31. Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Your Majesty, I pray that you will live a long time!”
32. Then David said, “Tell Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah to come here.”When they arrived,
33. he told them:Take along some of my officials and let Solomon ride my own mule to Gihon Spring.
34. When you get there, Zadok and Nathan will make Solomon the new king of Israel. Then after the ceremony is over, make someone blow a trumpet and tell everyone to shout, “Long live King Solomon!”
35. Bring him back here, and he will take my place as king. He is the one I have chosen to rule Israel and Judah.
36. Benaiah answered, “We will do it, Your Majesty. I pray that the Lord your God will let it happen.
37. The Lord has always watched over you, and I pray that he will now watch over Solomon. May the Lord help Solomon to be an even greater king than you.”
38. Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah left and took along the two groups of David's special bodyguards. Solomon rode on David's mule as they led him to Gihon Spring.
39. Zadok the priest brought some olive oil from the sacred tent and poured it on Solomon's head to show that he was now king. A trumpet was blown and everyone shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”
40. Then they played flutes and celebrated as they followed Solomon back to Jerusalem. They made so much noise that the ground shook.