And she said, let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife. ] For so Adonijah was by his father's side; and Bathsheba makes use of the relation, the more to move upon him to grant the request.
19
Bathsheba went to King Solomon to talk to him on Adonijah's behalf. The king got up to meet her and bowed down in front of her. Then he sat on his throne. He had a throne brought for his mother, and she sat at his right side.
20
"I'm asking you for one little thing," she said. "Don't refuse me." "Ask, Mother," the king told her. "I won't refuse you."
21
She replied, "Let Abishag from Shunem be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife."
22
King Solomon then said, "Why do you ask that Abishag from Shunem be given to Adonijah? That would be the same as giving him the kingship. After all, he is my older brother. The priest Abiathar and Joab (Zeruiah's son) are supporting him."
23
King Solomon took an oath by the LORD and said, "May God strike me dead if Adonijah doesn't pay with his life for this request!