Study Desk

Then spake Nathan unto Bath-sheba mother of Solomon, saying - Hast thou not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith hath become king, and, our lord David, knoweth it not?

Now, therefore, come; let me give thee counsel, I pray thee, - so shalt thou rescue thine own life, and the life of thy son, Solomon.

Go, and get thee in unto King David, and thou shalt say unto him - Didst not, thou thyself, my lord O king, swear unto thy handmaid, saying - Solomon thy son, shall become king after me, yea, he, shall sit upon my throne? Why, then, hath, Adonijah, become king?

Lo! while thou art yet speaking there with the king, I also, will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

So Bath-sheba went in unto the king, into the chamber, now, the king, was very old, - and Abishag the Shunammite, was ministering unto the king.

And Bath-sheba bowed, and did homage unto the king, - and the king said - What aileth thee?

And she said unto him - My lord, thou thyself, didst swear by Yahweh thy God, unto thy handmaid, Assuredly, Solomon thy son, shall become king after me, - yea, he, shall sit upon my throne.

But, now, lo! Adonijah, hath become king; now, therefore, my lord, O king, thou knowest it not:

and he hath sacrificed oxen and heifers and sheep, in abundance, and hath invited all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab general of the army, - but, Solomon thy servant, hath he not invited.

Thou, therefore, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel, are upon thee, - to tell them, who shall sit upon the throne of my lord the king, after him.

Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, then shall I and my son Solomon be counted, offenders.

And lo! while yet she was speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet, came in.

So they told the king, saying, Lo! Nathan the prophet! And, when he had come in before the king, he bowed himself down to the king with his face to the ground.

Then said Nathan - My lord, O king, hast, thou, said, Adonijah, shall become king after me, - yea, he, shall sit upon my throne?

For he hath gone down to-day, and hath sacrificed oxen and heifers and sheep, in abundance, and hath invited all the sons of the king, and the generals of the army, and Abiathar the priest, and, there they are - eating and drinking before him, - and they have said - Long live King Adonijah!

But, me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Solomon thy servant, hath he not invited.

If, of my lord the king, this thing had been brought to pass, then wouldest thou not have made known unto thy servant, who should sit upon the throne of my lord the king, after him?