2 Samuel 3:4

¹³Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably.

¹⁴He said moreover, I have something to tell you.” She said, “Say on.”

¹⁵He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom is turned around, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from the LORD. ¹⁶Now I ask one petition of you. Don’t deny me.” She said to him, “Say on.”

¹⁷He said, “Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you ‘no’), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.”

¹⁸Bathsheba said, “All right. I will speak for you to the king.”

¹⁹Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne and caused a throne to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand. ²⁰Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother, for I will not deny you.”

²¹She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”

²²King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.” ²³Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life. ²⁴Now therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me and set me on my father David’s throne, and who has made me a house as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death today.”

²⁵King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died.

⁵Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. ⁶His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, “Why have you done so?” and he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom. ⁷He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him. ⁸But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

⁹Adonijah killed sheep, cattle, and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants; ¹⁰but he didn’t call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.

¹¹Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn’t know it? ¹²Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life and your son Solomon’s life. ¹³Go in to King David, and tell him, ‘Didn’t you, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then does Adonijah reign?’ ¹⁴Behold, ^[+] while you are still talking there with the king, I will also come in after you and confirm your words.”

¹⁵Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king. ¹⁶Bathsheba bowed and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”

¹⁷She said to him, “My lord, you swore by the LORD ^[+] your God ^[+] to your servant, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ ¹⁸Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don’t know it.