Now Adonijah had prepared a supper out of the city,
near the fountain that was in the king's paradise, and had invited all
his brethren except Solomon, and had taken with him Joab the captain of
the army, and: Abiathar, and the rulers of the tribe of Judah, but had
not invited to this feast either Zadok the high priest, or Nathan the
prophet, or Benaiah the captain of the guards, nor any of those of the
contrary party. This matter was told by Nathan the prophet to Bathsheba,
Solomon's mother, that Adonijah was king, and that David knew nothing of
it; and he advised her to save herself and her son Solomon, and to go by
herself to David, and say to him, that he had indeed sworn that Solomon
should reign after him, but that in the mean time Adonijah had already
taken the kingdom. He said that he, the prophet himself, would come
after her, and when she had spoken thus to the king, would confirm what
she had said. Accordingly Bathsheba agreed with Nathan, and went in to
the king and worshipped him, and when she had desired leave to speak
with him, she told him all things in the manner that Nathan had
suggested to her; and related what a supper Adonijah had made, and who
they were whom he had invited; Abiathar the and Joab the general, and
David's sons, excepting Solomon and his intimate friends. She also
said that all the people had their eyes upon him, to know whom he would
choose for their king. She desired him also to consider how, after
his departure, Adonijah, if he were king, would slay her and her son
Solomon.

5. Now, as Bathsheba was speaking, the keeper of the king's chambers
told him that Nathan desired to see him. And when the king had commanded
that he should be admitted, he came in, and asked him whether he had
ordained Adonijah to be king, and delivered the government to him, or
not; for that he had made a splendid supper, and invited all his sons,
except Solomon; as also that he had invited Joab, the captain of his
host, [and Abiathar the high priest,] who are feasting with applauses,
and many joyful sounds of instruments, and wish that his kingdom may
last for ever; but he hath not invited me, nor Zadok the high priest,
nor Benaiah the captain of the guards; and it is but fit that all should
know whether this be done by thy approbation or not. When Nathan had
said thus, the king commanded that they should call Bathsheba to
him, for she had gone out of the room when the prophet came. And when
Bathsheba was c