1Now King David was old and had come in years, so they covered him with garments, yet he could not get warm.2His servants therefore said to him, "Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king, and let her stand before the king and be useful to him; let her lie in your bosom so that my lord the king may be warm."3They searched throughout all the territory of Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag the Shunammite; they brought her to the king.4The young woman was very beautiful; she became useful to the king and ministered to him, but the king did not know her.5Meanwhile Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king," and he prepared for himself chariots, horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.6His father had never confronted him by asking, "Why have you done this?" He was also very handsome, and she bore him after Absalom.7His words were with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they helped Adonijah.8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's mighty men were not with Adonijah.9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened animals by the stone of Zoheleth that is beside En-rogel; he invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants.10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.11Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?"12Now therefore, come, let me advise you, so that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.13Go at once to King David and say to him, "Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your maidservant, saying, 'Solomon your son shall reign after me and sit on my throne'? Why then has Adonijah become king?"14While you are still speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.15So Bathsheba went to the king in the chamber; the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.16Bathsheba bowed and paid homage to the king, and the king said, "What do you want?"17She answered, "My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your maidservant, saying, 'Solomon your son shall reign after me and sit on my throne.'"18But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.19He has sacrificed oxen, fattened animals, and sheep in abundance; he has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon.20My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.21Otherwise, when my lord the king lies down with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as sinners.22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.23They told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here," and he came before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.24Nathan said, "My lord the king, you yourself declared that Adonijah would reign after you and sit on your throne."25For today he has gone down and sacrificed oxen, fattened animals, and sheep in abundance; he has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they are eating and drinking before him and saying, "Long live King Adonijah!"26But he has not invited me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon.27If this matter has come from my lord the king, you have not informed your servants who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.