1 Kings 2:10-24

¹⁰So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

¹¹And the days that David reigned in Israel, were forty years: in Hebron he reigned seven years, in Jerusalem thirty-three.

¹²And Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was strengthened exceedingly.

¹³And Adonias the son of Haggith came to Bethsabee the mother of Solomon. And she said to him: Is thy coming peaceable? he answered: Peaceable.

¹⁴And he added: I have a word to speak with thee. She said to him: Speak. And he said:

¹⁵Thou knowest that the kingdom was nine, and all Israel had preferred me to be their king: but the kingdom is transferred, and is become my brother’s: for it was appointed him by the Lord.

¹⁶Now therefore I ask one petition of thee: turn not away my face. And she said to him: Say on.

¹⁷And he said: I pray thee speak to king Solomon (for he cannot deny thee any thing) to give me Abisag the Sunamitess to wife.

¹⁸And Bethsabee said: Well, I will speak for thee to the king.

¹⁹Then Bethsabee came to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonias: and the king arose to meet her, and bowed to her, and sat down upon his throne: and a throne was set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right hand.

²⁰And she said to him: I desire one small petition of thee, do not put me to confusion. And the king said to her: My mother, ask: for I must not turn away thy face.

²¹And she said: Let Abisag the Sunamitess be given to Adonias thy brother to wife.

²²And king Solomon answered, and said to his mother: Why dost thou ask Abisag the Sunamitess for Adonias? ask for him also the kingdom: for he is my elder brother, and hath Abiathar the priest, and Joab the son of Sarvia.

²³Then king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying: So and so may God do to me, and add more, if Adonias hath not spoken this word against his own life.

²⁴And now as the Lord liveth, who hath established me, and placed me upon the throne of David my father, and who hath made me a house, as he promised, Adonias shall be put to death this day.