1 Kings 1 · WEB
David's Successor: Solomon Anointed King
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Now king David was old and advanced in years. They covered him with clothes, but he couldn't keep warm.
2Therefore his servants said to him, "Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king. Let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm."
3So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
4The young woman was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and served him; but the king didn't know her intimately.
5Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." He prepared 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?" 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, Benaiah, the mighty men, or Solomon his brother.
11Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Haven't you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, 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 the life of your son Solomon.
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 the room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
16Bathsheba bowed and paid homage to the king. The king said, "What do you want?"
17She said to him, "My lord, you swore by Yahweh 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.
19He has killed cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army; but he hasn't called Solomon your servant.
20And you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
21Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered offenders."
22Behold, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
23They told the king, saying, "Behold, Nathan the prophet." When he came in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
24Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?'
25For he has gone down today and has killed cattle, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king's sons, the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, 'Long live king Adonijah!'
26But he hasn't called me, even me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor Solomon your servant.
27Was this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven't shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"
28Then king David answered, "Call Bathsheba in to me." She came into the king's presence and stood before the king.
29The king swore and said, "As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
30most certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, 'Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,' I will most certainly do this today."
31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth and paid homage to the king, and said, "Let my lord king David live forever."
32King David said, "Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in to me." They came before the king.
33The king said to them, "Take the servants of your lord with you and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
34Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and say, 'Long live king Solomon!'
35Then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah."
36Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, "Amen! May Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so too.
37As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David."
38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and caused Solomon to ride on king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.
39Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, "Long live king Solomon!"
40All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with the sound of them.
41Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "Why is this noise of the city in an uproar?"
42While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said to him, "Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news."
43Jonathan answered Adonijah, "Most certainly our lord king David has made Solomon king.
44The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king's mule.
45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They came up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.
46Also, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.
47Moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, 'May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne;' and the king bowed himself on the bed.
48Also the king said, 'Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, my eyes even seeing it.'"
49All the guests of Adonijah were afraid and rose up, and each man went his way.
50Adonijah was afraid because of Solomon; and he arose and went and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
51Solomon was told, "Behold, Adonijah is afraid of king Solomon; for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.'"
52Solomon said, "If he shows himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die."
53So king Solomon sent and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."
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Summary
As King David lies dying, his son Adonijah attempts to seize the throne without his father's knowledge or blessing. The prophet Nathan and Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, alert David, who immediately acts to ensure his sworn promise is fulfilled. Solomon is anointed king at Gihon Spring with great celebration, and Adonijah's rebellion collapses. Solomon extends mercy to his half-brother, sparing his life on the condition that he prove himself worthy.
Themes
- God's sovereign fulfillment of his covenant promises
- The danger of self-promotion versus God-ordained succession
- Mercy and justice in the exercise of kingly power
- The role of faithful advisors (Nathan, Bathsheba) in guiding leaders
Key verses
- 1 Kgs 1:30 — “Most certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, 'Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,' I will most certainly do this today.”
- 1 Kgs 1:39 — “Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, 'Long live king Solomon!'”
- 1 Kgs 1:52 — “Solomon said, 'If he shows himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.'”
Context & background
This chapter opens at the very end of David's forty-year reign, around 970 BC, in Jerusalem (modern Jerusalem, Israel). Gihon Spring, where Solomon was anointed, lies in the Kidron Valley just below the City of David — still identifiable today. Adonijah's attempted coup at En Rogel (a nearby spring) reflects the ancient pattern of princes claiming kingship at sacred sites with religious ceremony. The "horns of the altar" were projections at each corner of the altar; grasping them was a recognized act of seeking sanctuary, reflecting the seriousness with which ancient Israel regarded the sacred space of the Tabernacle/Temple precinct.
Cross-references
- 2 Sam 12:24-25 — Nathan the prophet's role in naming Solomon "Jedidiah" (loved by God) at his birth
- 2 Sam 7:12-13 — God's promise to David that his son would build the Temple and establish his throne forever
- Acts 2:30 — Peter applies David's covenant to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment
- Luke 1:32-33 — The angel announces that Jesus will sit on "the throne of his father David," echoing the Solomonic coronation
- Ps 72 — A psalm of Solomon, reflecting the prayer for the ideal Davidic king