2 Samuel 3:4

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2 Samuel 3:2–6 · Berean Standard Bible

2 And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3 his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

4 his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

5 and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul.

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

1 Kings 1:5

At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

1 Kings 1:6

(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)

1 Kings 1:7

So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.

1 Kings 1:8

But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.

1 Kings 1:9

And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.

1 Kings 1:10

But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

1 Kings 1:11

Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?

1 Kings 1:12

Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

1 Kings 1:13

Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’

1 Kings 1:14

Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

1 Kings 1:15

So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.

1 Kings 1:16

And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

1 Kings 1:17

“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’

1 Kings 1:18

But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it.

1 Kings 2:13

Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she asked, “Do you come in peace?” “Yes, in peace,” he replied.

1 Kings 2:14

Then he said, “I have something to tell you.” “Say it,” she answered.

1 Kings 2:15

“You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.

1 Kings 2:16

So now I have just one request of you; do not deny me.” “State your request,” she told him.

1 Kings 2:17

Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”

1 Kings 2:18

“Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”

1 Kings 2:19

So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.

1 Kings 2:20

“I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”

1 Kings 2:21

So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”

1 Kings 2:22

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

1 Kings 2:23

Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life.

1 Kings 2:24

And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!”

1 Kings 2:25

So King Solomon sent the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck down Adonijah, and he died.