1   And king Dauid was old, and had manie daies of age: and when he was couered with clothes, he was not warmed. ^note

2   His seruantes therfore sayd to him: Let vs seeke for our lord the king a yong woman a virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherishe him, and sleepe in his bosome, and warme our lord the king.

3   They sought therfore a beautiful yong woman in al the costes of Israel, and they found Abisag a Sunamite, and brought her to the king.

4   And the damsel was exceding beautiful, and she slept with the king, and serued him, but the king did not know her.

5   And Adonias the sonne of Haggith was eleuated, saying: I wil reigne. And he made him self chariotes and horsemen, and fiftie men, that should runne before him.

6   Neither did his father controwle him at any time, saying: Why didst thou this? And he also was very beautiful, the second borne after Absalom.

7   And he had talke with Ioab the sonne of Saruia, & with ^note Abiathar the priest, who furthered Adonias side.

8   But Sadoc the priest, and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Semei, and Rei, and the strength of Dauids armie was not with Adonias.

9   Adonias therfore hauing immolated rammes and calues, and al fatte beastes beside the Stone zoheleth, which was nigh to the Fountaine Rogel, called al his brethren the sonnes of the

Dauid. king, and al the men of Iuda the seruantes of the king:

10   But Nathan the prophet, and Banaias, and al the strong ones, and Salomon his brother he called not.

11   Nathan therfore sayd to Bethsabee the mother of Salomon: Hast thou not heard that Adonias the sonne of Haggith hath reigned, and our lord Dauid is ignorant thereof?

12   Now therfore come, take counsel of me, and saue thy life, and thy sonne Salomons.

13   Goe, and enter in to king Dauid, and say to him: Didst not thou my lord king sweare to me thy handmayd, saying: Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me, and he shal sitte in my throne? Why then reigneth Adonias?

14   And whiles thou art yet speaking there with the king, I wil come after thee, and make vp thy wordes.

15   Bethsabee therfore went in to the king in the chamber: and the king was exceding old, and Abisag the Sunamite ministred to him.

16   Bethsabee bowed her self, and adored the king. To whom the king sayd: What is thy wil? quoth he.

17   Who answering sayd: My lord, thou didst sweare to thy handmayd by our Lord thy God, that Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me, and he shal sitte in my throne.

18   And behold now Adonias reigneth, thou my lord the king not knowing therof.

19   He hath killed oxen, & al fatte thinges, and manie rammes, and called al the kinges sonnes, Abiathar also the priest, and Ioab the General of the warfarre: but Salomon thy seruant he called not.

20   Notwithstanding my lord king, the eyes of al Israel looke vpon thee, that thou wouldest shew them, who shal sitte in thy throne my lord king after thee.

21   And it shal be when my lord king sleepeth with his fathers, I and my sonne Salomon shal be ^note sinners.

22   As she was yet speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came.

23   And they told the king, saying: Nathan the prophete is here. And when he was gone in to the king, and had adored bowing to the earth,

24   Nathan sayd: My lord king, didst thou say: Let Adonias reigne after me, and let him sitte vpon my throne?

25   Because he is gone downe to day, and hath immolated oxen, and fattelinges, and manie rammes, and called al the kinges sonnes, and the captaynes of the armie, Abiathar also the priest: and they eating and drinking before him, and saying: God saue the king Adonias:

26   me thy seruant, and Sadoc the priest, and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada, and Salomon thy seruant he called not.

27   Is this word proceded from my lord the king, and hast thou not told me thy seruant who

Dauid. should sitte vpon the throne of my lord the king after him?

28   And king Dauid answered, saying: Cal vnto me Bethsabee. Who when she was entered in to the king, and stood before him,

29   the king sware, and sayd: Our Lord liueth, which hath deliuered my soule from al distresse,

30   that as I sware to thee by our Lord the God of Israel, saying: Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me, and he shal sitte vpon my throne for me, so wil I doe this day.

31   And Bethsabee bowing her contenance vnto the earth adored the king, saying: God saue my lord for euer.

32   King Dauid also said: Cal me Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, & Banaias the sonne of Ioiada. Who when they were entred in before the king,

33   he said to them: Take with you the seruantes of your lord, and sette Salomon my sonne vpon my mule: and bring him into Gihon.

34   And let Sadoc the priest anoint him there, and Nathan the prophet to be king ouer Israel: and you shal sound the trumpet, and shal say: God saue king Salomon.

35   And you shal goe vp after him, and he shal come, and shal sitte vpon my throne, and he shal reigne for me: and I wil ordaine him that he be prince ouer Israel, and ouer Iuda.

36   And Banaias the sonne of Ioiada answered the king, saying: Amen: so speake our Lord the God of my lord the king.

37   As our Lord hath beene with my lord the king, so be he with Salomon, and make his throne higher then the throne of my lord king Dauid.

38   Sadoc therfore the priest, and Nathan the prophet went downe, and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada, and Cherethi, and Phelethi: and they set Salomon vpon the mule of king Dauid, and brought him into Gihon.

39   And Sadoc the priest tooke a horne of oile out of the tabernacle, and annointed Salomon: and they sounded the trumpet, and al the people said: God saue king Salomon.

40   And al the multitude went vp after him, and the people singing on shaulmes, and reioysing with great gladnes, and the earth sounded of their crie.

41   And Adonias heard, and al that were inuited of him, and the feast was ended: yea and Ioab hearing the voice of the trumpet, said: What meaneth the crie of the citie making a tumult?

42   As he yet spake, came Ionathas the sonne of Abiathar the priest: to whom Adonias said: Come in, because thou art a stout man, and bringest good newes.

43   And Ionathas answered Adonias: Not so: for our lord king Dauid hath appointed Salomon king.

44   and hath sent with

Dauid. him Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophete, and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada, and Cerethi, and Phelethi, and they haue set him vpon the kinges mule.

45   And Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophete haue annointed him king in Gihon: & they are gone vp thence reioysing, and the citie sounded: this is the voice that you heard.

46   Yea and Salomon sitteth vpon the throne of the kingdom.

47   And the kinges seruantes entring in, haue blessed our lord king Dauid, saying: God amplify the name of Salomon aboue thy name, and magnifie his throne aboue thy throne. And the king ^note adored in his bed:

48   and he hath thus spoken: Blessed be our Lord the God of Israel, who hath geuen this day one sitting in my throne, mine eies seing it.

49   They therfore were terrified, and they al arose, that had beene inuited of Adonias, and euery man went his way.

50   And Adonias fearing Salomon arose, and went, and held the horne of the altar.

51   And they told Salomon, saying: Behold Adonias fearing king Salomon, hath taken hold of the horne of the altar, saying: Let king Salomon sweare to me this day, that he wil not kil his seruant with the sword.

52   And Salomon sayd: If he be a good man, there shal not so much as one heare of his fal vpon the ground: but if euil shal be found in him, he shal die.

53   King Salomon therfore sent, and brought him out from the altar: and going in he adored king Salomon: and Salomon sayd to him: Goe to thy house.

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