Agere Sequitur Esse

Adonijah’s Intrigue

13 ¶ And Adoniiah the sonne of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she said, Commest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

14 He said moreouer, I haue somewhat to say vnto thee. And she saide, Say on.

15 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdome was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should raigne: howbeit the kingdome is turned about, and is become my brothers: for it was his from the Lord.

16 And now I aske one petition of thee, deny me not. And she saide vnto him, Say on.

17 And hee saide, Speake, I pray thee, vnto Solomon the king (for hee will not say thee nay) that he giue me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

18 And Bathsheba said, Wel, I will speake for thee vnto the king.

19 ¶ Bathsheba therefore went vnto king Solomon, to speake vnto him for Adoniiah: and the king rose vp to meete her, and bowed himselfe vnto her, and sate downe on his throne, and caused a seate to bee set for the Kings mother, and she sate on his right hand.

20 Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee, I pray thee say me not nay: and the King said vnto her, Aske on, my mother, for I will not say thee nay.

21 And she saide, Let Abishag the Shunammite be giuen to Adoniiah thy brother to wife.

22 And king Solomon answered, and said vnto his mother, And why doest thou aske Abishag the Shunammite for Adoniiah? Aske for him the kingdome also (for he is mine elder brother) euen for him, and for Abiathar the Priest, & for Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah.

23 Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God doe so to me, and more also, if Adoniiah haue not spoken this word against his owne life.

24 Now therefore as the Lord liueth, which hath established mee, and set mee on the throne of Dauid my father, and who hath made me an house as he promised, Adoniiah shall be put to death this day.

25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, and he fell vpon him that he died.