1 Kings 2:12-21

¹²Solomon took over as king, sitting on the throne of his father David, and his hold on his kingdom was secure.

¹³Adonijah, son of Haggith, went to see Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked him, “Have you come here with good intentions?” He replied, “Yes, with good intentions.”

¹⁴“I have something I'd like to ask of you,” he continued. “Go on,” she said.

¹⁵“You know that the kingdom was mine,” he declared, “and everyone in Israel was looking forward to me being their next king. But everything was turned upside-down, and the kingdom passed to my brother, because that's what the Lord wanted.

¹⁶Now I've just one request to ask of you—please don't say no.” “Tell me,” she said.

¹⁷He went on, “Please talk to King Solomon for me because he won't turn you down. Ask him to give me Abishag from Shunem as my wife.”

¹⁸“Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will talk to the king for you.”

¹⁹So Bathsheba went to talk to King Solomon for Adonijah. The king got up from his throne to meet her, and bowed before her. Then he sat back down and ordered another throne brought in for his mother. She sat to his right.

²⁰“I have just one small request to ask of you,” she said. “Please don't say no.” The king replied, “Ask away, dear mother. I won't say no to you.”

²¹“Please give Abishag from Shunem to your brother Adonijah as his wife,” she replied.