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1 Kings 1 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>1 Kings 1 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_kings/1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcc/1_kings/1-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com/catholic">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NRSVCE</a> > 1 Kings 1</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_samuel/24.htm" title="2 Samuel 24">◄</a> 1 Kings 1 <a href="../1_kings/2.htm" title="1 Kings 2">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><div class="text-html"> <h3><span id="en" class="text">The Struggle for the Succession</span></h3><p class="chapter-1"><span class="text"><span class="versenum">1</span>King David was old and advanced in years; and although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">2</span>So his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king, and be his attendant; let her lie in your bosom, so that my lord the king may be warm.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">3</span>So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">4</span>The girl was very beautiful. She became the king’s attendant and served him, but the king did not know her sexually.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">5</span>Now Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">6</span>His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">7</span>He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with the priest Abiathar, and they supported Adonijah. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">8</span>But the priest Zadok, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the prophet Nathan, and Shimei, and Rei, and David’s own warriors did not side with Adonijah.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">9</span>Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatted cattle by the stone Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">10</span>but he did not invite the prophet Nathan or Benaiah or the warriors or his brother Solomon.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">11</span>Then Nathan 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? </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">12</span>Now therefore come, let me give you advice, so that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">13</span>Go in at once to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying: Your son Solomon shall succeed me as king, and he shall sit on my throne? Why then is Adonijah king?’ </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">14</span>Then while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">15</span>So Bathsheba went to the king in his room. The king was very old; Abishag the Shunammite was attending the king. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">16</span>Bathsheba bowed and did obeisance to the king, and the king said, “What do you wish?” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">17</span>She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God, saying: Your son Solomon shall succeed me as king, and he shall sit on my throne. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">18</span>But now suddenly Adonijah has become king, though you, my lord the king, do not know it. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">19</span>He has sacrificed oxen, fatted cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the children of the king, the priest Abiathar, and Joab the commander of the army; but your servant Solomon he has not invited. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">20</span>But you, 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. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">21</span>Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his ancestors, that my son Solomon and I will be counted offenders.”</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">22</span>While she was still speaking with the king, the prophet Nathan came in. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">23</span>The king was told, “Here is the prophet Nathan.” When he came in before the king, he did obeisance to the king, with his face to the ground. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">24</span>Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall succeed me as king, and he shall sit on my throne’? </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">25</span>For today he has gone down and has sacrificed oxen, fatted cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s children, Joab the commander<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-8743a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> of the army, and the priest Abiathar, who are now eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">26</span>But he did not invite me, your servant, and the priest Zadok, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">27</span>Has this thing been brought about by my lord the king and you have not let your servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”</span></p> <h3><span id="en" class="text">The Accession of Solomon</span></h3><p><span class="text"><span class="versenum">28</span>King David answered, “Summon Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">29</span>The king swore, saying, “As the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> lives, who has saved my life from every adversity, </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">30</span>as I swore to you by the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span>, the God of Israel, ‘Your son Solomon shall succeed me as king, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so will I do this day.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">31</span>Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and did obeisance to the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">32</span>King David said, “Summon to me the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">33</span>the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">34</span>There let the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan anoint him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">35</span>You shall go up following him. Let him enter and sit on my throne; he shall be king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">36</span>Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span>, the God of my lord the king, so ordain. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">37</span>As the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">38</span>So the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and led him to Gihon. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">39</span>There the priest Zadok took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">40</span>And all the people went up following him, playing on pipes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth quaked at their noise.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">41</span>Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is the city in an uproar?” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">42</span>While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of the priest Abiathar arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a worthy man and surely you bring good news.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">43</span>Jonathan answered Adonijah, “No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">44</span>the king has sent with him the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they had him ride on the king’s mule; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">45</span>the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you heard. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">46</span>Solomon now sits on the royal throne. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">47</span>Moreover the king’s servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.’ The king bowed in worship on the bed </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">48</span>and went on to pray thus, ‘Blessed be the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span>, the God of Israel, who today has granted one of my offspring<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-8766b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> to sit on my throne and permitted me to witness it.’”</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">49</span>Then all the guests of Adonijah got up trembling and went their own ways. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">50</span>Adonijah, fearing Solomon, got up and went to grasp the horns of the altar. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">51</span>Solomon was informed, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; see, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">52</span>So Solomon responded, “If he proves to be a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">53</span>Then King Solomon sent to have him brought down from the altar. He came to do obeisance to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go home.”</span></p> <A name="fen"></a><div class="footnotes"><h4>Footnotes</h4><ol><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 1 Kings 1:25">1 Kings 1:25</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk: Heb <i>the commanders</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 1 Kings 1:48">1 Kings 1:48</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk: Heb <i>one</i></span></li></ol></div> <!--end of footnotes--></div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. 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