1 Kings 1: David grows old, Adonijah tries to become king, and Solomon is anointed
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
King David is old and cannot keep warm, so his servants bring him Abishag the Shunammite to care for him. His son Adonijah sets himself up as king, with Joab and Abiathar the priest on his side, and holds a feast at the stone of Zoheleth by En Rogel; he does not invite Nathan the prophet, Zadok, Benaiah, the mighty men or Solomon. Bathsheba goes in to David and reminds him of his oath that Solomon would reign after him, Nathan comes in after her, and David swears again that Solomon will be king that same day. Zadok the priest and Nathan anoint Solomon at Gihon, and the people shout "Long live King Solomon!" When Adonijah and his guests hear the news, they are afraid; Adonijah takes hold of the horns of the altar, and Solomon sends him home.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. David's servants speak in verse 2, and verse 5 gives Adonijah's words, "I will be king". Nathan speaks to Bathsheba in verses 11 to 14 and gives her the words to say to the king. Bathsheba speaks to David in verses 17 to 21, and Nathan in verses 24 to 27. Bathsheba speaks again in verse 31. David speaks in verses 16, 28 to 30 and 32 to 35; his oath by Yahweh in verses 29 and 30 is his own. Benaiah answers in verses 36 and 37, and his words about Yahweh are his own prayer. Joab speaks in verse 41, Adonijah in verse 42, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar tells the news in verses 43 to 48. Solomon is told about Adonijah in verse 51 and speaks in verses 52 and 53. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now King David was old and advanced in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn’t keep warm.
In plain English: King David was old and well on in years (literally: had come into days). They covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm.
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2Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king. Let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.”
In plain English: So his servants said to him, "Let a young woman, a virgin, be looked for (this Bible: sought) for my lord the king. Let her wait on (literally: stand before) the king and take care of him (this Bible: cherish him), and let her lie in your arms (literally: bosom), so that my lord the king may keep warm."
The Hebrew word: "Cherish him" is from sakan, which the dictionary gives as "to be familiar with; by implication, to minister to, be serviceable to". It is in 10 verses of the Bible, and this Bible says "cherish" in only 2 of them: here and verse 4. The STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "a nurse".
What changes: Read as "cherish", she was to keep the king warm and close. Read with the dictionary, she was to wait on him and serve him, as a nurse or attendant. Verse 4 says she did both: "she cherished the king, and served him".
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3So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
In plain English: So they looked for a beautiful young woman all through the land of Israel. They found Abishag the Shunammite (a woman from Shunem) and brought her to the king.
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4The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and served him; but the king didn’t know her intimately.
In plain English: The young woman was very beautiful. She took care of the king and served him, but the king did not know her (this Bible: know her intimately).
Good to know: "Know her intimately" is word for word "know her": yada, the common word for "to know". This Bible adds "intimately" to make the meaning plain: the king did not lie with her. Abishag comes into the story again in , when Adonijah asks for her as his wife.
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5Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
In plain English: Then Adonijah the son of Haggith lifted himself up, saying, "I will be king." He got himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run ahead of him.
Good to know: Adonijah was David's fourth son, born in Hebron: "the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith" (). Absalom, born before him, had done the same thing: he "prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him" ().
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6His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, “Why have you done so?” and he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.
In plain English: His father had never upset him (or: rebuked him) at any time by asking, "Why have you done this?" He was also a very handsome man, and he was born (literally: she bore him) after Absalom.
The Hebrew word: "Displeased" is atsab, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to carve ... hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger". The STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "rebuked".
What changes: Read as "displeased" or "upset", David never crossed his son. Read as "rebuked", David never corrected him. Either way, the text says his father never asked him, "Why have you done so?"
Good to know: The Hebrew says only "she bore him after Absalom", and does not name her here; verse 5 names his mother Haggith. Absalom, too, is praised for his looks in .
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7He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him.
In plain English: He talked things over with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed Adonijah and helped him.
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8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
In plain English: But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's mighty men were not with Adonijah.
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9Adonijah killed sheep, cattle, 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;
In plain English: Adonijah sacrificed (or: slaughtered) sheep, cattle and fattened animals by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah who were the king's servants.
Good to know: En Rogel is on the border of Judah (). It is where Jonathan and Ahimaaz waited to carry news to David when Absalom took Jerusalem (). The dictionary gives Zoheleth as "a boundary stone".
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10but he didn’t call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.
In plain English: But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
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11Then 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?
In plain English: Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. He said, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it?
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12Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life and your son Solomon’s life.
In plain English: So now come, please let me give you advice, so that you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
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13Go in to King David, and tell him, ‘Didn’t you, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then does Adonijah reign?’
In plain English: Go in to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to your servant, "Your son Solomon will surely reign after me, and he will sit on my throne"? Then why has Adonijah become king?'
Good to know: The text has not told of this oath before. Nathan gives Bathsheba the words to say, and in verse 30 David says, "as I swore to you by Yahweh". Earlier the text says of Solomon's birth that "Yahweh loved him" (), and then "he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah" (; see the note there, which gives both readings of who sent). gives words David says Yahweh spoke to him: "his name shall be Solomon".
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14Behold, while you are still talking there with the king, I will also come in after you and confirm your words.”
In plain English: Look, while you are still talking there with the king, I will come in after you and back up (literally: fill up) your words."
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15Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
In plain English: Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
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16Bathsheba bowed and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”
In plain English: Bathsheba bowed low and bowed down to the king. The king said, "What do you want?"
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17She said to him, “My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your servant, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’
In plain English: She said to him, "My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your servant, 'Your son Solomon will surely reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.'
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18Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don’t know it.
In plain English: Now look, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.
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19He has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army; but he hasn’t called Solomon your servant.
In plain English: He has sacrificed (or: slaughtered) oxen, fattened animals and sheep in great numbers, and he has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon.
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20You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
In plain English: As for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, for you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
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21Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered criminals.”
In plain English: Otherwise, when my lord the king lies down (this Bible: sleeps) with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as offenders (this Bible: criminals; literally: sinners)."
The Hebrew word: "Criminals" is chatta, which the dictionary gives as "a criminal, or one accounted guilty". It is in 19 verses of the Bible, and this Bible says "sinner" or "sinners" in 15 of them. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "offenders".
What changes: Read as "criminals" or "offenders", Bathsheba fears that she and Solomon will be treated as guilty by the new king. Read as "sinners", they will be counted as people who have done wrong. Either way, she says they will be in danger when David dies.
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22Behold, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
In plain English: And while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
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23They told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet!” When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
In plain English: They told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." When he came in before the king, he bowed down to the king with his face to the ground.
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24Nathan said, “My lord, King, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’?
In plain English: Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne'?
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25For he has gone down today, and has slain cattle, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
In plain English: For today he has gone down and has sacrificed (or: slaughtered) oxen, fattened animals and sheep in great numbers. He has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Look, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!'
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26But he hasn’t called me, even me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.
In plain English: But me, your servant, he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
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27Was 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?”
In plain English: Has this been done by my lord the king, without telling your servants who would sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"
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28Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba in to me.” She came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.
In plain English: Then King David answered, "Call Bathsheba to me." She came in to the king and stood before the king.
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29The king vowed and said, “As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
In plain English: The king swore an oath and said, "As surely as Yahweh lives, who has rescued (literally: ransomed) my life out of every trouble,
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30most certainly 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;’ I will most certainly do this today.”
In plain English: just as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, 'Your son Solomon will surely reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place,' so I will surely do it today."
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31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth and showed respect to the king, and said, “Let my lord King David live forever!”
In plain English: Then Bathsheba bowed low with her face to the ground and bowed down to the king. She said, "May my lord King David live forever!"
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32King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king.
In plain English: King David said, "Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada to me." They came before the king.
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33The 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.
In plain English: The king said to them, "Take your lord's servants with you. Have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon.
Good to know: Gihon is gichon, which the dictionary gives as "a river of Paradise; also a valley (or pool) near Jerusalem". The same name is given to the second river of Eden in . Here it is the place near Jerusalem.
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34Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
In plain English: There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet (literally: the ram's horn), and say, 'Long live King Solomon!'
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35Then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.”
In plain English: Then come up after him, and he will come and sit on my throne, for he will be king in my place. I have appointed him to be leader (this Bible: prince) over Israel and over Judah."
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36Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, “Amen. May Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so.
In plain English: Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so.
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37As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”
In plain English: As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David."
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38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.
In plain English: So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down. They had Solomon ride on King David's mule and brought him to Gihon.
Good to know: For "the Cherethites and the Pelethites", the men who served David, see the note on .
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39Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”
In plain English: Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet (literally: the ram's horn), and all the people said, "Long live King Solomon!"
Good to know: The text does not say which tent this is. tells of the tent David pitched for Yahweh's ark in Jerusalem. "Anointed" is mashach, which the dictionary gives as "to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate". For Saul, the people shouted "Long live the king!" ().
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40All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound.
In plain English: All the people went up after him, playing on flutes (this Bible: piped with pipes) and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth split (this Bible: shook) with their noise.
The Hebrew word: "Shook" is baqa, which the dictionary gives as "to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open". This Bible says "split" or "splits" for it in 11 of the 50 verses that use it. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "the earth quaked with their voice", and instead of the flutes it has "they danced in choirs".
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41Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?”
In plain English: Adonijah and all the guests with him heard it, just as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "Why is there this noise of the city in an uproar?"
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42While 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.”
In plain English: While he was still speaking, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are a worthy man (literally: a man of strength), and you bring good news."
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43Jonathan answered Adonijah, “Most certainly our lord King David has made Solomon king.
In plain English: Jonathan answered Adonijah, "No (or: Truly; this Bible: Most certainly)! Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
The Hebrew word: "Most certainly" is aval, which the dictionary gives as "nay, i.e. truly or yet". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "Verily".
What changes: Read as "truly", Jonathan says it is true: David has made Solomon king. Read as "no", he says "No!" to Adonijah's hope of good news. Either way, the news is that David has made Solomon king.
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44The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule.
In plain English: The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they have had him ride on the king's mule.
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45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.
In plain English: Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the noise you have heard.
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46Also, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.
In plain English: Also, Solomon has sat down on the throne of the kingdom.
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47Moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May 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.
In plain English: And the king's servants have come to bless our lord King David, saying, 'May your God (or: May God) make Solomon's name better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.' And the king bowed down on the bed.
Good to know: The Hebrew letters here spell "your God", as this Bible has it. The STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "God". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) also has "God make the name of Solomon better than thy name".
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48Also thus said the king, ‘Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, my eyes even seeing it.’”
In plain English: The king also said, 'Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given someone to sit on my throne today, while my own eyes see it.'"
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49All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and each man went his way.
In plain English: All of Adonijah's guests trembled. They got up, and each man went his own way.
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50Adonijah was afraid because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and hung onto the horns of the altar.
In plain English: Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up, went, and took hold of the horns of the altar.
Good to know: The altar had horns on its four corners (). The law said of a man who kills his neighbor on purpose, "you shall take him from my altar, that he may die" (). The text does not say why Adonijah went to the altar; verse 51 says he wanted Solomon to swear not to kill him.
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51Solomon was told, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon; for, behold, he is hanging onto the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”
In plain English: Solomon was told, "Look, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. He has taken hold of the horns of the altar, and he says, 'Let King Solomon swear to me today (this Bible: first) that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.'"
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How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
52Solomon said, “If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of his shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”
In plain English: Solomon said, "If he shows himself a worthy man (literally: a son of strength), not one hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die."
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How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
53So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”
In plain English: So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."
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How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.