⁹ But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham^(A) was mocking,^{(B) 10} and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman^(C) and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”^(D)

¹¹ The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.^{(E) 12} But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring^[a] will be reckoned.^{(F) 13} I will make the son of the slave into a nation^(G) also, because he is your offspring.”

⁵ Now Adonijah,^(A) whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots^(B) and horses^[a] ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. ⁶ (His father had never rebuked^(C) him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)

⁷ Adonijah conferred with Joab^(D) son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar^(E) the priest, and they gave him their support. ⁸ But Zadok^(F) the priest, Benaiah^(G) son of Jehoiada, Nathan^(H) the prophet, Shimei^(I) and Rei and David’s special guard^(J) did not join Adonijah.

⁹ Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel.^(K) He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons,^(L) and all the royal officials of Judah, ¹⁰ but he did not invite^(M) Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.^(N)

¹¹ Then Nathan asked Bathsheba,^(O) Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah,^(P) the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? ¹² Now then, let me advise^(Q) you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. ¹³ Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear^(R) to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ ¹⁴ While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.”

¹⁵ So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag^(S) the Shunammite was attending him. ¹⁶ Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king.

“What is it you want?” the king asked.

¹⁷ She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore^(T) to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ ¹⁸ But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. ¹⁹ He has sacrificed^(U) great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. ²⁰ My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. ²¹ Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest^(V) with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.”