13. Go, visit King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord king, swear to your handmaid: Your son Solomon shall be king after me; it is he who shall sit upon my throne? Why, then, has Adonijah become king?’
14. And while you are still there speaking to the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
15. So Bathsheba visited the king in his room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunamite was caring for the king.
16. Bathsheba bowed in homage to the king. The king said to her, “What do you wish?”
17. She answered him: “My lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord, your God, ‘Solomon your son will be king after me; it is he who shall sit upon my throne.’
18. But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord king, do not know it.
19. He has sacrificed bulls, fatlings, and sheep in great numbers; he has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the commander of the army, but not your servant Solomon.
20. Now, my lord king, all Israel is looking to you to declare to them who is to sit upon the throne of my lord the king after him.
21. If this is not done, when my lord the king rests with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be considered criminals.”
22. While she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
23. They told the king, “Nathan the prophet is here.” He entered the king’s presence and did him homage, bowing to the floor.
24. Then Nathan said: “My lord king, did you say, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me and shall sit upon my throne’?
25. For today he went down and sacrificed bulls, fatlings, and sheep in great numbers; he invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest, and even now they are eating and drinking in his company and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
26. But me, your servant, he did not invite; nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
27. If this was done by order of my lord the king, you did not tell me, your servant, who is to sit upon the throne of my lord the king after him.”
28. King David answered, “Call Bathsheba here.” When she entered the king’s presence and stood before him,
29. the king swore, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,