1På sine gamle dage døjede kong David med at holde varmen. Uanset hvor mange tæpper man lagde over ham, frøs han altid.2Hans rådgivere sagde da til ham: „Lad os lede efter en ung pige, som kan ligge i din favn og hjælpe dig til at holde varmen.” Det syntes David var en god idé.3-4Så gennemsøgte de landet på kryds og tværs i håb om at finde den rigtige pige, og de fandt Abishag, en smuk ung pige fra Shunem. Hende førte de til kongen, og hun tog sig kærligt af ham, men der var ikke tale om noget seksuelt forhold.
Adonija gør krav på tronen
5Adonija, som var søn af kong David og Haggit, havde store tanker om sig selv, og han ville gerne være konge efter sin far. Derfor anskaffede han sig vogn, ryttere og en livgarde på 50 mand, der skulle løbe foran ham gennem byen.6David hverken irettesatte ham eller satte spørgsmålstegn ved, hvad han gjorde. Adonija var en flot ung mand, og nummer to i tronfølgerækken efter Absalom.7Han allierede sig med hærføreren Joab og præsten Ebjatar, som begge lovede at hjælpe ham til magten.8Men præsten Zadok, profeten Natan, samt Benaja, Shimi, Rei og Davids livgarde svigtede ikke kongen. De nægtede at give Adonija tilsagn om støtte.9En dag tog Adonija af sted til den såkaldte Slangesten ved Rogelkilden lidt uden for Jerusalem, hvor han ofrede småkvæg, hornkvæg og fedekalve. Til denne selvbestaltede kroningsfest inviterede han alle sine halvbrødre undtagen Salomon, og alle de kongelige embedsmænd i Juda10med undtagelse af profeten Natan, Benaja og kongens livgarde.11Da gik profeten Natan til Batsheba, Salomons mor, og sagde: „Har du hørt, at Adonija har udråbt sig selv til konge, uden at David aner noget om det?12Hvis du har dit eget og din søn Salomons liv kært, så gør som jeg siger:13Gå straks til kong David og sig til ham: ‚Herre, lovede du mig ikke, at Salomon skulle overtage tronen efter dig? Hvorfor er Adonija så blevet udråbt til konge?’ ”14Og Natan tilføjede: „Mens du er hos kongen, kommer jeg og bekræfter hvert eneste ord, du siger.”15Derpå gik Batsheba ind i kongens soveværelse. David var jo meget gammel, og Abishag var hos ham.16Batsheba bøjede sig dybt for kongen, og han spurgte: „Hvad vil du?”17„Min herre,” svarede hun. „Du aflagde det løfte over for Herren, din Gud, at min søn Salomon skulle afløse dig på tronen.18Men i stedet er Adonija blevet udråbt til konge uden dit vidende.19Han har kronet sig selv og ofret en masse hornkvæg, småkvæg og fedekalve. Både Ebjatar og Joab og alle dine sønner på nær Salomon er med til festen.20Og nu, min herre konge, venter hele Israel på at få at vide, om du virkelig har udpeget Adonija som din efterfølger.21Hvis du ikke griber ind nu, vil Salomon og jeg blive henrettet, så snart du er død.”22-23Mens Batsheba talte med David, ankom Natan til paladset, og tjenerne meddelte kongen: „Profeten Natan er her for at tale med dig,” Batsheba blev bedt om at gå ud, så kongen kunne høre, hvad Natan havde at sige. Da Natan kom ind i soveværelset, bøjede han sig dybt for kongen24og spurgte: „Herre, er det rigtigt, at du har udpeget Adonija til at blive din efterfølger? Er det ham, der skal sidde på tronen efter dig?25I dag fejrede han kroningsfest ved at ofre en masse hornkvæg, småkvæg og fedekalve, og han inviterede dine sønner til festen sammen med Joab og Ebjatar. I dette øjeblik fester og drikker de og råber: ‚Længe leve kong Adonija!’26Men Zadok, Benaja, Salomon og jeg blev ikke inviteret.27Sker det efter din befaling? Har du virkelig udpeget Adonija til tronfølger uden at sige et ord om det til dine betroede embedsmænd?”
David gør Salomon til konge
28„Kald på Batsheba!” befalede kong David sine tjenere, da Natan var gået. Så kom hun tilbage og stod foran kongen.29Da sagde David: „Jeg lover ved den levende Gud, som trofast har hjulpet mig gennem alle farer,30at jeg i dag vil indfri det løfte, jeg gav dig ind for Guds ansigt: Din søn Salomon skal være min efterfølger på tronen!”31Da bøjede Batsheba sig dybt for ham og udbrød: „Gid min herre og konge må leve for evigt!”32„Kald Zadok ind,” beordrede kongen, „også Natan og Benaja!” Da de var kommet,33sagde han til dem: „Tag Salomon og mine mænd med jer til Gihon, og giv Salomon mit eget muldyr at ride på.34Dér ved Gihonkilden skal Zadok i sin egenskab af præst og Natan som profet salve ham til konge over Israels folk. Efter salvningen skal I lade blæse i vædderhornet og udråbe et længe leve for kong Salomon.35Og når I kommer tilbage, skal I sætte ham på min kongetrone, for jeg har udpeget ham til at være konge over Israel og Juda.”36„Amen!” svarede Benaja. „Herren, min konges Gud, vil føre det igennem!37Gid Herren må velsigne Salomon, som han har velsignet dig—ja, må Salomons kongedømme blive endnu mægtigere end dit!”38Så fik Zadok, Natan og Benaja fat på Salomon og lod ham ride på kongens private muldyr, og de tog alle af sted til Gihon sammen med den kongelige livgarde.39Zadok havde hentet hornet med den hellige salveolie fra teltet, hvor arken stod, og da de kom til Gihon, hældte han olien ud over Salomons hoved. Salomon var dermed salvet til konge. Der blev blæst i vædderhornet, og folket råbte: „Længe leve kong Salomon!”40Derpå fulgte de Salomon tilbage til Jerusalem. Undervejs spillede folk på fløjte og jublede så højt, at jorden gyngede under dem.41I mellemtiden var Adonijas kroningsfest ved at være til ende. Gæsterne var netop ved at bryde op, da de hørte lyden af vædderhornet inde fra byen. „Hvad sker der?” udbrød Joab. „Hvad er der på færde i byen?”42I det samme ankom præsten Ebjatars søn, Jonatan. „Velkommen!” sagde Adonija til Jonatan. „En mand som du kommer sikkert med gode nyheder!”43„Desværre!” råbte Jonatan. „Kong David har netop udråbt Salomon til konge!44-45Han gav ham sit eget private muldyr og sendte ham til Gihon sammen med Zadok, Natan og Benaja, eskorteret af den kongelige livgarde. Der salvede Zadok og Natan ham til konge. De er netop vendt tilbage fra Gihon, og byen er på den anden ende af begejstring. Det er grunden til al den larm.46Salomon er nu indsat som konge,47-48og hele hoffet lykønsker kong David og siger: ‚Gid din Gud må gøre Salomon endnu mere berømt end dig—og hans kongedømme endnu mægtigere end dit!’ Kongen har fra sin seng udtrykt sin taknemmelighed til Gud og sagt: ‚Lovet være Herren, Israels Gud, som i dag har gjort mig den glæde at udvælge en af mine sønner til konge efter mig!’ ”49-50Ved de ord sprang Adonija og hans gæster panikslagne op fra bordet og flygtede for livet. Adonija skyndte sig til helligdommen og greb fat i de horn, der sad på hjørnerne af alteret.51Salomon fik besked om, at Adonija havde søgt tilflugt ved alterets horn, og at han sagde: „Jeg bliver her, indtil Salomon sværger på, at han ikke vil slå mig ihjel.”52Salomons reaktion var: „Hvis han vil være loyal over for mig, skal jeg ikke krumme et hår på hans hoved, men hvis han pønser på at undergrave mit kongedømme, skal han dø.”53Så sendte kong Salomon sine mænd af sted for at hente Adonija ved alteret. Han blev ført frem for kongen og kastede sig ned foran ham med ansigtet mod jorden. Men Salomon nøjedes med at sige til ham: „Du har frihed til at gå hjem.”
1Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm.2Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms,[1] that my lord the king may be warm.”3So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. (Josva 19,18)4The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not.
Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King
5Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (2.Sam 3,4; 2.Sam 15,1)6His 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. (2.Sam 3,3; 1.Krøn 3,2)7He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. (2.Sam 2,13; 2.Sam 2,18; 2.Sam 20,25)8But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah. (2.Sam 8,18; 2.Sam 12,1; 2.Sam 23,8; 1.Kong 1,7; 1.Kong 4,18)9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, (Josva 15,7; 2.Sam 17,17)10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother. (2.Sam 12,24)
Nathan and Bathsheba Before David
11Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king and David our lord does not know it? (1.Kong 1,5)12Now therefore come, let me give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.13Go in at once to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then is Adonijah king?’ (1.Kong 1,30; 1.Krøn 22,9)14Then while you are still speaking with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm[2] your words.”15So Bathsheba went to the king in his chamber (now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to the king).16Bathsheba bowed and paid homage to the king, and the king said, “What do you desire?”17She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ (1.Kong 1,13)18And now, behold, Adonijah is king, although you, my lord the king, do not know it.19He has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but Solomon your servant he has not invited. (1.Kong 1,7; 1.Kong 1,9; 1.Kong 1,10)20And now, 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.21Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders.” (5.Mos 31,16; 2.Sam 7,12; 1.Kong 2,10)22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.23And they told the king, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king, he bowed before the king, with his face to the ground.24And Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’?25For he has gone down this day and has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders[3] of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ (1.Sam 10,24; 1.Kong 1,19)26But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he has not invited. (1.Kong 1,8; 1.Kong 1,10; 1.Kong 1,32)27Has this thing been brought about by my lord the king and you have not told your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
Solomon Anointed King
28Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.29And the king swore, saying, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, (Ruth 3,13)30as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day.” (1.Kong 1,13; 1.Kong 1,17)31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and paid homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!” (Neh 2,3; Dan 2,4; Dan 3,9; Dan 5,10; Dan 6,6; Dan 6,21)32King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.33And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. (2.Sam 11,11; 2.Sam 20,6; 2.Krøn 32,30; 2.Krøn 33,14)34And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ (1.Sam 10,1; 1.Sam 10,24; 2.Sam 15,10; 1.Kong 1,25; 2.Kong 9,13; 2.Kong 11,14)35You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.”36And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so.37As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.” (1.Sam 20,13; 1.Kong 1,47)38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon. (2.Sam 8,18)39There Zadok the priest 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!” (2.Mos 30,23; 1.Kong 1,34; 1.Krøn 29,22; Salm 89,20)40And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise.41Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “What does this uproar in the city mean?”42While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news.” (2.Sam 15,27; 2.Sam 15,36; 2.Sam 17,17; 2.Sam 18,27)43Jonathan answered Adonijah, “No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king,44and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they had him ride on the king’s mule. (1.Kong 1,38)45And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet 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 have heard. (1.Kong 1,33)46Solomon sits on the royal throne. (1.Krøn 29,23)47Moreover, the king’s servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king bowed himself on the bed. (1.Mos 47,31; 1.Kong 1,37)48And the king also said, ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has granted someone[4] to sit on my throne this day, my own eyes seeing it.’” (1.Kong 3,6; Salm 132,11)49Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way.50And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. (2.Mos 27,2; 1.Kong 2,28)51Then it was told Solomon, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”52And Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” (1.Sam 14,45)53So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”