1 Kings 1 Darby Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And king David was old [and] advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he obtained no warmth.
1 Now King David was old and advanced in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn’t keep warm.
2 And his servants said to him, Let there be found for my lord the king a young virgin; and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get warm.
2 Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king. Let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.”
3 And they sought for a fair damsel throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
3 So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
4 And the damsel was very fair; and cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.
4 The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and served him; but the king didn’t know her intimately.
5 And Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king; and he provided himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
6 And his father had not grieved him at any time in saying, Why doest thou so? and he was also a very comely man; and [his mother] bore him after Absalom.
6 His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, “Why have you done so?” and he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.
7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they helped Adonijah and followed [him].
7 He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him.
8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men whom David had, were not with Adonijah.
8 But 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.
9 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatted cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel, and invited all his brethren, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants;
9 Adonijah 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;
10 but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he did not invite.
10 but he didn’t call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.
11 And Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith is king, and David our lord does not know [it]?
11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn’t know it?
12 And now, come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
12 Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life and your son Solomon’s life.
13 Go and get thee in to king David, and say to him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear to thy handmaid saying, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adonijah reign?
13 Go 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?’
14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee and confirm thy words.
14 Behold, while you are still talking there with the king, I will also come in after you and confirm your words.”
15 And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber; and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered to the king.
15 Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
16 And Bathsheba bowed and did obeisance to the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
16 Bathsheba bowed and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”
17 And she said to him, My lord, thou hast sworn by Jehovah thy God to thy handmaid, [saying,] Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.
17 She 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.’
18 And now behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not.
18 Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don’t know it.
19 And he has sacrificed oxen and fatted cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the captain of the host; but Solomon thy servant has he not invited.
19 He has slain 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.
20 And thou, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
20 You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
21 Otherwise it shall come to pass when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders.
21 Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered criminals.”
22 And behold, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
22 Behold, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
23 And they told the king saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
23 They told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet!” When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?
24 Nathan said, “My lord, King, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’?
25 For he is gone down this day, and has sacrificed oxen and fatted cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah!
25 For he has gone down today, and has slain 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!’
26 But me, [even] me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, he has not invited.
26 But he hasn’t called me, even me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.
27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewn to thy servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
27 Was 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?”
28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
28 Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba in to me.” She came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.
29 And the king swore, and said, [As] Jehovah liveth, who has redeemed my soul out of all distress,
29 The king vowed and said, “As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
30 even as I swore to thee by Jehovah the God of Israel, saying, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
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.”
31 And Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.
31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth and showed respect to the king, and said, “Let my lord King David live forever!”
32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.
32 King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king.
33 And the king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon;
33 The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
34 and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, Long live king Solomon!
34 Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
35 And ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit on my throne; for he shall reign in my stead, and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
35 Then 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 prince over Israel and over Judah.”
36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, Amen: Jehovah, the God of my lord the king, say so too.
36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, “Amen. May Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so.
37 As Jehovah has been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
37 As 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.”
38 And Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.
39 And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon!
39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”
40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
40 All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound.
41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard [it] as they were finishing their repast; and Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, and he said, Wherefore this noise of the city in an uproar?
41 Adonijah 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 being in an uproar?”
42 While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said [to him], Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good news.
42 While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said, “Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.”
43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Indeed, our lord king David has made Solomon king.
43 Jonathan answered Adonijah, “Most certainly our lord King David has made Solomon king.
44 And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule;
44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule.
45 and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which ye have heard.
45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.
46 And also Solomon is sitting on the throne of the kingdom.
46 Also, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.
47 And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Thy God make the name of Solomon more excellent than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne! And the king bowed himself on the bed.
47 Moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May your 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.
48 And also thus said the king: Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
48 Also thus said the king, ‘Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, my eyes even seeing it.’”
49 And all Adonijah's guests were afraid, and rose up and went every man his way.
49 All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and each man went his way.
50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose and went and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
50 Adonijah was afraid because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and hung onto the horns of the altar.
51 And it was told Solomon saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for behold, he has caught hold of the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me this day that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.
51 Solomon was told, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon; for, behold, he is hanging onto the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”
52 And Solomon said, If he be a worthy man, there shall not one of his hairs fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.
52 Solomon said, “If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of his shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”
53 And king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to thy house.
53 So 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.”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Abishag the Shunammite
A very beautiful girl from Shunem found to care for the aged King David and keep him warm, whom Adonijah later asked to marry.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 1:3; 1 Kings 1:15; 1 Kings 2:17
Adonijah
A son of David who tried to claim the throne ahead of Solomon in David's final days.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Kings 1-2
Bathsheba
Wife of David and mother of Solomon, remembered amid both sin and grace.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 11-12; 1 Kings 1-2; Matthew 1:6
David
The shepherd who became Israel's greatest king and a man after God's own heart.
Cited in the guide: 1 Sam. 16 - 1 Kings 2; 2 Sam. 7; 1 Chron. 2:15; Matt. 1:6
Haggith
A wife of David who bore his fourth son, Adonijah, in Hebron.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Kings 1:5; 1 Kings 1:11
Jehoiada
Named as the father of Benaiah, the commander of the Cherethites and Pelethites.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Kings 1:8
Rei
Named with Shimei and David's mighty men among those who would not join Adonijah.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 1:8
Shimei
Named with Rei and David's mighty men among those who would not join Adonijah.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 1:8
Solomon
David's son who built the temple and became famous for God-given wisdom.
Cited in the guide: 1 Kings 1-11; 1 Chron. 3:5; Matt. 1:6-7
Cross references (49)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Chronicles 29:27–28; Joshua 23:1–2; 1 Chronicles 23:1; Psalm 90:10; 2 Samuel 5:4
- 2 Ecclesiastes 4:11; Genesis 16:5; Micah 7:5; 1 Samuel 16:21–22; Deuteronomy 13:6
- 3 Joshua 19:18; Esther 2:4; Esther 2:2; 2 Kings 4:8; 1 Samuel 28:4
- 4 Matthew 1:25
- 5 2 Samuel 15:1; 2 Samuel 3:4; Exodus 9:17; 1 Chronicles 29:1; 1 Chronicles 28:5
- 6 2 Samuel 3:3–4; 1 Samuel 3:13; Proverbs 29:15; Hebrews 12:5–6; 1 Chronicles 3:2
- 7 2 Samuel 20:25; 1 Kings 2:22; 1 Kings 2:26–35; Psalm 2:2; 2 Samuel 20:23
- 8 1 Kings 4:18; 2 Samuel 23:8–39; 2 Samuel 20:25; Zechariah 12:13; 2 Samuel 12:1–15
- 9 2 Samuel 17:17; 2 Samuel 15:11–12; Proverbs 15:8; 2 Samuel 13:23–27; Joshua 15:7
- 10 2 Samuel 12:24; 2 Samuel 12:1–15; 1 Kings 1:19; 1 Kings 1:8
- 11 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Chronicles 22:9–10; 1 Chronicles 29:1; 2 Samuel 12:24–25; 2 Samuel 7:12–17
- 12 2 Chronicles 22:10; Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 20:18; Judges 9:5; 1 Kings 1:21
- 13 1 Kings 1:30; 1 Kings 1:17; 1 Chronicles 22:6–13; Psalm 132:11–12; 1 Kings 2:12
- 14 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Kings 1:17–27
- 15 1 Kings 1:1
- 16 1 Samuel 20:41; 1 Samuel 25:23; 1 Samuel 24:8; Esther 7:2; 1 Kings 2:20
- 17 1 Kings 1:13; 1 Kings 1:30; Genesis 18:12; 1 Peter 3:6
- 18 1 Kings 1:24; 2 Samuel 15:10; 1 Kings 1:11; 1 Kings 1:27; Acts 3:17
- 19 1 Kings 1:25; 1 Kings 1:7–10
- 20 1 Chronicles 29:1; 2 Samuel 23:2; 1 Chronicles 28:5–6; 1 Chronicles 28:10; Psalm 25:15
- 21 Deuteronomy 31:16; 1 Kings 2:10; 2 Samuel 7:12; Genesis 15:15; 1 Kings 2:22–24
- 22 Genesis 24:15; Job 1:16–18; Daniel 9:20
- 23 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Kings 1:16; Romans 13:7
- 24 1 Kings 1:17–18; 1 Kings 1:13–14; 1 Kings 1:5
- 25 1 Samuel 10:24; 1 Kings 1:9; 1 Kings 1:19; Luke 19:38; 2 Chronicles 23:11
- 26 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 1:10; 2 Samuel 7:2; 2 Samuel 12:25; 2 Samuel 7:12–17
- 27 1 Kings 1:24; 2 Kings 4:27; John 15:15
- 29 2 Samuel 4:9; Psalm 136:24; 1 Kings 17:1; Psalm 72:14; 1 Kings 18:10
- 30 1 Kings 1:13; 1 Kings 1:17
- 31 Daniel 5:10; Daniel 2:4; Daniel 3:9; Hebrews 12:9; Daniel 6:6
- 32 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 1:38; 1 Kings 1:26
- 33 2 Chronicles 32:30; 1 Kings 1:38; 2 Chronicles 33:14; Genesis 41:43; Esther 6:6–11
- 34 1 Samuel 10:1; 2 Samuel 15:10; 1 Kings 1:25; 2 Kings 11:12; 2 Kings 9:3
- 35 Psalm 72:1–2; 1 Kings 1:13; 1 Chronicles 23:1; 1 Kings 2:12; 1 Chronicles 28:4–5
- 36 Jeremiah 11:5; Psalm 18:2; Matthew 28:20; 1 Samuel 25:29; 1 Corinthians 14:16
- 37 1 Samuel 20:13; 1 Kings 1:47; Joshua 1:17; Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20
- 38 2 Samuel 8:18; 1 Kings 1:8; Zephaniah 2:5; 1 Kings 1:33; 1 Samuel 30:14
- 39 Psalm 89:20; 1 Chronicles 29:22; 1 Kings 1:34; 1 Samuel 10:24; 2 Kings 11:12
- 40 2 Kings 11:20; Revelation 11:15–18; 1 Chronicles 12:38–40; 2 Kings 11:14; Luke 19:37
- 41 Matthew 21:9–11; Exodus 32:17; Proverbs 14:13; Acts 21:31; Psalm 73:18–20
- 42 2 Samuel 15:36; 2 Samuel 18:27; 2 Samuel 17:17; 2 Samuel 15:27; Isaiah 57:21
- 45 1 Kings 1:40; Ezra 3:13; 1 Samuel 4:5; Daniel 5:26–28; 1 Kings 14:6
- 46 1 Chronicles 29:23; Psalm 132:11; Haggai 2:22; 1 Kings 1:13
- 47 1 Kings 1:37; Genesis 47:31; 2 Samuel 21:3; Hebrews 11:21; 2 Samuel 8:10
- 48 1 Kings 3:6; Psalm 132:11–12; 2 Samuel 7:12; Proverbs 17:6; 1 Chronicles 29:20
- 49 Isaiah 21:4–5; Daniel 5:4–6; Proverbs 28:1
- 50 1 Kings 2:28; Psalm 118:27; Exodus 27:2; Exodus 38:2; Exodus 21:14
- 52 1 Samuel 14:45; 2 Samuel 14:11; Proverbs 13:6; Proverbs 21:12; 1 Kings 2:21–25
- 53 2 Samuel 14:24; 1 Kings 1:31; 1 Kings 1:16; 2 Samuel 14:28; 1 Kings 2:36
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
But that you may learn more plainly that even a virgin is called in Holy Scripture a "damsel," hear the Book of the Kings, speaking of Abishag the Shunamite, And the damsel was very fair: for that as a virgin she was chosen and brought to David is admitted.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
So also the High-priest, in advancing Solomon to the kingdom, anointed him after he had bathed in Gihon.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)