Parallel Bible results for "1 kings 1"

1 Kings 1

The Message Bible MSG

1 King David grew old. The years had caught up with him. Even though they piled blankets on him, he couldn't keep warm.

2 So his servants said to him, "We're going to get a young virgin for our master the king to be at his side and look after him; she'll get in bed with you and arouse our master the king."

3 So they searched the country of Israel for the most ravishing girl they could find; they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

4 The girl was stunningly beautiful; she stayed at his side and looked after the king, but the king did not have sex with her.

5 At this time Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, puffed himself up saying, "I'm the next king!" He made quite a splash, with chariots and riders and fifty men to run ahead of him.

6 His father had spoiled him rotten as a child, never once reprimanding him. Besides that, he was very good-looking and the next in line after Absalom.

7 Adonijah talked with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they threw their weight on his side.

8 But neither the priest Zadok, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor Nathan the prophet, nor Shimei and Rei, nor David's personal bodyguards supported Adonijah.

9 Next Adonijah held a coronation feast, sacrificing sheep, cattle, and grain-fed heifers at the Stone of Zoheleth near the Rogel Spring. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and everyone in Judah who had position and influence -

10 but he did not invite the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, the bodyguards, or his brother Solomon.

11 Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Did you know that Adonijah, Haggith's son, has taken over as king, and our master David doesn't know a thing about it?

12 Quickly now, let me tell you how you can save both your own life and Solomon's.

13 Go immediately to King David. Speak up: 'Didn't you, my master the king, promise me, "Your son Solomon will be king after me and sit on my throne"? So why is Adonijah now king?'

14 While you're there talking with the king, I'll come in and corroborate your story."

15 Bathsheba went at once to the king in his palace bedroom. He was so old! Abishag was at his side making him comfortable.

16 As Bathsheba bowed low, honoring the king, he said, "What do you want?"

17 "My master," she said, "you promised me in God's name, 'Your son Solomon will be king after me and sit on my throne.'

18 And now look what's happened - Adonijah has taken over as king, and my master the king doesn't even know it!

19 He has thrown a huge coronation feast - cattle and grain-fed heifers and sheep - inviting all the king's sons, the priest Abiathar, and Joab head of the army. But your servant Solomon was not invited.

20 My master the king, every eye in Israel is watching you to see what you'll do - to see who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him.

21 If you fail to act, the moment you're buried my son Solomon and I are as good as dead."

22 Abruptly, while she was telling the king all this, Nathan the prophet came in

23 and was announced: "Nathan the prophet is here." He came before the king, honoring him by bowing deeply, his face touching the ground.

24 "My master the king," Nathan began, "did you say, 'Adonijah shall be king after me and sit on my throne'?

25 Because that's what's happening. He's thrown a huge coronation feast - cattle, grain-fed heifers, sheep - inviting all the king's sons, the army officers, and Abiathar the priest. They're having a grand time, eating and drinking and shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!'

26 But I wasn't invited, nor was the priest Zadok, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.

27 Is this something that my master the king has done behind our backs, not telling your servants who you intended to be king after you?"

28 King David took action: "Get Bathsheba back in here." She entered and stood before the king.

29 The king solemnly promised, "As God lives, the God who delivered me from every kind of trouble,

30 I'll do exactly what I promised in God's name, the God of Israel: Your son Solomon will be king after me and take my place on the throne. And I'll make sure it happens this very day."

31 Bathsheba bowed low, her face to the ground. Kneeling in reverence before the king she said, "Oh, may my master, King David, live forever!"

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

33 Then he ordered, "Gather my servants, then mount my son Solomon on my royal mule and lead him in procession down to Gihon.

34 When you get there, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the ram's horn trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!'

35 You will then accompany him as he enters and takes his place on my throne, succeeding me as king. I have named him ruler over Israel and Judah."

36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada backed the king: "Yes! And may God, the God of my master the king, confirm it!

37 Just as God has been with my master the king, may he also be with Solomon and make his rule even greater than that of my master King David!"

38 Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king's personal bodyguard (the Kerethites and Pelethites) went down, mounted Solomon on King David's mule, and paraded with him to Gihon.

39 Zadok the priest brought a flask of oil from the sanctuary and anointed Solomon. They blew the ram's horn trumpet and everyone shouted, "Long live King Solomon!"

40 Everyone joined the fanfare, the band playing and the people singing, the very earth reverberating to the sound.

41 Adonijah and his retinue of guests were just finishing their "coronation" feast when they heard it. When Joab heard the blast of the ram's horn trumpet he said, "What's going on here? What's all this uproar?"

42 Suddenly, in the midst of the questioning, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest, showed up. Adonijah said, "Welcome! A brave and good man like you must have good news."

43 But Jonathan answered, "Hardly! Our master King David has just made Solomon king!

44 And the king has surrounded him with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, with the Kerethites and Pelethites; and they've mounted Solomon on the royal mule.

45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon and the parade is headed up this way singing - a great fanfare! The city is rocking! That's what you're hearing.

46 Here's the crowning touch - Solomon is seated on the throne of the kingdom!

47 And that's not all: The king's servants have come to give their blessing to our master King David saying, 'God make Solomon's name even more honored than yours, and make his rule greater than yours!' On his death bed the king worshiped God

48 and prayed, 'Blessed be God, Israel's God, who has provided a successor to my throne, and I've lived to see it!'"

49 Panicked, Adonijah's guests got out of there, scattering every which way.

50 But Adonijah himself, afraid for his life because of Solomon, fled to the sanctuary and grabbed the horns of the Altar.

51 Solomon was told, "Adonijah, fearful of King Solomon, has taken sanctuary and seized the horns of the Altar and is saying, 'I'm not leaving until King Solomon promises that he won't kill me.'"

52 Solomon then said, "If he proves to be a man of honor, not a hair of his head will be hurt; but if there is evil in him, he'll die."

53 Solomon summoned him and they brought him from the Altar. Adonijah came and bowed down, honoring the king. Solomon dismissed him, "Go home."

New Century Version NCV

1 At this time King David was very old, and although his servants covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.

2 They said to him, "We will look for a young woman to care for you. She will lie close to you and keep you warm."

3 After searching everywhere in Israel for a beautiful young woman, they found a girl named Abishag from Shunam and brought her to the king.

4 The girl was very beautiful, and she cared for the king and served him. But the king did not have sexual relations with her.

5 Adonijah was the son of King David and Haggith, and he was very proud. "I will be the king," he said. So he got chariots and horses for himself and fifty men for his personal bodyguard.

6 Now David had never interfered with Adonijah by questioning what he did. Born next after Absalom, Adonijah was a very handsome man.

7 Adonijah spoke with Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest, and they agreed to help him.

8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and King David's special guard did not join Adonijah.

9 Then Adonijah killed some sheep, cows, and fat calves for sacrifices at the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the other sons of King David, to come, as well as all the men of Judah.

10 But Adonijah did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, his father's special guard, or his brother Solomon.

11 When Nathan heard about this, he went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. "Have you heard that Adonijah, Haggith's son, has made himself king?" Nathan asked. "Our real king, David, does not know it.

12 I strongly advise you to save yourself and your sons.

13 Go to King David and tell him, 'My master and king, you promised that my son Solomon would be king and would rule on your throne after you. Why then has Adonijah become king?'

14 While you are still talking to the king, I will come in and tell him that what you have said about Adonijah is true."

15 So Bathsheba went in to see the aged king in his bedroom, where Abishag, the girl from Shunam, was caring for him.

16 Bathsheba bowed and knelt before the king. He asked, "What do you want?"

17 She answered, "My master, you made a promise to me in the name of the Lord your God. You said, 'Your son Solomon will become king after me, and he will rule on my throne.'

18 But now, unknown to you, Adonijah has become king.

19 He has killed many cows, fat calves, and sheep for sacrifices. And he has invited all your sons, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he did not invite Solomon, who serves you.

20 My master and king, all the Israelites are watching you, waiting for you to decide who will be king after you.

21 As soon as you die, Solomon and I will be treated as criminals."

22 While Bathsheba was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.

23 The servants told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." So Nathan went to the king and bowed facedown on the ground before him.

24 Nathan said, "My master and king, have you said that Adonijah will be the king after you and that he will rule on your throne?

25 Today he has sacrificed many cows, fat calves, and sheep, and he has invited all your other sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him. They are saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!'

26 But he did not invite me, your own servant, or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your son Solomon.

27 Did you do this? Since we are your servants, why didn't you tell us who should be king after you?"

28 Then the king said, "Tell Bathsheba to come in!" So she came in and stood before the king.

29 Then the king made this promise, "The Lord has saved me from all trouble. As surely as he lives,

30 I will do today what I have promised you in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. I promised that your son Solomon would be king after me and rule on my throne in my place."

31 Then Bathsheba bowed facedown on the ground and knelt before the king and said, "Long live my master King David!"

32 Then King David said, "Tell Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to come in." When they came before the king,

33 he said to them, "Take my servants with you and put my son Solomon on my own mule. Take him down to the spring called Gihon.

34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet should pour olive oil on him and make him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!'

35 Then come back up here with him. He will sit on my throne and rule in my place, because he is the one I have chosen to be the ruler over Israel and Judah."

36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! This is what the Lord, the God of my master, has declared!

37 The Lord has always helped you, our king. May he also help Solomon and make King Solomon's throne an even greater throne than yours."

38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada left with the Kerethites and Pelethites. They put Solomon on King David's mule and took him to the spring called Gihon.

39 Zadok the priest took the container of olive oil from the Holy Tent and poured the oil on Solomon's head to show he was the king. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!"

40 All the people followed Solomon into the city. Playing flutes and shouting for joy, they made so much noise the ground shook.

41 At this time Adonijah and all the guests with him were finishing their meal. When he heard the sound from the trumpet, Joab asked, "What does all that noise from the city mean?"

42 While Joab was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in! You are an important man, so you must be bringing good news."

43 But Jonathan answered, "No! Our master King David has made Solomon the new king.

44 King David sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and all the king's bodyguards with him, and they have put Solomon on the king's own mule.

45 Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet poured olive oil on Solomon at Gihon to make him king. After that they went into the city, shouting with joy. Now the whole city is excited, and that is the noise you hear.

46 Solomon has now become the king.

47 All the king's officers have come to tell King David that he has done a good thing. They are saying, 'May your God make Solomon even more famous than you and an even greater king than you.'" Jonathan continued, "And King David bowed down on his bed to worship God,

48 saying, 'Bless the Lord, the God of Israel. Today he has made one of my sons the king and allowed me to see it.'"

49 Then all of Adonijah's guests were afraid, and they left quickly and scattered.

50 Adonijah was also afraid of Solomon, so he went and took hold of the corners of the altar.

51 Then someone told Solomon, "Adonijah is afraid of you, so he is at the altar, holding on to its corners. He says, 'Tell King Solomon to promise me today that he will not kill me.'"

52 So Solomon answered, "Adonijah must show that he is a man of honor. If he does that, I promise he will not lose even a single hair from his head. But if he does anything wrong, he will die."

53 Then King Solomon sent some men to get Adonijah. When he was brought from the altar, he came before King Solomon and bowed down. Solomon told him, "Go home."