8. “And remember, Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite, is here with you. He cursed me the day I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I promised him before the Lord, ‘Shimei, I will not kill you.’
9. But you should not leave him unpunished. You are a wise man, and you will know what to do to him, but you must be sure he is killed.”
10. Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem.
11. He had ruled over Israel forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
12. Solomon became king after David, his father, and he was in firm control of his kingdom.
13. At this time Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. “Do you come in peace?” Bathsheba asked.“Yes. This is a peaceful visit,” Adonijah answered.
14. “I have something to say to you.”“You may speak,” she said.
15. “You remember that at one time the kingdom was mine,” Adonijah said. “All the people of Israel recognized me as their king, but things have changed. Now my brother is the king, because the Lord chose him.
16. Now I have one thing to ask you; please do not refuse me.”Bathsheba answered, “What do you want?”
17. “I know King Solomon will do anything you ask him,” Adonijah continued. “Please ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite to be my wife.”
18. “Very well,” she answered. “I will speak to the king for you.”
19. So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. When Solomon saw her, he stood up to meet her, then bowed down, and sat on the throne. He told some servants to bring another throne for his mother. Then she sat down at his right side.
20. Bathsheba said, “I have one small thing to ask you. Please do not refuse me.”“Ask, mother,” the king answered. “I will not refuse you.”
21. So she said, “Allow Abishag the Shunammite to marry your brother Adonijah.”
22. King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you ask me to give him Abishag? Why don’t you also ask for him to become the king since he is my older brother? Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah would support him!”
23. Then King Solomon swore by the name of the Lord, saying, “May God punish me terribly if this doesn’t cost Adonijah his life!
24. By the Lord who has given me the throne that belonged to my father David and who has kept his promise and given the kingdom to me and my people, Adonijah will die today!”
25. Then King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went and killed Adonijah.