And now , behold, Adonijah has become king; and now , my lord king, thou knowest it not”) may be explained from the energy with which Bathsheba speaks. “ And Solomon thy servant he hath not invited” (1 Kings 1:19). Bathsheba added this, not because she felt herself injured, but as a sign of Adonijah's feelings towards Solomon, which showed that he had reason to fear the worst if Adonijah should succeed in his usurpation of the throne. In 1 Kings 1:20, again, many codd. have ועתּה in the place of ואתּה ; and Thenius, after his usual fashion, pronounces the former the “only correct” reading, because it is apparently a better one. But here also the appearance is deceptive. The antithesis to what Adonijah has already done is brought out quite suitably by ואתּה : Adonijah has made himself king, etc.; but thou my lord king must decide in the matter. “The eyes of all Israel are turned towards thee, to tell them who (whether Adonijah or Solomon) is to sit upon the throne after thee.” “The decision of this question is in thy hand, for the people have not yet attached themselves to Adonijah, but are looking to thee, to see what thou wilt do; and they will follow thy judgment, if thou only hastenest to make Solomon king.” - Seb. Schmidt. To secure this decision, Bathsheba refers again, in 1 Kings 1:21, to the fate which would await both herself and her son Solomon after the death of the king. They would be הטּאים , i.e., guilty of a capital crime. “We should be punished as though guilty of high treason” (Clericus).

1 Kings 1:22-27

While Bathsheba was still speaking, Nathan came. When he was announced to the king, Bathsheba retired, just as afterwards Nathan went away when the king had Bathsheba called in again (cf. 1 Kings 1:28 with 1 Kings 1:32). This was done, not to avoid the appearance of a mutual arrangement (Cler., Then., etc.), but for reasons of propriety, inasmuch as, in audiences granted by the king to his wife or one of his counsellors, no third person ought to be present unless the king required his attendance. Nathan confirmed Bathsheba's statement, commencing thus: “My lord king, thou hast really said, Adonijah shall be king after me...? for he has gone down to-day, and has prepared a feast, ... and they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, Long live king Adonijah!” And he then closed by asking, “Has this taken place on the part of my lord the king, and thou hast not shown thy servants (Nathan, Zadok, Benaiah, and Solomon) who is to sit upon the throne of my lord the king after him?” The indirect question introduced with אם is not merely an expression of modesty, but also of doubt, whether what had occurred had emanated from the king and he had not shown it to his servants.

1 Kings 1:28-30

The king then sent for Bathsheba again, and gave her this promise on oath: “As truly as Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all distress (as in 2 Samuel 4:9), yea, as I swore to thee by Jehovah, the God of Israel, saying, Solomon thy son shall be king after me, ... yea, so shall I do this day.” The first and third כּי serve to give emphasis to the assertion, like imo , yea (cf. Ewald, §330, b .). The second merely serves as an introduction to the words.

1 Kings 1:31

Bathsheba then left the king with the deepest prostration and the utterance of a blessing, as an expression of her inmost gratitude. The benedictory formula, “May the king live for ever,” was only used by the Israelites on occasions of special importance; whereas the Babylonians and ancient Persians constantly addressed their kings in this way (cf. Daniel 2:4; Daniel 3:9; Daniel 5:10; Daniel 6:22; Nehemiah 2:3. Aeliani var. hist . i. 32, and Curtius de gestis Alex . vi. 5).

1 Kings 1:32-40

David then sent for Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah, and directed them to fetch the servants of their lord ( אדניכם , a pluralis majestatis , referring to David alone), and to conduct Solomon to Gihon riding upon the royal mule, and there to anoint him and solemnly proclaim him king. The servants of your lord ( אדניכם עבדי ) are the Crethi and Plethi , and not the Gibborim also (Thenius), as 1 Kings 1:38 clearly shows, where we find that these alone went down with him to Gihon as the royal body-guard. לי אשׁר על־הפּרדּה , upon the mule which belongs to me, i.e., upon my (the king's) mule. When the king let any one ride upon the animal on which he generally rode himself, this was a sign that he was his successor upon the throne. Among the ancient Persians riding upon the king's horse was a public honour, which the king conferred upon persons of great merit in the eyes of all the people (cf. Esther 6:8-9). פּרדּה , the female mule, which in Kahira is still preferred to the male for riding (see Rosenmüller, bibl. Althk . iv. 2, p. 56). Gihon ( גּחון ) was the name given, according to 2 Chronicles 32:30 and 2 Chronicles 33:14, to a spring on the western side of Zion, which supplied two basins or pools, viz., the upper watercourse of Gihon (2 Chronicles 32:30) or upper pool (2 Kings 18:17; Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 36:2), and the lower pool (Isaiah 22:9). The upper Gihon still exists as a large reservoir built up with hewn stones, though somewhat fallen to decay, which is called by the monks Gihon , by the natives Birket el Mamilla , about 700 yards W.N.W. from the Joppa gate, in the basin which opens into the valley of Hinnom. The lower pool is probably the present Birket es Sultan , on the south-western side of Zion (see Robinson, Palestine , i. p. 485ff., 512ff., and Biblical Researches , p. 142ff.). The valley between the two was certainly the place where Solomon was anointed, as it is not stated that this took place at the fountain of Gihon. And even the expression גּחון על אתו הורדתּם (take him down to Gihon) agrees with this. For is you go from Zion to Gihon towards the west, you first of all have to descend a slope, and then ascend by a gradual rise; and this slope was probably a more considerable one in ancient times (Rob. Pal . i. p. 514, note).

(Note: The conjecture of Thenius, that גּחון should be altered into גּבעון , is hardly worth mentioning; for, apart from the fact that all the ancient versions confirm the correctness of גּחון , the objections which Thenius brings against it amount to mere conjectures or groundless assumptions, such as that Zadok took the oil-horn out of the tabernacle at Gibeon, which is not stated in v. 39. Moreover, Gibeon was a three hours ' journey from Jerusalem, so that it would have been absolutely impossible for the anointing, which was not commanded by David till after Adonijah ' s feast had commenced, to be finished so quickly that the procession could return to Jerusalem before it was ended, as is distinctly recorded in v. 41.)


Verse 34

The blowing of the trumpet and the cry “Long live the king” (cf. 1 Samuel 10:24) were to serve as a solemn proclamation after the anointing had taken place.


Verse 35

After the anointing they were to conduct Solomon up to Zion again; Solomon was then to ascend the throne, as David was about to appoint him prince over Israel and Judah in his own stead. Both the anointing and the appointment of Solomon as prince over the whole of the covenant nation were necessary, because the succession to the throne had been rendered doubtful through Adonijah's attempt, and the aged king was still alive. In cases where there was no question, and the son followed the father after his death, the unanimous opinion of the Rabbins is, that there was no anointing at all. Israel and Judah are mentioned, because David had been the first to unite all the tribes under his sceptre, and after the death of Solomon Israel fell away from the house of David.


Verse 36-37

Benaiah responded to the utterance of the royal will with the confirmatory “Amen, thus saith Jehovah the God of my lord the king;” i.e., may the word of the king become a word of Jehovah his God, who fulfils what He promises (Psalms 33:9); and added the pious wish, “May Jehovah be with Solomon, as He was with David, and glorify his throne above the throne of David,” - a wish which was not merely “flattery of his paternal vanity” (Thenius), but which had in view the prosperity of the monarchy, and was also fulfilled by God (cf. 1 Kings 3:11.).


Verse 38-39

The anointing of Solomon was carried out immediately, as the king had commanded. On the Crethi and Plethi see at 2 Samuel 8:18. “The oil-horn out of the tent” (i.e., a vessel made of horn and containing oil) was no doubt one which held the holy anointing oil, with which the priests and the vessels of the sanctuary were anointed (see Exodus 30:22.). The tent ( האהל ), however, is not the tabernacle at Gibeon, but the tent set up by David for the ark of the covenant upon Mount Zion (2 Samuel 6:17). For even though Zadok was appointed high priest at the tabernacle at Gibeon, and Abiathar, who held with Adonijah, at the ark of the covenant, the two high priests were not so unfriendly towards one another, that Zadok could not have obtained admission to the ark of the covenant in Abiathar's absence to fetch away the anointing oil.


Verse 40

All the people, i.e., the crowd which was present at the anointing, went up after him, i.e., accompanied Solomon to the citadel of Zion, with flutes and loud acclamation, so that the earth nearly burst with their shouting. תּבּקע , “to burst in pieces” (as in 2 Chronicles 25:12), is a hyperbolical expression for quaking.


Verse 41-42

The noise of this shouting reached the ears of Adonijah and his guests, when the feast was just drawing to a close. The music, therefore, and the joyful acclamations of the people must have been heard as far off as the fountain of Rogel. When Joab observed the sound of the trumpet, knowing what these tones must signify, he asked “wherefore the sound of the city in an uproar” (i.e., what does it mean)? At that moment Jonathan the son of Abiathar arrived (see 2 Samuel 15:27; 2 Samuel 17:17.). Adonijah called out to him: “Come, for thou art a brave man and bringest good tidings;' suppressing all anxiety with these words, as he knew his father's will with regard to the succession to the throne, and the powerful and influential friends of Solomon (see 1 Kings 1:5, 1 Kings 1:19, 1 Kings 1:26).


Verses 43-48

Jonathan replied: אבל , “yea but,” corresponding to the Latin imo vero , an expression of assurance with a slight doubt, and then related that Solomon had been anointed king by David's command, and the city was in a joyous state of excitement in consequence ( תּהם as in Ruth 1:19), and that he had even ascended the throne, that the servants of the king had blessed David for it, and that David himself had worshipped and praised Jehovah the God of Israel that he had lived to see his son ascend the throne. The repetition of וגם three times (1 Kings 1:46-48) gives emphasis to the words, since every new point which is introduced with וגם raises the thing higher and higher towards absolute certainty. The fact related in 1 Kings 1:47 refers to the words of Benaiah in 1 Kings 1:36 and 1 Kings 1:37. The Chethib אלהיך is the correct reading, and the Keri אלהים an unnecessary emendation. The prayer to God, with thanksgiving for the favour granted to him, was offered by David after the return of his anointed son Solomon to the royal palace; so that it ought strictly to have been mentioned after 1 Kings 1:40. The worship of grey-headed David upon the bed recalls to mind the worship of the patriarch Jacob after making known his last will (Genesis 47:31).


Verse 49-50

The news spread terror. All the guests of Adonijah fled, every man his way. Adonijah himself sought refuge from Solomon at the horns of the altar. The altar was regarded from time immemorial and among all nations as a place of refuge for criminals deserving of death; but, according to Exodus 21:14, in Israel it was only allowed to afford protection in cases of unintentional slaying, and for these special cities of refuge were afterwards provided (Num 35). In the horns of the altar, as symbols of power and strength, there was concentrated the true significance of the altar as a divine place, from which there emanated both life and health (see at Exodus 27:19). By grasping the horns of the altar the culprit placed himself under the protection of the saving and helping grace of God, which wipes away sin, and thereby abolishes punishment (see B


Verse 51-52

When this was reported to Solomon, together with the prayer of Adonijah that the king would swear to him that he would not put him to death with the sword ( אם before ימית , a particle used in an oath), he promised him conditional impunity: “If he shall be brave ( בּן־חיל , vir probus ), none of his hair shall fall to the earth,” equivalent to not a hair of his head shall be injured (cf. 1 Samuel 14:45); “but if evil be found in him,” i.e., if he render himself guilty of a fresh crime, “he shall die.”


Verse 53

He then had him fetched down from the altar ( הוריד( ratl , inasmuch as the altar stood upon an eminence); and when he fell down before the king, i.e., did homage to him as king, he gave him his life and freedom in the words, “Go to thy house.” The expression לביתך לך does not imply his banishment from the court (compare 1 Kings 2:13 and 2 Samuel 14:24). Solomon did not wish to commence his own ascent of the throne by infliction of punishment, and therefore presented the usurper with his life on the condition that he kept himself quiet.