1 Kings 1

1 Now King [royal person, monarch] David [youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] was old [advanced in years, aged] and well along in years [stricken in years, entering into days], and though they covered [put clothes on, wrapped] him with blankets [clothes, garments], he could not [was unable to, got no] keep warm [become hot, feel heat]. word study 2 So his servants [attendants, officials] said to him, “Let us search [seek, look] for a young [unmarried, pure] virgin [maiden, bride] for our lord [master, ruler] the king, to attend [serve, care for] to him and care [nurture, provide] for him and lie [rest, sleep] by his side to keep him warm [comfort, soothe].” word study 3 Then they searched throughout [throughout all the borders] Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] for a [fair, lovely] beautiful girl [maiden, young unmarried woman], and they found Abishag [my father is a wanderer] the Shunammite [a woman from the city of Shunem] and brought her to the king [a royal person, like King David]. word study 4 The girl [very fair, exceedingly beautiful] was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for [served, attended to] the king and served [ministered to, waited on] him, but he had no relations [intimate knowledge, sexual contact] with her. word study 5 At that time Adonijah [son of Haggith, David’s son by his wife], David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt [lift up, promote] himself, saying, “I [as a future ruler] will be king [reign, have dominion]!” And he acquired [prepared, made ready] chariots [vehicles for war, royal carriages] and horsemen [cavalry, men on horseback] and fifty [a group of fifty, a unit] men to run [swiftly move, rush] ahead of him. word study 6 (His father [never once displeased him, had not grieved him] had never once reprimanded him by saying [“Why hast thou done so?”], “Why do you act this way [in this manner, thus]?” Adonijah was also [a very goodly man, exceedingly] very handsome [younger than], born next after Absalom.) word study 7 So Adonijah [the son of David, having royal lineage] conferred [discussed his plan, took counsel] with Joab [Jehovah is father, a military leader] son of Zeruiah [balsam tree] and with Abiathar [father of abundance, a faithful priest] the priest [one who serves God, leads worship], who [in allegiance, with loyalty] supported [helped, aided, gave assistance to] him [in his endeavor, with his plan]. word study 8 But Zadok [the high priest, a righteous leader] the priest, Benaiah [a strong warrior] son of Jehoiada, Nathan [a prophet, God’s spokesperson] the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s [the king of Israel, a man after God’s heart] mighty men [strong warriors, champions of faith] would not join [refuse to support, reject] Adonijah. word study 9 And Adonijah [slew] sacrificed sheep [flocks, herds], oxen [cattle, domesticated animals], and fattened calves [fatlings, well-fed animals] near the stone [rock, boundary marker] of Zoheleth [Serpent’s stone], which is [located, situated] next to [beside, near] En-rogel [spring of the fuller]. He invited [called, summoned] all his royal brothers [male siblings, kin] and all the men [individuals, people] of Judah [the tribe, region] who were [serving as, acting as] servants [attendants, slaves] of the king [monarch, ruler]. word study 10 But he did not invite Nathan [spokesperson for God] the prophet, Benaiah [a strong warrior, leader], the mighty men [strong or valiant warriors], or his brother [male sibling, close relative] Solomon [successor of David]. word study 11 Then Nathan [the prophet, giver] said to Bathsheba [daughter of an oath, mother of Solomon] the mother [female parent, maternal figure] of Solomon, “Have you not heard [been informed, been aware] that Adonijah [festive] son of Haggith [festive, joyful] has become king [reigned, ruled], and our lord [master, ruler] David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] does not know [is unaware, has not been informed] it [this fact, this situation]? word study 12 Now [at this time] please, come [let us walk, go] and let me advise [give counsel, offer guidance] you. Save [rescue, deliver] your own life [soul, living being] and the life [soul, living being] of your son [child, descendant] Solomon [the king]. word study 13 Go at once [immediately, without delay] to King David [the king of Israel] and say, ‘My lord [master, ruler] the king, did you not [assuredly not] swear [make a solemn oath, promise] to your maidservant [female servant, handmaid], “Surely [certainly, truly] your son Solomon [a wise and peaceful ruler] will reign [rule, have dominion] after me, and he will sit [dwell, reside] on my throne [seat of power, authority]”? Why then [for what reason] has Adonijah [a usurper, illegitimate ruler] become king [taken the throne, exercised authority]?’ word study 14 Then, while you are still [yet, continuing] there speaking [communicating, conversing] with the king [the ruler, monarch], I will come in [approach, enter] after you [following, behind] and confirm [validate, establish] your words [statements, message].” word study 15 So Bathsheba [the daughter of an oath, wife of King David] went to see the king [the royal person, monarch] in his bedroom [private chamber, innermost room]. Since the king [the monarch, ruler] was very [exceedingly, greatly] old [aged, advanced in years], Abishag [my father is a wanderer, a young woman] the Shunammite [a woman from Shunem, a city in Issachar] was serving [ministering, attending to] him [the king, the object of her care]. word study 16 And Bathsheba [the daughter of an oath, wife of King David] bowed down [in reverence, to show respect] in homage [doing obeisance, worshiping] to the king [the ruler, monarch], who asked [said, spoke], “What [a question of inquiry] is your desire [what you wish, your heart’s request]?” word study 17 “My lord [master, ruler],” she replied, “you yourself swore [made a solemn promise, took an oath] to your maidservant [female servant, handmaid] by the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] your God [Elohim, the supreme deity]: ‘Surely [certainly, assuredly] your son [offspring, descendant] Solomon [peaceable one] will reign [rule, have dominion] after me, and he will sit [dwell, abide] on my throne [seat of authority, royal seat].’ word study 18 But now [at this present time], behold [look, see], Adonijah [son of David, a claimant to the throne] has become king [to reign, rule as a monarch], and you, my lord [master, ruler] the king [sovereign, monarch], did not know [were not aware, had no knowledge] it [this fact, this situation]. word study 19 And he has sacrificed [slain, offered as a sacrifice] an abundance [great quantity, multitude] of oxen [cattle, bulls], fattened calves [fatlings, well-fed animals], and sheep [flocks, herds], and has invited [called, summoned] all [every, the whole] the other sons [descendants, princes] of the king [ruler, monarch], as well as Abiathar [the high priest, spiritual leader] the priest [one who serves God, mediator] and Joab [commander, leader] the commander [captain, ruler] of the army [host, military force]. But he did not invite [call, summon] your servant [slave, attendant] Solomon [peaceful one, wise leader]. word study 20 And as for you, my lord [master, ruler] the king, the eyes [sources of insight, understanding] of all Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] are upon [focused on, watching] you to tell [declare, reveal] them who [which one, what person] will sit [dwell, reign] on the throne [seat of power, authority] of my lord [master, ruler] the king after [following, succeeding] him. word study 21 Otherwise, when my lord [master, ruler] the king [monarch, sovereign] rests [lies down, sleeps] with his fathers [ancestors, predecessors], I [as a servant, subject] and my son [offspring, descendant] Solomon [peaceable one] will be counted [regarded, considered] as criminals [offenders, sinners, wrongdoers].” word study 22 And just then [at that very moment, behold], while Bathsheba was still [yet, continuing to] speaking [communicating, conversing] with the king [the ruler, monarch], Nathan [the giver, prophet] the prophet [one who speaks for God] arrived [came in, entered]. word study 23 So the king [ruler, monarch] was told, “Nathan [the giver, prophet] the prophet [one who speaks for God] is here.” And Nathan went in [came before, approached] and bowed [made obeisance, worshipped] facedown [with his face to the ground, in reverence] before the king [the monarch, ruler]. word study 24 “My lord [O king, sovereign ruler] the king,” said Nathan, “did you [have you, as the ruler] say, ‘Adonijah [son of David, would-be king] will reign [rule, have dominion] after me, and he [as your successor] will sit [dwell, reside] on my throne’? word study 25 For today [at this present time] he has gone down [to a lower place, descended] and sacrificed [slain, offered as a gift] an abundance [a large quantity, greatness] of oxen [cattle, livestock], fattened calves [well-fed young cattle], and sheep [a flock, a group of people], and has invited [called, summoned] all the sons [descendants, children] of the king [the ruler, monarch], the commanders [leaders, captains] of the army [a large group of people, a military force], and Abiathar [the high priest, a spiritual leader] the priest [one who serves God, a mediator]. And behold [look, see], they are eating [consuming, devouring] and drinking [partaking, indulging] before him [in his presence, face to face], saying [speaking, declaring], ‘Long live [may he have a long and prosperous life] King Adonijah [the ruler, the one in power]!’ word study 26 But me [even me, your humble] your servant [slave, bondservant] he did not invite, nor Zadok [the righteous priest] the priest [one who serves God], nor Benaiah [Jehovah’s son, a mighty warrior] son of Jehoiada [one known by God], nor your servant [faithful attendant, slave] Solomon [peaceful ruler]. word study 27 Has my lord [master, ruler] the king [sovereign, monarch] let this happen without informing your servant [attendant, subject] who should sit [dwell, reign] on the throne [seat of power, royal chair] after my lord [master, ruler] the king [sovereign, monarch]?” word study 28 Then King [ruler, sovereign] David said, “Call [summon, invite] in Bathsheba [daughter of an oath, wife of Uriah] for me [to my presence, before me].” So she came [approached, entered] into the king’s [royal, sovereign] presence [face, before] and stood [stood firmly, remained] before [in the sight of, facing] him. word study 29 And the king [the monarch, ruler] swore [made a vow, took an oath] an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] lives [is alive, has eternal life], who has redeemed [ransomed, set free] my life [soul, living being] from all [every kind of] distress [trouble, adversity, dearth], word study 30 I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore [verily, with a solemn oath] to you by the LORD [Yehovah], the God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] of Israel: Surely your son Solomon [a king of Israel] will reign [rule, have dominion] after me, and he will sit [dwell, remain] on my throne [a seat of power, authority] in my place [stead, position].” word study 31 Bathsheba [the daughter of an oath] bowed facedown [with her face to the earth, in reverence] in homage to the king [the royal person, King David] and said, “May my lord [master, ruler] King David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] live [have life, be revived] forever [always, for eternity] [to the age, without end]!” word study 32 Then King [ruler, monarch] David [beloved of God] said, “Call in [summon, send for] for me Zadok [righteous, just] the priest [one who serves God, mediator], Nathan [giver, gift of God] the prophet [one who speaks for God], and Benaiah [Jehovah has built, strong warrior] son [descendant, offspring] of Jehoiada [Jehovah knows, wise leader].” So they came [approached, presented themselves] before [in the presence of, facing] the king [monarch, ruler]. word study 33 “Take [with you, to accompany] my servants [the king’s attendants, officials] with you,” said the king [the ruler, sovereign]. “Set [place, put] my son [offspring, descendant] Solomon [peaceable one] on my own [personal, royal] mule [female donkey, riding animal] and take [lead, bring] him down [to a lower place, descend] to Gihon [a valley or pool near Jerusalem]. word study 34 There [at that specific location, in that very place] Zadok [the righteous one, a high priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] and Nathan [the giver, a prophet] the prophet [one who speaks for God] are to anoint [to rub oil on, set apart] him king [a royal person, ruler] over Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. You are to blow [to sound, strike] the ram’s horn [a trumpet, a signal instrument] and declare [to say, proclaim], ‘Long live [may he have a long and prosperous life] King Solomon [the peaceful one, a successor of David]!’ word study 35 Then you shall go up [ascend, come after] with him, and he is to come [enter, approach] and sit [dwell, remain] on my throne [seat of power, royal authority] and reign [rule, have dominion] in my place [stead, position]. For I have appointed [commanded, ordained] him [to be] ruler [leader, commander] over Israel [the descendants of Jacob] and Judah [the tribe of Judah].” word study 36 “Amen [so be it, truly],” replied Benaiah [a strong warrior and leader] son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of my lord [master, ruler] the king, so declare [say, command] it. word study 37 Just as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] was with my lord [master, ruler] the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne [seat of power, authority] even greater [exalted, magnified] than that of my lord [master, ruler] King David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel].” word study 38 Then Zadok [the high priest, a righteous leader] the priest, Nathan [a prophet, a spokesperson for God] the prophet, and Benaiah [a strong warrior, a leader in Israel] son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites [foreign soldiers, bodyguards] and Pelethites [messengers, couriers], went down [to a lower place, to descend] and set Solomon [the king, a peaceful ruler] on King David’s [the anointed king, a leader after God’s heart] mule [a female donkey], and they escorted [walked with, guided] him to Gihon [a river, a place of spiritual refreshment]. word study 39 Zadok [the righteous high priest] the priest took the horn [container of olive oil] of oil from the tabernacle [the sacred tent, dwelling place of God] and anointed [set apart, consecrated] Solomon. Then they blew [sounded, trumpeted] the ram’s horn [a signal of importance], and all [the entire assembly, every person] the people proclaimed, “Long live [may God save, may you have a long and prosperous life] King [the ruler, monarch] Solomon [peaceful, prosperous one]!” word study 40 All [the entire multitude, every single person] the people followed him, playing [with pipes] flutes and rejoicing [with great gladness, joyful celebration] with such a great [intense, profound] joy that the earth [land, ground] was split [rent, shook violently] by the sound [voice, loud noise]. word study 41 Now Adonijah [a son of David, trying to take the throne] and all [every one of] his guests were finishing [completing, ending] their feast [celebration, banquet] when they heard [listened to, gave attention to] the sound [voice, noise] of the ram’s horn [trumpet]. “Why [for what reason, why is this happening] is the city [town, urban area] in such a loud [great, intense] uproar [turmoil, commotion]?” asked Joab. word study 42 As he was speaking [yet, still], suddenly Jonathan [Jehovah has given, a faithful Israelite] the son [descendant, offspring] of Abiathar [a faithful priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] arrived [came, entered]. “Come in [enter, approach],” said Adonijah [a son of David, a man of authority], “for you are a man [individual, person] of valor [strength, courage, Helech] [a valiant, worthy man]. You must be bringing [announcing, publishing] good news [tidings, pleasant information, welfare].” word study 43 “Not at all,” Jonathan [Jehovah has given, a gift from God] replied. “Our lord [master, ruler] King David [beloved, the youngest son of Jesse] has made [appointed, anointed] Solomon [peace, tranquility] king [ruler, monarch, having authority]. word study 44 And with Solomon, the king has sent [accompanied, dispatched] Zadok [a righteous priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship], Nathan [a giver, prophet of God] the prophet [one who speaks for God], and Benaiah [Jehovah has built, a strong warrior] son of Jehoiada [Jehovah knows, a high priest], along with the Cherethites [foreign soldiers, bodyguards] and Pelethites [messengers, couriers], and they have set him [caused him to ride, placed him] on the king’s [belonging to the royal person] mule [a female mule]. word study 45 Zadok [the high priest, a righteous leader] the priest and Nathan [a prophet, a spokesperson for God] the prophet have anointed [set apart, consecrated] him king at Gihon [a sacred spring, a place of divine appointment], and they have gone up [ascended, risen] from there with rejoicing [gladness, joyful celebration] that rings out [echoes, resounds] in the city [the town, the community]. That is the noise [sound, commotion] you hear [are listening to, perceive]. word study 46 Moreover, Solomon [the king of peace] has taken his seat [to dwell, to remain] on the royal [kingly, sovereign] throne [a seat or stool]. word study 47 The king’s servants [royal officials, attendants] have also gone to congratulate [bless, express admiration] our lord [master, ruler] King David, saying, ‘May your God [Elohim, the supreme deity] make the name [reputation, character] of Solomon more famous [exalted, renowned] than your own name, and may He make his throne [seat of authority, kingdom] greater [more powerful, majestic] than your throne.’ And the king has bowed [worshiped, prostrated himself] in worship on his bed [place of rest, throne], word study 48 saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD [Yehovah], the God [Elohim, the supreme deity] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob]! Today [this day, at this moment] He has provided [given, appointed] one to sit [dwell, reign] on my throne [seat of power, authority], and my eyes [sight, vision] have seen [beheld, witnessed] it [this event, this fulfillment].’” word study 49 At this, all [every single one] the guests of Adonijah [the son of David who tried to take the throne] arose in [seized with, overcome by] terror [fear, anxiety] and scattered [went their separate ways, dispersed]. word study 50 But Adonijah [feared greatly, was terrified], in fear [reverence, awe] of Solomon [the king], got up [rose, stood] and went [walked, proceeded] to take hold [seize, grasp] of the horns [corners, projections] of the altar [place of sacrifice, worship]. word study 51 It was reported [declared, told] to Solomon: “Behold [look, see], Adonijah [son of David, a would-be king] fears [is afraid of, has reverence for] King Solomon, and he has taken hold [grasped, laid hold] of the horns [corners, points] of the altar [a place of sacrifice, atonement], saying [speaking, declaring], ‘Let King Solomon first [before anything else] swear [make an oath, promise] to me not to put [kill, slay] his servant [slave, bondservant] to the sword [a cutting instrument].’” word study 52 And Solomon replied, “If he is a man [of integrity, worthy] of character [strength, Helech], not a single hair of his will fall [be defeated, fail] to the ground [land, earth]. But if evil [bad, wickedness] is found [discovered, attained] in him, he will die [be put to death, meet his end].” word study 53 So King [ruler, monarch] Solomon [a king of Israel] summoned [sent for, called] Adonijah down from the altar [place of sacrifice], and he came and bowed down [did obeisance, showed respect] before King [royal person, monarch] Solomon, who said to him, “Go [walk, depart] to your [own, personal] home [house, dwelling place].” word study