2 ¹³ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably." 2 ¹⁴ Then he said, "I have something to say to you." She said, "Say on." 2 ¹⁵ He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign; however the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from Yahweh. 2 ¹⁶ And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me." She said to him, "Say on." 2 ¹⁷ And he said, "Pray ask King Solomon - he will not refuse you - to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife." 2 ¹⁸ Bathsheba said, "Very well; I will speak for you to the king."

2 ¹⁹ So Bathsheba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king's mother; and she sat on his right. 2 ²⁰ Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you." 2 ²¹ She said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife." 2 ²² King Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah." 2 ²³ Then King Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, "God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life! 2 ²⁴ Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me, and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day." 2 ²⁵ So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he struck him down, and he died.