1 Raja-raja 2:12-25

Solomon Secures the Throne

2:12 Solomon sat on his father David’s throne, and his royal authority ¹  was firmly solidified.

2:13 Haggith’s son Adonijah visited Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. She asked, “Do you come in peace?” He answered, “Yes.” ²  2:14 He added, ³  “I have something to say to you.” She replied, “Speak.” 2:15 He said, “You know that the kingdom ⁴  was mine and all Israel considered me king. ⁵  But then the kingdom was given to my brother, for the Lord decided it should be his. ⁶  2:16 Now I’d like to ask you for just one thing. Please don’t refuse me.” ⁷  She said, “Go ahead and ask.” ⁸  2:17 He said, “Please ask King Solomon if he would give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife, for he won’t refuse you.” ⁹  2:18 Bathsheba replied, “That’s fine, ¹⁰  I’ll speak to the king on your behalf.”

2:19 So Bathsheba visited King Solomon to speak to him on Adonijah’s behalf. The king got up to greet ¹¹  her, bowed to her, and then sat on his throne. He ordered a throne to be brought for the king’s mother, ¹²  and she sat at his right hand. 2:20 She said, “I would like to ask you for just one small favor. ¹³  Please don’t refuse me.” ¹⁴  He said, ¹⁵  “Go ahead and ask, my mother, for I would not refuse you.” 2:21 She said, “Allow Abishag the Shunammite to be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.” 2:22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why just request Abishag the Shunammite for him? ¹⁶  Since he is my older brother, you should also request the kingdom for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

2:23 King Solomon then swore an oath by the Lord, “May God judge me severely, ¹⁷  if Adonijah does not pay for this request with his life! ¹⁸  2:24 Now, as certainly as the Lord lives (he who made me secure, allowed me to sit on my father David’s throne, and established a dynasty ¹⁹  for me as he promised), Adonijah will be executed today!” 2:25 King Solomon then sent ²⁰  Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he killed Adonijah. ²¹ 

[2:12]  ¹ tn Or “kingship.”

[2:13]  ² tn Heb “[in] peace.”

[2:14]  ³ tn Heb “and he said.”

[2:15]  ⁴ tn Or “kingship.”

[2:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “set their face to me to be king.”

[2:15]  ⁶ tn Heb “and the kingdom turned about and became my brother’s, for from the Lord it became his.”

[2:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “Do not turn back my face.”

[2:16]  ⁸ tn Heb “She said, ‘Speak!’”

[2:17]  ⁹ tn Heb “Say to Solomon the king, for he will not turn back your face, that he might give to me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife.”

[2:18]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “[It is] good!”

[2:19]  ¹¹ tn Or “meet.”

[2:19]  ¹² tn Heb “he set up a throne for the mother of the king.”

[2:20]  ¹³ tn Or “I’d like to make just one request of you.”

[2:20]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “Do not turn back my face.”

[2:20]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “and the king said to her.”

[2:22]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “for Adonijah.”

[2:23]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “So may God do to me, and so may he add.”

[2:23]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “if with his life Adonijah has not spoken this word.”

[2:24]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “house.”

[2:25]  ²⁰ tn The Hebrew text adds, “by the hand of.”

[2:25]  ²¹ tn Heb “and he struck him and he died.”