1 Kings 1:3-8

1:3 So they looked through all Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 1:4 The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.

1:5 Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, boasting, “I will be king!” He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. 1:6 (Now his father had never corrected him by saying, “Why do you do such things?” He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom. 10 ) 1:7 He collaborated 11  with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported 12  him. 13  1:8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s elite warriors 14  did not ally themselves 15  with Adonijah.


tn Heb “through all the territory of Israel.”

tn Heb “did not know her.”

tn Heb “son of Haggith,” but since this formula usually designates the father (who in this case was David), the translation specifies that David was Adonijah’s father.

tn Heb “lifting himself up.”

tn Heb “saying.”

tn Or “he acquired for himself.”

tn Heb “to run ahead of him.”

tn Or “disciplined.”

tn Heb “did not correct him from his days.” The phrase “from his days” means “from his earliest days,” or “ever in his life.” See GKC 382 §119.w, n. 2.

10 tn Heb “and she gave birth to him after Absalom.” This does not imply they had the same mother; Absalom’s mother was Maacah, not Haggith (2 Sam 3:4).

11 tn Heb “his words were.”

12 tn Heb “helped after” (i.e., stood by).

13 tn Heb “Adonijah.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

14 tn Or “bodyguard” (Heb “mighty men”).

15 tn Heb “were not.”