5. Adonijah, Haggith’s son, bragged about himself and said, "I’ll rule as king myself." He got his own chariot and horses with fifty runners to go in front.
6. Now Adonijah’s father had never given him direction; he never questioned why Adonijah did what he did. He was very handsome and was born after Absalom.
7. He took advice from Joab, Zeruiah’s son, and from the priest Abiathar. They assisted Adonijah.
8. But Zadok the priest, Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, the prophet Nathan, Shimei and his friends, and David’s veterans didn’t join Adonijah.
9. So Adonijah prepared lamb, oxen, and fattened cattle at the Stone of Zoheleth, next to En-rogel. He invited his brothers (the royal princes) and all the citizens of Judah who were the royal servants to come.
10. But he didn’t invite the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, David’s veterans, or his brother Solomon.
11. Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, "Did you hear that Adonijah, Haggith’s son, has become king, but our master David doesn’t know about it?
12. Let me give you some advice on how you and your son Solomon can survive this.
13. Go to King David and say, ‘Didn’t my master the king swear to your servant, "Your son Solomon will certainly rule after me. He will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?’
14. While you are speaking there with the king, I’ll come along and support your words."
15. So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom. The king was very old, and Abishag from Shunem was serving the king.
16. Bathsheba bowed down on her face before the king.The king asked, "What do you want?"
17. She said to him, "Your Majesty, you swore by the Lord your God to your servant, ‘Your son Solomon will certainly rule after me. He will sit on my throne.’
18. But now, look, Adonijah has become king, and my master the king doesn’t know about it.
19. He has prepared large quantities of oxen, fattened cattle, and lamb. He has invited all the royal princes as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the general. However, he didn’t invite your servant Solomon.