^{5 Ref} 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.

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

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

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

^{9 Ref} And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he called all his brethren, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants:

^{10 Ref} but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

^{11 Ref} Then Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

^{12 Ref} 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.

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

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

^{15 Ref} And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering unto the king.

^{16 Ref} And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

^{17 Ref} And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by Jehovah thy God unto thy handmaid, `saying', Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

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