1. King David was very old and could not keep warm. His servants covered him with blankets, but he was still cold.
2. So they said to him, “We will find a young woman to care for you. She will lie next to you and keep you warm.”
3. So the king’s servants began looking everywhere in the country of Israel for a beautiful young woman to keep the king warm. They found a young woman named Abishag, from the town of Shunem, and brought her to the king.
4. She was very beautiful. She cared for the king and served him, but King David did not have sexual relations with her.
5-6. Adonijah was the son of King David and his wife Haggith. He was born after Absalom. Adonijah was a very handsome man. King David never corrected his son Adonijah, and he never made him explain his actions. Adonijah became very proud and decided that he would be the next king. He wanted very much to be the king, so he got himself a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run ahead of him.
7. Adonijah talked with Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest. They decided to help make him the new king,
8. but several important men did not join Adonijah. They were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and King David’s special guard.
9. One day, at Zoheleth Rock near En Rogel, Adonijah sacrificed some sheep, cattle, and fat calves as a fellowship offering. He invited his brothers (the other sons of King David) and all the officers from Judah.
10. But he did not invite his brother Solomon, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, or the men in the king’s special guard.
11. When Nathan heard about this, he went to Solomon’s mother Bathsheba and asked her, “Have you heard what Haggith’s son, Adonijah, is doing? He is making himself king. And our master, King David, knows nothing about it.
12. You and your son Solomon are in danger, but I will tell you what to do to save yourself.
13. Go to King David and tell him, ‘My lord and king, you promised me that my son Solomon would be the next king after you. So why is Adonijah becoming the new king?’
14. Then while you are still talking with him, I will come in. After you leave I will tell the king what has happened. This will show that what you said is true.”
15. So Bathsheba went in to see the king in his bedroom. The king was very old. Abishag, the girl from Shunem, was caring for him there.
16. Bathsheba bowed down before the king. The king asked, “What can I do for you?”
17. Bathsheba answered, “Sir, you used the name of the Lord your God and made a promise to me. You said, ‘Your son Solomon will be the next king after me. He will sit on my throne.’