Editing Books of Kings (section)

====The Davidic succession (1:1–2:46)====
[[David]] is by now old, and so his attendants look for a virgin to look after him. They find [[Abishag]], who looks after him but they do not have sexual relations. [[Adonijah]], David's fourth son, born after [[Absalom]], decides to claim the throne. With the support of [[Joab]], David's general, and [[Abiathar]], the priest, he begins a coronation procession. He begins the festivities by offering sacrifices at [[Ein Rogel|En Rogel]] in the presence of his brothers and the royal officials, but does not invite [[Nathan (prophet)|Nathan the prophet]]; [[Benaiah#Benaiah, son of Jehoiada|Benanaiah]], captain of the king's bodyguard, or the bodyguard itself; or even his own brother [[Solomon]].

Nathan comes to [[Bathsheba]], Solomon's mother, and informs her what is going on. She goes to David and reminds him that he said Solomon would be his successor. As she is speaking to him, Nathan enters and explains the full situation to David. David reaffirms his promise that Solomon will be king after him and arranges for him to be anointed at the [[Gihon Spring]]. The anointing is performed by [[Zadok]] the priest. Following this, the population of Jerusalem proclaims Solomon king. This is heard by Adonijah and his fellow feasters, but they do not know what is happening until Abiathar's son Jonathan arrives and informs them. With Solomon officially enthroned, Adonijah fears for his life and claims [[sanctuary]]; Solomon decides to spare him unless he does something evil.

David advises his son on how to be a good king and to punish David's enemies, and then dies. Adonijah comes to Bathsheba and asks to marry Abishag. Solomon suspects this request is to strengthen Adonijah's claim to the throne and has Benaiah put him to death. He then takes away Abiathar's priesthood as punishment for supporting Adonijah, thus fulfilling the prophecy made to [[Eli (biblical figure)|Eli]] at the start of [[Books of Samuel#1 Samuel|1 Samuel]].

Joab hears what is going on and himself claims sanctuary, but when he refuses to come out of the tabernacle, Solomon instructs Benaiah to kill him there. He then replaces Joab with Benaiah and Abiathar with Zadok. Solomon then instructs [[Shimei ben Gera]], the [[Tribe of Benjamin|Benjaminite]] who cursed David as he was fleeing from Absalom, to move to Jerusalem and not to leave. One day, two of Shimei's slaves run away to [[Gath (city)|Gath]] and Shimei pursues them. When he returns to Jerusalem, Solomon has him put to death for leaving Jerusalem.