Episode 131: A virgin is found to give David some heat

1 Kings 1

1 ¹ King David was old and got no heat. ² So his servants searched for a young virgin to cherish him and lie in his bosom. ³ They found a fair damsel named Abishag, who cherished the king and ministered to him. ⁴ But the king didn't have sex with her.

Adonijah tries to become king

⁵ David’s son, Adonijah said, "I will be king." And he prepared fifty men with chariots and horsemen. ⁶ David didn't seem to mind the idea. Adonijah was, after all, a very good-looking man. And he was also his oldest surviving son.

⁷ Joab and Abiathar supported Adonijah in his quest to become king. ⁸ But Zadok, Nathan, and David's mighty men opposed him. ⁹ Adonijah called all of his brothers and the men of Judah to a meeting. ¹⁰ But he didn't invite Nathan, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

Bathsheba makes Solomon king

¹¹ Nathan said to Bathsheba,

Go to David and say to him,

¹³ Didn't you swear to me that Solomon would be king after you?

Why then is Adonijah king?

¹⁵ So Bathsheba went to see David. When she arrived, Abishag was ministering to him.

¹⁷ Bathsheba said,

You swore to God that my son Solomon would be king after you.

¹⁸ But Adonijah is king, and you don't even know it.

¹⁹ Adonijah has called a meeting with all your sons, along with Abiathar and Joab. But he didn't invite Solomon.

²⁰ Everyone in Israel is waiting for you to tell them who the next king will be. If you don't do so, Solomon and I will be called traitors.

³⁰ David said, "I swear to God that Solomon will be king after me."

³² David asked to see Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah. ³³ When they arrived, David said to them,

Put Solomon on a mule that will carry him to Gihon.

³⁴ When Solomon's mule arrives in Gihon, have Zadok and Nathan anoint him king of Israel.

Then blow a trumpet and say, "God save King Solomon."

³⁸ So they put Solomon on a mule that carried him to Gihon.

³⁹ Zadok anointed Solomon, they blew a trumpet, and all the people said, "God save King Solomon."

⁴⁰ Everyone piped with pipes and rejoiced with joy, so much that it caused an earthquake!

^41-43 Adonijah and his guests heard the earthquake, and someone came in to tell them the news:

David has made Solomon king.

They even made him ride on David's mule.

⁴⁹ All the guests at Adonijah's party were afraid. Each left going his own way.

⁵⁰ Adonijah grabbed on to the horns of the altar, and said,

I won't let go until king Solomon swears he won't kill me.

⁵² Solomon said,

If he's worthy, I won't kill him.

But if he's wicked, I will.

⁵³ So Adonijah let go of the horns and came to visit Solomon.

Solomon said to him, "Go home."