The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 11: 3 Kings

This and the following Book are called by the holy fathers the third and
fourth book of Kings; but by the Hebrews, the first and second. They
contain the history of the kingdoms of Israel and Juda, from the
beginning of the reign of Solomon, to the captivity. As to the writer of
these books, it seems most probable they were not written by one man;
nor at one time; but as there was all along a succession of prophets in
Israel, who recorded, by divine inspiration, the most remarkable things
that happened in their days, these books seem to have been written by
these prophets. See 2 Paralip. alias 2 Chron. 9.29; 12.15; 13.22; 20.34;
26.22; 32.32.

3 Kings Chapter 1

King David growing old, Abisag a Sunamitess is brought to him. Adonias
pretending to reign, Nathan and Bethsabee obtain that Solomon should be
declared and anointed king.

1:1. Now king David was old, and advanced in years: and when he was
covered with clothes he was not warm.

1:2. His servants therefore, said to him: Let us seek for our Lord the
king, a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherish
him, and sleep in his bosom and warm our lord the king.

1:3. So they sought a beautiful young woman, in all the coasts of Israel
and they found Abisag, a Sunamitess, and brought her to the king.

1:4. And the damsel was exceedingly beautiful, and she slept with the
king, and served him, but the king did not know her.

1:5. And Adonias, the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying: I will be
king. And he made himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run
before him.

1:6. Neither did his father rebuke him at any time, saying: Why hast
thou done this? And he also was very beautiful, the next in birth after
Absalom.

1:7. And he conferred with Joab, the son of Sarvia, and with Abiathar,
the priest, who furthered Adonias's side.

1:8. But Sadoc, the priest, and Banaias, the son of Joiada, and Nathan,
the prophet, and Semei, and Rei, and the strength of David's army, was
not with Adonias.

1:9. And Adonias having slain rams and calves, and all fat cattle, by
the stone of Zoheleth, which was near the fountain Rogel, invited all
his brethren, the king's sons, and all the men of Juda, the king's
servants:

1:10. But Nathan, the prophet, and Banaias, and all the valiant men, and
Solomon, his brother, he invited not.

1:11. And Nathan said to Bethsabee, the mother of Solomon: Hast thou not
heard that Adonias, the son of Haggith, reigneth, and our lord David
knoweth it not?

1:12. Now then, come, take my counsel, and save thy life, and the life
of thy son Solomon.

1:13. Go, and get thee in to king David, and say to him: Didst not thou,
my lord, O king, swear to me, thy handmaid, saying: Solomon, thy son,
shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then doth
Adonias reign?

1:14. And while thou art yet speaking there with the king, I will come
in after thee, and will fill up thy words.

1:15. So Bethsabee went in to the king into the chamber. Now the king
was very old, and Abisag, the Sunamitess, ministered to him.

1:16. Bethsabee bowed herself, and worshipped the king. And the king
said to her: What is thy will?

1:17. She answered, and said: My lord, thou didst swear to thy handmaid,
by the Lord thy God, saying: Solomon, thy son, shall reign after me, and
he shall sit on my throne.

1:18. And behold, now Adonias reigneth, and thou, my lord the king,
knowest nothing of it.

1:19. He hath killed oxen, and all fat cattle, and many rams, and
invited all the king's sons, and Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, the
general of the army: but Solomon, thy servant, he invited not.

1:20. And now, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee,
that thou shouldst tell them, who shall sit on thy throne, my lord the
king, after thee.

1:21. Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king sleepeth
with his fathers, that I, and my son, Solomon, shall be accounted
offenders.

1:22. As she was yet speaking with the king, Nathan, the prophet, came.

1:23. And they told the king, saying: Nathan, the prophet, is here. And
when he was come in before the king, and had worshipped, bowing down to
the ground,

1:24. Nathan said: My lord, O king, hast thou said: Let Adonias reign
after me, and let him sit upon my throne?

1:25. Because he is gone down to day, and hath killed oxen, and
fatlings, and many rams, and invited all the king's sons, and the
captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest: and they are eating and
drinking before him, and saying: God save king Adonias:

1:26. But me, thy servant, and Sadoc,