# 1 Kings 01 📖 [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[1 Kings Overview]] | [[1 Kings 02]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts]] [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ## Adonijah Tries to Seize the Throne [[#Verse 01.]] King David was very old; even when they covered him with blankets, he could not get warm.  [[#Verse 02.]] His servants advised him, “A young virgin must be found for our master, the king, to take care of the king’s needs and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you and keep our master, the king, warm.”  [[#Verse 03.]] So they looked through all Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.  [[#Verse 04.]] The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king was not intimate with her. [[#Verse 05.]] Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, boasting, “I will be king!” He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. [[#Verse 06.]] (Now his father had never corrected him by saying, “Why do you do such things?” He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.)  [[#Verse 07.]] He collaborated with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported him.  [[#Verse 08.]] But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s elite warriors did not ally themselves with Adonijah.  [[#Verse 09.]] Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened steers at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, as well as all the men of Judah, the king’s servants.  [[#Verse 10.]] But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors, or his brother Solomon. [[#Verse 11.]] Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Has it been reported to you that Haggith’s son Adonijah has become king behind our master David’s back? [[#Verse 12.]] Now let me give you some advice as to how you can save your life and your son Solomon’s life.  [[#Verse 13.]] Visit King David and say to him, ‘My master, O king, did you not solemnly promise your servant, “Surely your son Solomon will be king after me; he will sit on my throne”? So why has Adonijah become king?’  [[#Verse 14.]] While you are still there speaking to the king, I will arrive and verify your report.” [[#Verse 15.]] So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters. (The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.)  [[#Verse 16.]] Bathsheba bowed down on the floor before the king. The king said, “What do you want?” [[#Verse 17.]] She replied to him, “My master, you swore an oath to your servant by the Lord your God, ‘Solomon your son will be king after me and he will sit on my throne.’ [[#Verse 18.]] But now, look, Adonijah has become king! But you, my master the king, are not even aware of it!  [[#Verse 19.]] He has sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and 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.  [[#Verse 20.]] Now, my master, O king, all Israel is watching anxiously to see who is named to succeed my master the king on the throne.  [[#Verse 21.]] If a decision is not made, when my master the king is buried with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be considered state criminals.” [[#Verse 22.]] Just then, while she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.  [[#Verse 23.]] The king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” Nathan entered and bowed before the king with his face to the floor.  [[#Verse 24.]] Nathan said, “My master, O king, did you announce, ‘Adonijah will be king after me; he will sit on my throne’?  [[#Verse 25.]] For today he has gone down and sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king’s sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. At this moment they are having a feast in his presence, and they have declared, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ [[#Verse 26.]] But he did not invite me—your servant—or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon.  [[#Verse 27.]] Has my master the king authorized this without informing your servants who should succeed my master the king on his throne?” ### David Picks Solomon as His Successor [[#Verse 28.]] King David responded, “Summon Bathsheba!” She came and stood before the king.  [[#Verse 29.]] The king swore an oath: “As certainly as the Lord lives (he who has rescued me from every danger),  [[#Verse 30.]] I will keep today the oath I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel: ‘Surely Solomon your son will be king after me; he will sit in my place on my throne.’”  [[#Verse 31.]] Bathsheba bowed down to the king with her face to the floor and said, “May my master, King David, live forever!” [[#Verse 32.]] King David said, “Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king,  [[#Verse 33.]] and he told them, “Take your master’s servants with you, put my son Solomon on my mule, and lead him down to Gihon.  [[#Verse 34.]] There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’  [[#Verse 35.]] Then follow him up as he comes and sits on my throne. He will be king in my place; I have decreed that he will be ruler over Israel and Judah.”  [[#Verse 36.]] Benaiah son of Jehoiada responded to the king: “So be it! May the Lord God of my master the king confirm it!  [[#Verse 37.]] As the Lord is with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and may he make him an even greater king than my master King David!” [[#Verse 38.]] So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites went down, put Solomon on King David’s mule, and led him to Gihon.  [[#Verse 39.]] Zadok the priest took a horn filled with olive oil from the tent and poured it on Solomon; the trumpet was blown and all the people declared, “Long live King Solomon!”  [[#Verse 40.]] All the people followed him up, playing flutes and celebrating so loudly they made the ground shake. [[#Verse 41.]] Now Adonijah and all his guests heard the commotion just as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he asked, “Why is there such a noisy commotion in the city?”  [[#Verse 42.]] As he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, for an important man like you must be bringing good news.”  [[#Verse 43.]] Jonathan replied to Adonijah: “No! Our master King David has made Solomon king.  [[#Verse 44.]] The king sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites and they put him on the king’s mule.  [[#Verse 45.]] Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king in Gihon. They went up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the sound you hear.  [[#Verse 46.]] Furthermore, Solomon has assumed the royal throne.  [[#Verse 47.]] The king’s servants have even come to congratulate our master King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon more famous than you and make him an even greater king than you!’ Then the king leaned on the bed  [[#Verse 48.]] and said this: ‘The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because today he has placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.’” [[#Verse 49.]] All of Adonijah’s guests panicked; they jumped up and rushed off their separate ways.  [[#Verse 50.]] Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar.  [[#Verse 51.]] Solomon was told, “Look, Adonijah fears you; see, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘May King Solomon solemnly promise me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”  [[#Verse 52.]] Solomon said, “If he is a loyal subject, not a hair of his head will be harmed, but if he is found to be a traitor, he will die.”  [[#Verse 53.]] King Solomon sent men to bring him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon told him, “Go home.” ## ==📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary== ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. - Since this prince had never been disciplined, he had no respect for anything other than his own will. This is one of the many reasons why all people discipline and direction. Discipline is not intended to break people. It is intended to mold people and steer them in the right direction. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ###### Verse 24. ###### Verse 25. ###### Verse 26. ###### Verse 27. ###### Verse 28. - A leader is a problem solver. Even in old age, that is part of the calling to leadership. ###### Verse 29. ###### Verse 30. ###### Verse 31. ###### Verse 32. ###### Verse 33. ###### Verse 34. ###### Verse 35. ###### Verse 36. ###### Verse 37. ###### Verse 38. ###### Verse 39. ###### Verse 40. ###### Verse 41. ###### Verse 42. ###### Verse 43. ###### Verse 44. ###### Verse 45. ###### Verse 46. ###### Verse 47. ###### Verse 48. ###### Verse 49. ###### Verse 50. ###### Verse 51. ###### Verse 52. ###### Verse 53. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights - coming soon. %% PRIVATE NOTES (only I see this) Write down things that are not straight from commentary but interesting facts that ground the text in history. %% ## 🧠 Chapter Summary - coming soon. %% PRIVATE NOTES (only I see this) Write a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) summarizing what happens in this chapter. - What is the main event or teaching? - How does this chapter fit the book’s overall story? - What stands out immediately? Anything Apologetic to point out? %% ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application - coming soon. %% PRIVATE NOTES (only I see this) - 📌 Observation 1 - 📌 Observation 2 - 📌 Observation 3 - (Add more as needed.) %% %% #### Today, I can apply this chapter by: - ✅ Application 1 - ✅ Application 2 Make these very practical: - "Trust God's timing in an uncertain situation." - "Speak truth even when it’s unpopular." Think: - What do we learn about God here? - What do we learn about people? - Are there promises, commands, or warnings? %% ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - coming soon. %% PRIVATE NOTES (only I see this) - 📖 [Verse Reference] – "Quote of important verse." - 📖 [Verse Reference] – "Quote of another important verse." (You can link to deeper notes if you want later.) %% ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 coming soon. - 🔗 coming soon. %% Examples: - John 1:1 and Genesis 1 - Romans 5 and Genesis 3 %% ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection - coming soon. %% PRIVATE NOTES (only I see this) Write 3–6 sentences reflecting on: - How this chapter encourages your faith, - Convicts your heart, - Reveals God's character. Optional format: "In light of this chapter, I am challenged to..." or "I am comforted by..." %% ##### 📂 Internal Links/Personal Notes