(KJV) 1 Kings 11

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⥃Abishag Cares for David

[1] Now king David was old2 [and] stricken in years3; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. [2] Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought4 for my lord the king a young virgin5: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him6, and let her lie7 in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat8. [3] So9 they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag10 a Shunammite11, 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 not12.

⥃Adonijah Usurps the Kingdom

[5] Then Adonijah13 the son of Haggith exalted14 himself, saying, I will15 be king16: and he17 prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. [6] And his father had not18 displeased him at any time19 in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also [was a] very20 goodly [man]; and [his mother] bare him21 after Absalom. [7] And he conferred22 with Joab23 the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar24 the priest: and they following Adonijah helped [him25]. [8] But Zadok26 the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan27 the prophet, and Shimei28, and Rei, and the mighty29 men which [belonged] to David, were not with Adonijah. [9] And Adonijah30 slew31 sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which [is] by En–rogel32, and called33 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.34

⥃Nathan and Bathsheba before David

[11] Wherefore Nathan35 spake unto Bath–sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah36 the son of Haggith37 doth reign, and David our lord knoweth [it] not? [12] Now therefore come, let me38, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save39 thine own life, and the life40 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, Assuredly41 Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit42 upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? [14] Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also43 will come in after thee, and confirm44 thy words.

[15] [¶]And Bath–sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old45; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. [16] And Bath–sheba bowed46, and did obeisance unto the king. And the47 king said, What wouldest thou48? [17] And she said unto him, My lord49, thou swarest50 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, Adonijah51 reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest52 [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.53 [20] And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes54 of all Israel [are] upon thee, that thou55 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 sleep56 with his fathers, that I57 and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders58.

[22] [¶]And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.59 [23] And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed60 himself before the king with his face to the ground. [24] And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou61 said, Adonijah shall reign62 after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? [25] For he is gone down this day, and hath slain63 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 Adonijah64. [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.65 [27] Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou66 hast not shewed [it] unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

⥃David Renews His Oath to Bathsheba

[28] [¶]Then king David answered and said, Call me67 Bath–sheba. And she came into the king’s presence68, and stood before the king. [29] And the king sware, and said, [As] the69 Lord liveth, that hath70 redeemed my soul out of all distress, [30] Even as I sware71 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 Bath–sheba bowed with [her] face to the earth, and did reverence72 to the king, and said, Let my73 lord king David live for ever.

⥃Solomon Anointed King [ 1 Chronicles 29:21–25 ]

[32] And king David said, Call me Zadok74 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, Take75 with you the servants of your lord, and cause76 Solomon my son to ride77 upon mine own mule78, and bring him down to Gihon79: [34] And let Zadok80 the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye81 with the trumpet, and say, God82 save king Solomon. [35] Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit83 upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have84 appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. [36] And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen85: the Lord86 God of my lord the king say so [too]. [37] As the87 Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make88 his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. [38] So Zadok89 the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites90, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s91 mule, and brought him to Gihon. [39] And Zadok the priest took an horn92 of oil out93 of the tabernacle, and anointed94 Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people95 said, God save king Solomon. [40] And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes96, and rejoiced97 with great joy, so that the earth rent98 with the sound of them.

⥃Adonijah Learns of Solomon’s Kingship

[41] And Adonijah and all the guests that [were] with him heard [it] as they99 had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore100 [is this] noise of the city101 being in an uproar? [42] And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan102 the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou [art] a valiant103 man, and bringest good tidings. [43] And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily104 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:105 [45] And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon106: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city107 rang again. This [is108] the noise that ye have heard. [46] And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.109 [47] And moreover the king’s servants came to bless110 our lord king David, saying, God111 make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed112 himself upon the bed. [48] And also thus said the king, Blessed113 [be] the Lord God of Israel, which114 hath given [one] to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes115 even seeing [it]. [49] And all the guests that [were] with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.116

[50] [¶]And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught117 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 to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword. [52] And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall118 not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness119 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 himself120 to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to121 thine house.

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  1. 1Kgs 1:1, Abishag cherishes David in his extreme age; 1Kgs 1:5, Adonijah, David’s darling, usurps the kingdom; 1Kgs 1:11, By the council of Nathan, 1Kgs 1:15, Bath–sheba moves the king, 1Kgs 1:22, and Nathan seconds her; 1Kgs 1:28, David renews his oath to Bath–sheba; 1Kgs 1:32, Solomon, by David’s appointment, being anointed king by Zadok and Nathan, the people triumph; 1Kgs 1:41, Jonathan bringing the news, Adonijah’s guests fly; 1Kgs 1:50, Adonijah, flying to the horns of the altar, upon his good behaviour, is dismissed by Solomon. ↩

  2. David was probably now about sixty-nine years of age. He was thirty years old when he began to reign, reigned forty, and died in his seventieth year; and the transactions mentioned here are supposed to have taken place about a year before his death. Sixtynine was not an advanced age; but he had been exhausted with various fatigues, and especially family afflictions, so that he was much older in constitution than in years. 2Sam 5:4; 1Chr 23:1, 1Chr 29:27-28; Ps 90:10 ↩

  3. Heb. and entered into days, Gen 18:11, Gen 24:1; Josh 23:1-2; Luke 1:7 ↩

  4. Heb. Let them seek ↩

  5. Heb. a damsel, a virgin. stand. Deut 10:8; 1Sam 16:21-22; 2Chr 29:11 ↩

  6. Heb. be a cherisher unto him ↩

  7. Gen 16:5; Deut 13:6; 2Sam 12:3; Mic 7:5 ↩

  8. Eccl 4:11 ↩

  9. Esth 2:2, Esth 2:4 ↩

  10. 1Kgs 2:17-25 ↩

  11. Josh 19:18; 1Sam 28:4; 2Kgs 4:8, 2Kgs 4:25 ↩

  12. Matt 1:25 ↩

  13. 2Sam 3:4; 1Chr 3:2 ↩

  14. 1Kgs 1:11, 1Kgs 2:24; Exod 9:17; Prov 16:18, Prov 18:12; Luke 14:11, Luke 18:14 ↩

  15. Deut 17:15; Judg 9:2; 1Chr 22:5-11, 1Chr 28:5, 1Chr 29:1 ↩

  16. Heb. reign ↩

  17. Deut 17:16; 2Sam 15:1; Isa 2:7 ↩

  18. 1Sam 3:13; Prov 22:15, Prov 23:13-14, Prov 29:15; Heb 12:5-6 ↩

  19. Heb. from his days ↩

  20. 1Sam 9:2, 1Sam 10:23; 2Sam 14:25 ↩

  21. 2Sam 3:3-4; 1Chr 3:2 ↩

  22. Heb. his words were, 2Sam 15:12; Ps 2:2 ↩

  23. 1Kgs 2:28; 2Sam 8:16, 2Sam 20:23 ↩

  24. 1Sam 22:20-23; 2Sam 15:24-29, 2Sam 15:35, 2Sam 20:25 ↩

  25. Heb. helped after Adonijah, 1Kgs 2:22, 1Kgs 2:26-35 ↩

  26. 1Kgs 2:35; 2Sam 8:17-18, 2Sam 20:25; 1Chr 27:5-6; Ezek 44:15 ↩

  27. 2Sam 7:2-4, 2Sam 12:1-15 ↩

  28. 1Kgs 4:18; Zech 12:13 ↩

  29. 2Sam 23:8-39; 1Chr 11:10-47 ↩

  30. The Oriental banquet, in consequence of the intense heat, is often spread upon the verdant turf, beneath the shade of a tree, where the streaming rivulet supplies the company with wholesome water, and excites a gentle breeze to cool their burning temples. ↩

  31. 2Sam 15:12; Prov 15:8 ↩

  32. or, the well Rogel, 2Sam 17:17 ↩

  33. 2Sam 13:23-27, 2Sam 15:11 ↩

  34. 1Kgs 1:8, 1Kgs 1:19; 2Sam 12:1-15 ↩

  35. 2Sam 7:12-17, 2Sam 12:24-25; 1Chr 22:9-10, 1Chr 28:4-5, 1Chr 29:1 ↩

  36. 1Kgs 1:5 ↩

  37. 2Sam 3:4 ↩

  38. Prov 11:14, Prov 20:18, Prov 27:9; Jer 38:15 ↩

  39. 1Kgs 1:21; Gen 19:17; Acts 27:31 ↩

  40. Judg 9:5; 2Kgs 11:1; 2Chr 21:4, 2Chr 22:10; Matt 21:38 ↩

  41. 1Kgs 1:11, 1Kgs 1:17, 1Kgs 1:30; 1Chr 22:6-13 ↩

  42. 1Kgs 1:17, 1Kgs 1:24, 1Kgs 1:30, 1Kgs 1:35, 1Kgs 1:48, 1Kgs 2:12; Deut 17:18; 1Chr 29:23; Ps 132:11-12; Isa 9:7; Jer 33:21; Luke 1:32-33 ↩

  43. 1Kgs 1:17-27; 2Cor 13:1 ↩

  44. Heb. fill up ↩

  45. 1Kgs 1:2-4 ↩

  46. 1Kgs 1:23; 1Sam 20:41, 1Sam 24:8, 1Sam 25:23 ↩

  47. 1Kgs 2:20; Esth 7:2; Matt 20:21, Matt 20:32 ↩

  48. Heb. What to thee ↩

  49. Gen 18:12; 1Pet 3:6 ↩

  50. It is not recorded when or upon what occasion David sware to Bath–sheba that Solomon should succeed him; but it is supposed, with some degree of probability, that it took place after Absalom's rebellion; and as God himself had settled the succession, he might very properly give her this assurance. 1Kgs 1:13, 1Kgs 1:30 ↩

  51. 1Kgs 1:5, 1Kgs 1:24; 2Sam 15:10 ↩

  52. 1Kgs 1:11, 1Kgs 1:24, 1Kgs 1:27; Acts 3:17 ↩

  53. 1Kgs 1:7-10, 1Kgs 1:25 ↩

  54. 2Chr 20:12; Ps 25:15, Ps 123:2; Zech 3:9 ↩

  55. At this time the monarchy of Israel was unsettled; no man knew who was to succeed to the crown; and the minds of the people were as unsettled as the succession. It was neither hereditary nor elective. The king, as was anciently the case in most countries, named his successor; but in this instance, God had already assigned the throne to Solomon. 2Sam 23:2; 1Chr 22:8-10, 1Chr 28:5-6, 1Chr 28:10, 1Chr 29:1 ↩

  56. 1Kgs 2:10; Gen 15:15; Deut 31:16 ↩

  57. That is, when Adonijah is established on the throne, I and my son Solomon shall be put to death as state criminals. The history of the world demonstrates, that the lust of dominion has tempted men to commit the most enormous crimes. A father has destroyed his son, a son deposed a father, and a brother murdered a brother, in order to obtain a crown! ↩

  58. Heb. sinners, 1Kgs 2:15, 1Kgs 2:22-24 ↩

  59. Gen 24:15; Job 1:16-18; Dan 9:20 ↩

  60. 1Kgs 1:16; Rom 13:7; 1Pet 2:17 ↩

  61. 1Kgs 1:14, 1Kgs 1:18 ↩

  62. 1Kgs 1:5, 1Kgs 1:13, 1Kgs 1:17 ↩

  63. 1Kgs 1:9, 1Kgs 1:19; 1Sam 11:14-15; 1Chr 29:21-23 ↩

  64. Heb. Let king Adonijah live, 1Kgs 1:34; 1Sam 10:24; 2Sam 16:16; 2Kgs 11:12; 2Chr 23:11 *marg. Matt 21:9; Mark 11:9-10; Luke 19:38 ↩

  65. 1Kgs 1:8, 1Kgs 1:19; 2Sam 7:2, 2Sam 7:12-17, 2Sam 12:25 ↩

  66. 1Kgs 1:24; 2Kgs 4:27; John 15:15 ↩

  67. She appears to have gone out when Nathan entered; and he retired when she was readmitted. ↩

  68. Heb. before the king, 1Kgs 1:28 ↩

  69. 1Kgs 2:24, 1Kgs 17:1, 1Kgs 18:10; Judg 8:19; 1Sam 14:39, 1Sam 14:45, 1Sam 19:6, 1Sam 20:21; 2Sam 12:5; 2Kgs 4:30, 2Kgs 5:16, 2Kgs 5:20 ↩

  70. Gen 48:16; 2Sam 4:9; Ps 34:19-22, Ps 72:14, Ps 136:24, Ps 138:7 ↩

  71. 1Kgs 1:13, 1Kgs 1:17 ↩

  72. 2Sam 9:6; Esth 3:2; Matt 21:37; Eph 5:33; Heb 12:9 ↩

  73. 1Kgs 1:25; Neh 2:3; Dan 2:4, Dan 3:9, Dan 5:10, Dan 6:6, Dan 6:21 ↩

  74. 1Kgs 1:8, 1Kgs 1:26, 1Kgs 1:38 ↩

  75. 2Sam 20:6 ↩

  76. Maimonides informs us, that it was a capital offence for any one to ride on the king's mule, to sit on his throne, or to handle his sceptre, without permission; and as David ordered Solomon to ride on his own mule, etc., it was ample evidence that he had appointed him his successor. ↩

  77. 1Kgs 1:5, 1Kgs 1:38, 1Kgs 1:44; Gen 41:43; Esth 6:6-11 ↩

  78. Heb. the mule which belongeth to me, Lev 19:19 ↩

  79. 1Kgs 1:38, 1Kgs 1:45; 2Chr 32:30 ↩

  80. 1Kgs 19:16; 1Sam 10:1, 1Sam 16:3, 1Sam 16:12-13; 2Sam 2:4, 2Sam 5:3; 2Kgs 9:3, 2Kgs 9:6, 2Kgs 11:12; 2Chr 23:11; Ps 45:7, Ps 89:20, Ps 89:36; Isa 45:1; Acts 10:38; 2Cor 1:21-22 ↩

  81. 2Sam 15:10; 2Kgs 9:13, 2Kgs 11:14; Ps 98:5-7 ↩

  82. 1Kgs 1:25; 2Kgs 11:12 ↩

  83. 1Kgs 1:13, 1Kgs 1:17, 1Kgs 2:12 ↩

  84. 1Kgs 2:15; 1Chr 23:1, 1Chr 28:4-5; Ps 2:6, Ps 72:1 *title Ps 72:1-2 ↩

  85. Deut 27:15-26; Ps 72:19; Jer 11:5, Jer 28:6; Matt 6:13, Matt 28:20; 1Cor 14:16 ↩

  86. 1Sam 25:29; 1Chr 17:27; Ps 18:2, Ps 63:1, Ps 89:20, Ps 89:26 ↩

  87. 1Kgs 3:7-9; Exod 3:12; Josh 1:5, Josh 1:17; 1Sam 20:13; 1Chr 28:20; 2Chr 1:1; Ps 46:7; Ps 46:11; Isa 8:10; Matt 1:23; Rom 8:31 ↩

  88. 1Kgs 1:47; 2Sam 24:3; 2Kgs 2:9; Ps 72:8, Ps 72:17-19, Ps 89:27; Dan 7:14 ↩

  89. 1Kgs 1:8, 1Kgs 1:26 ↩

  90. 1Sam 30:14; 2Sam 8:18, 2Sam 15:18, 2Sam 20:20-23; 1Chr 18:17; Zeph 2:5 ↩

  91. 1Kgs 1:33 ↩

  92. 1Sam 16:13 ↩

  93. Exod 30:23-33; Ps 89:20 ↩

  94. 1Chr 29:22 ↩

  95. 1Kgs 1:25; 1Sam 10:24; 2Kgs 11:12; 2Chr 23:11, 2Chr 23:13 ↩

  96. or, flutes, Dan 3:5 ↩

  97. 1Sam 11:15; 2Kgs 11:14, 2Kgs 11:20; 1Chr 12:38-40; Ps 97:1; Zech 9:9; Luke 19:37; Rev 11:15-18 ↩

  98. We use a similar expression in precisely the same sense: "They rent the air with their cries." ↩

  99. Job 20:5; Prov 14:13; Eccl 7:4-6; Matt 24:38-39; Luke 17:26-29 ↩

  100. Exod 32:17; Job 15:21-22; Ps 73:18-20 ↩

  101. Matt 21:9-11, Matt 21:15; Acts 21:31 ↩

  102. 2Sam 15:36, 2Sam 17:17 ↩

  103. 1Kgs 22:18; 2Sam 18:27; 2Kgs 9:22; Isa 57:21; 1Thess 5:2-3 ↩

  104. 1Kgs 1:32-40 ↩

  105. 44 ↩

  106. This was a fountain on the west of Jerusalem (consequently in an opposite direction to En–rogel on the east, where Adonijah was proclaimed king), of which there were two pools, an upper and a lower (2Chr 32:30). There is a large square cistern in the ravine west of the city, mentioned by Dr. Richardson as a little to the south of the Jaffa gate, which Dr. Pococke describes as a basin about 250 paces long and 100 broad. It is commonly called the pool of Bath–sheba, but seems to be the lower pool of Gihon. "Nearly a mile to the nnw is the pool of Gihon, which I suppose to be the upper pool. It is a very large basin, and, if I mistake not, is cut down about ten feet into the rock, there being a way down to it by steps. It was almost dry at that time, and seems designed to receive the rain waters which come from the hills about it. There is a canal from the pool to the city, which is uncovered part of the way, and, it is said, goes to the pool in the streets near the holy sepulchre. The fountain of Gihon arose either in the upper pool, or out of the high ground above it." - Travels, book i. chapter 6. ↩

  107. 1Kgs 1:40; 1Sam 4:5; Ezra 3:13 ↩

  108. 1Kgs 14:6; 1Sam 28:14; Dan 5:26-28 ↩

  109. 1Kgs 1:13; 1Chr 29:23; Ps 132:11; Hag 2:22 ↩

  110. Exod 12:32; 2Sam 8:10, 2Sam 21:3; Ezra 6:10; Ps 20:1-4 ↩

  111. 1Kgs 1:37; Luke 19:38 ↩

  112. Gen 47:31; Heb 11:21 ↩

  113. Gen 14:20; 1Chr 29:10, 1Chr 29:20; Neh 9:5; Ps 34:1, Ps 41:13, Ps 72:17-19, Ps 103:1-2; Ps 145:2; Dan 4:34; Luke 1:46-47, Luke 1:68-69; Eph 1:3; 1Pet 1:3 ↩

  114. 1Kgs 3:6; 1Chr 17:11-14, 1Chr 17:17; Ps 132:11-12; Prov 17:6 ↩

  115. 2Sam 24:3; Ps 128:5-6 ↩

  116. Prov 28:1; Isa 21:4-5; Dan 5:4-6 ↩

  117. 1Kgs 2:28; Exod 21:14, Exod 38:2; Ps 118:27 ↩

  118. 1Sam 14:45; 2Sam 14:11; Matt 10:30; Luke 21:18; Acts 27:34 ↩

  119. 1Kgs 2:21-25; Job 15:22; Prov 13:6, Prov 21:12 ↩

  120. 1Kgs 1:16, 1Kgs 1:31; 2Sam 1:2 ↩

  121. 1Kgs 2:36; 2Sam 14:24, 2Sam 14:28; Prov 24:21 ↩