1 Kings 1:5-18

⁵At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

⁶(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)

⁷So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.

⁸But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.

⁹And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.

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

¹¹Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?

¹²Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

¹³Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’

¹⁴Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

¹⁵So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.

¹⁶And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

¹⁷“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’

¹⁸But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it.

Related Resources from Heartlight

Cross References for 1 Kings 1:5-18

The Berean Standard Bible