Study Desk

For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!'

Then King David said, "Call in Bathsheba for me." So she came into the king's presence and stood before him.

Then King David said, "Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." So they came before the king.

Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah."

As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. "Come in," said Adonijah, "for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news."

As the time drew near for David to die, he charged his son Solomon,

Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood."

"You know that the kingship was mine," he said. "All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.

"Very well," Bathsheba replied. "I will speak to the king for you."

So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.

"I have just one small request of you," she said. "Do not deny me." "Make your request, my mother," the king replied, "for I will not deny you."

King Solomon answered his mother, "Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah."

And now, as surely as the LORD lives-the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised-surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!"

The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he killed with the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army.

Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever."

Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, "Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else.

On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head."

"The sentence is fair," Shimei replied. "Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken." And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.

the king summoned Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the LORD and warn you, 'On the day you leave and go elsewhere, know for sure that you will die'? And you told me, 'The sentence is fair; I will comply.'

The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places because a house for the Name of the LORD had not yet been built.