1 Kings 1:11-27
Nathan Speaks to Bathsheba
11Then Nathan spoke to aBathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? 12“So now come, please let me agive you counsel and provide escape for your life and the life of your son Solomon. 13“Go 1at once to King David and say to him, ‘Have you not, my lord, O king, sworn to your maidservant, saying, “aSurely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14“Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and fully confirm your words.”
15So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom. Now athe king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king. 16Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself 1before the king. And the king said, “What 2do you wish?” 17And she said to him, “My lord, you swore to your maidservant by 1Yahweh your God, saying, ‘aSurely your son Solomon shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18“But now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it. 19“aAnd he has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 20“As for you now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21“Otherwise it will be, aas soon as my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered 1offenders.”
22Behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 23Then they told the king, saying, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And then he came in before the king and prostrated himself 1before the king with his 2face to the ground. 24Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25“aFor he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons and the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they are eating and drinking before him; and they say, ‘bLong live King Adonijah!’ 26“aBut me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and your servant Solomon, he has not invited. 27“Has this thing happened by my lord the king, and you have not made known to your 1servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”