Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God and that you are winning back their allegiance.”

Jonathan replied to Adonijah: “No! Our master King David has made Solomon king.

The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men

The king of Israel replied, “It is just as you say, my master, O king. I and all I own belong to you.”

The king of Israel replied, “Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off.”

Then you will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the Lord. The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.” All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.”

So they took a bull, as he had suggested, and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.” But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped around on the altar they had made.

King David responded, “Summon Bathsheba!” She came and stood before the king.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada responded to the king: “So be it! May the Lord God of my master the king confirm it!

The king responded, “Give the first woman the living child; don’t kill him. She is the mother.”

Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, but there was no sound, no answer, and no response.

King Solomon answered his mother, “Why just request Abishag the Shunammite for him? Since he is my older brother, you should also request the kingdom for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”

When Benaiah arrived at the tent of the Lord, he said to him, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But he replied, “No, I will die here!” So Benaiah sent word to the king and reported Joab’s reply.

They said to him, “Today if you show a willingness to help these people and grant their request, they will be your servants from this time forward.”

The king pled with the prophet, “Seek the favor of the Lord your God and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored.” So the prophet sought the Lord’s favor and the king’s hand was restored to its former condition.

Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the Lord is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!” But the people did not say a word.