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1 Kings

Starts with King Solomon's reign, his wisdom, and building the temple, then the kingdom dividing into Israel and Judah.

Chapter 1

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1 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

*Now, King David was very old, and his body wasn't strong anymore. They tried to keep him warm by covering him with blankets, but he didn't feel any warmth.

2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.

*So his servants suggested to him, "Find a young, innocent girl for our king. She should be with the king, care for him, and stay close to him, so the king can stay warm.

3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

*They looked for a beautiful young woman everywhere in Israel and found Abishag from Shunem. They brought her to the king.

4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

*The girl was beautiful and cared for the king, helping him. But the king didn't know her personally.

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

*Then Adonijah, Haggith's son, became proud and said, "I will be the king." He got chariots, horsemen, and 50 men to run ahead of him to show his power.

6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

*His dad never upset him by asking why he did something, and he was a really good person too. He was born after Absalom.

7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

*He talked to Joab, son of Zeruiah, and Abiathar, the priest. They supported Adonijah in his efforts.

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

*But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's strong warriors weren't with Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:

*Adonijah slaughtered many sheep, oxen, and fat cows near a stone called Zoheleth, close to Enrogel. He invited all his brothers, who were the king's sons, and all the men from Judah, who were the king's helpers.

10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

*But Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the strong fighters, and Solomon his brother, he did not call.

11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

*Nathan told Bathsheba, Solomon's mom, "Didn't you hear that Adonijah, son of Haggith, is ruling, and David, our leader, doesn't know about it?"

12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

*Now then, please let me give you advice so that you can save your life and your son Solomon's life.

13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

*"Go to King David and tell him, 'Didn't you, my lord king, promise your servant that Solomon, your son, would rule after you and sit on your throne? So why is Adonijah ruling instead?'"

14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

*Look, even as you're talking with the king, I will join you and support what you say.

15 And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

*Bathsheba entered the king's room, where an old king was. A woman named Abishag helped take care of the king.

16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

*And Bathsheba bent down and showed respect to the king. The king asked, What do you want?

17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

*She told him, "My lord, you promised by the Lord your God that your son Solomon would rule after me and sit on my throne."

18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

*And now, see, Adonijah is ruling; and now, my king, you don't know about it.

19 And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

*He killed many cows, fat animals, and lots of sheep. He brought all the king's sons and the priest Abiathar and the army leader Joab, but he didn't call Solomon, your servant.

20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

*And you, my lord, King, everyone in Israel is watching you to find out who will sit on the king's throne after him.

21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

*If my lord the king passes away, my son Solomon and I will be seen as wrongdoers.

22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

*And suddenly, as she was still talking to the king, Nathan the prophet entered too.

23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

*They said to the king, "Look, it's Nathan the prophet." When he came in front of the king, he bent down and put his face on the ground in respect.

24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

*Nathan asked, "My lord, king, have you said that Adonijah will rule after you and sit on your throne?"

25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.

*Today, he went down and killed many oxen, fat cows, and sheep. He invited all the king's sons, army leaders, and the priest Abiathar. They are eating and drinking with him, saying, "May God save King Adonijah."

26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

*But me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, and my servant Solomon, has he not chosen.

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

*Is this action done by my king, and you didn't tell me, the one who will be sitting on the throne after him?

28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.

*Then King David said, "Call me Bathsheba." So she went to him and stood in front of him.

29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,

*And the king swore, saying, By the living God, who saved me from all trouble.

30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.

*Just like I promised you by the Lord God of Israel, I will tell you that Solomon, your son, will become king after me, and he will sit on my throne instead of me. I am absolutely committed to making this happen today.

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

*Then Bathsheba bent down, facing the ground, and showed respect to the king. She said, "May my king, David, live forever."

32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

*King David asked for Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, Jehoiada's son, to come to him. They all arrived in front of him.

33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

*The king told them, "Take your master's servants and let Solomon, my son, ride on my mule. Then bring him to Gihon."

34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

*Anoint Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet, shouting, "God save King Solomon."

35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

*Then you will go with him so he can sit on my throne because he will be the king instead of me. I have chosen him to lead both Israel and Judah.

36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.

*Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, replied to the king, "Yes, I agree! May the Lord God, who is your father, also say the same thing."

37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

*Just as the LORD has been with King David, may He also be with Solomon and make his throne more prominent than David's.

38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.

*Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, and some helpers took Solomon on a special animal called a mule. They rode with him to a place called Gihon. This was all to help Solomon become the new king after his father, David.

39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

*Zadok, a priest, got some oil from a special place and used it to make Solomon the new king. They sounded a horn, and everyone shouted, "God protect King Solomon!"

40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

*Everyone followed behind him, playing musical instruments and celebrating with immense happiness. Their noise made the ground shake.

41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

*And Adonijah and his guests finished eating when they heard the news. When Joab heard the trumpet's loud sound, he asked why there was so much commotion in the city.

42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.

*While he was still talking, Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. Adonijah told him to come in, saying, "You are strong and bring happy news."

43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

*And Jonathan told Adonijah, "Our king, Lord David, has truly made Solomon the king."

44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule:

*The king sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and some helpers called Cherethites and Pelethites with him. They made him ride on the king's special horse.

45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.

*Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet made Solomon a king at a place called Gihon. They were very happy and came back to the city, causing it to be noisy with their celebration. That's the sound you heard.

46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

*Solomon also sits on the kingdom's throne.

47 And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.

*The king's helpers came to praise King David, asking that God make Solomon's name and throne even greater than David's. King David then bowed down in respect.

48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.

*The king said, "Praised is the Lord God of Israel for putting someone on my throne today, and I can see it happening."

49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

*All of Adonijah's guests became scared and left, each one going their own way.

50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

*Adonijah became scared of Solomon, so he left and grabbed onto the altar's horns.

51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

*They told Solomon that Adonijah was afraid of him because he grabbed onto the altar's horns and asked Solomon to promise not to kill him with a sword.

52 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

*Solomon said, "If he proves himself a good person, nothing bad will happen to him. But if we find out he's doing something wrong, he will be punished."

53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.

*King Solomon asked for him, so they got him from the altar. He then approached King Solomon, bowed, and Solomon told him to go back to his home.

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