Discovery Box1 Kings 2:17-25
Context2:17 He said, “Please ask King Solomon if he would give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife, for he won’t refuse you.” 1 2:18 Bathsheba replied, “That’s fine, 2 I’ll speak to the king on your behalf.”
2:19 So Bathsheba visited King Solomon to speak to him on Adonijah’s behalf. The king got up to greet 3 her, bowed to her, and then sat on his throne. He ordered a throne to be brought for the king’s mother, 4 and she sat at his right hand. 2:20 She said, “I would like to ask you for just one small favor. 5 Please don’t refuse me.” 6 He said, 7 “Go ahead and ask, my mother, for I would not refuse you.” 2:21 She said, “Allow Abishag the Shunammite to be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.” 2:22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why just request Abishag the Shunammite for him? 8 Since he is my older brother, you should also request the kingdom for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”
2:23 King Solomon then swore an oath by the Lord, “May God judge me severely, 9 if Adonijah does not pay for this request with his life! 10 2:24 Now, as certainly as the Lord lives (he who made me secure, allowed me to sit on my father David’s throne, and established a dynasty 11 for me as he promised), Adonijah will be executed today!” 2:25 King Solomon then sent 12 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he killed Adonijah. 13
[2:17] 1 tn Heb “Say to Solomon the king, for he will not turn back your face, that he might give to me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife.”
[2:18] 2 tn Heb “[It is] good!”
[2:19] 4 tn Heb “he set up a throne for the mother of the king.”
[2:20] 5 tn Or “I’d like to make just one request of you.”
[2:20] 6 tn Heb “Do not turn back my face.”
[2:20] 7 tn Heb “and the king said to her.”
[2:22] 8 tn Heb “for Adonijah.”
[2:23] 9 tn Heb “So may God do to me, and so may he add.”
[2:23] 10 tn Heb “if with his life Adonijah has not spoken this word.”
