1 Kings 1:1-10

Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King 1When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him.

2So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.” 3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her. 5Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses Or charioteers ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him.

6(His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.) 7Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support.

8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah. 9Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,

10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.