1. At this time King David was very old. His servants covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm.
2. So they said to him, “We will find a young woman to care for you. She will lie close to you and keep you warm.”
3. So the king’s servants looked everywhere in Israel for a beautiful young woman. They found a girl named Abishag from the Shunammite people. They brought her to the king.
4. The girl was very beautiful. She cared for the king and served him. But King David did not have physical relations with her.
5-6. Adonijah was King David and Haggith’s son. He was born next after Absalom. He was a very handsome man. He said, “I will be the king.” So he got chariots and horses for himself. And he got 50 men to run ahead of him. Now David had never interfered with him by questioning what he did.
7. Adonijah talked with Joab son of Zeruiah. He also talked with Abiathar the priest. They told him they would help him.
8. But several men did not join Adonijah. These men were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei and King David’s special guard.
9. Then Adonijah killed some sheep, cows and fat calves for sacrifices. He made these sacrifices at the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring, En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the other sons of King David, to come. He invited all the rulers and leaders of Judah also.
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. She was the mother of Solomon. Nathan asked her, “Have you heard what Adonijah, Haggith’s son, is doing? He has made himself king. And our real king, David, does not know it.
12. Your life and the life of your son Solomon may be in danger. But I will tell you how to save yourselves.
13. Go to King David and say to him, ‘My master and king, you made a promise to me. You promised that my son Solomon would be the king after you. You said he would rule on your throne. So why has Adonijah become king?’
14. While you are still talking to him, I will come in. I will tell the king that what you have said about Adonijah is true.”
15. So Bathsheba went in to see the king in his bedroom. He was now very old. Abishag, the girl from Shunam, was caring for him there.
16. Bathsheba bowed down before the king.He asked, “What do you want?”