1 Kings 1:7-27 - Adonijah Tries To Become King
7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest. And, following Adonijah, they helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
9 And Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel. And he called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants. 10 But he did not call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.
11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Have thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord does not know it? 12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou may save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. 13 Go and get thee in to king David, and say to him, Did thou not, my lord, O king, swear to thy handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? Why then does Adonijah reign? 14 Behold, while thou yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
15 And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber. And the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king. 16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. And the king said, What do thou want?
17 And she said to him, My lord, thou swore by LORD thy God to thy handmaid, [saying], Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. 18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigns, and thou, my lord the king, do not know it. 19 And he has slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army, but he has not called Solomon thy servant. 20 And thou, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be considered offenders.
22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 23 And they told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. And when he came in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, have thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? 25 For he has gone down this day, and has slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king's sons, and the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And, behold, they are eating and drinking before him, 26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, he has not called. 27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou have not shown to thy servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?