7. “But be generous to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite—extend every hospitality to them; that’s the way they treated me when I was running for my life from Absalom your brother.
8-9. “You also will have to deal with Shimei son of Gera the Benjaminite from Bahurim, the one who cursed me so viciously when I was on my way to Mahanaim. Later, when he welcomed me back at the Jordan, I promised him under God, ‘I won’t put you to death.’ But neither should you treat him as if nothing ever happened. You’re wise, you know how to handle these things. You’ll know what to do to make him pay before he dies.”
10-12. Then David joined his ancestors. He was buried in the City of David. David ruled Israel for forty years—seven years in Hebron and another thirty-three in Jerusalem. Solomon took over on the throne of his father David; he had a firm grip on the kingdom.
13-14. Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. She said, “Do you come in peace?”He said, “In peace.” And then, “May I say something to you?”“Go ahead,” she said, “speak.”
15-16. “You know that I had the kingdom right in my hands and everyone expected me to be king, and then the whole thing backfired and the kingdom landed in my brother’s lap—God’s doing. So now I have one request to ask of you; please don’t refuse me.”“Go ahead, ask,” she said.
17. “Ask King Solomon—he won’t turn you down—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
18. “Certainly,” said Bathsheba. “I’ll speak to the king for you.”
19. Bathsheba went to King Solomon to present Adonijah’s request. The king got up and welcomed her, bowing respectfully, and returned to his throne. Then he had a throne put in place for his mother, and she sat at his right hand.
20. She said, “I have a small favor to ask of you. Don’t refuse me.”The king replied, “Go ahead, Mother; of course I won’t refuse you.”
21. She said, “Give Abishag the Shunammite to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”
22. King Solomon answered his mother, “What kind of favor is this, asking that Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah? Why don’t you just ask me to hand over the whole kingdom to him on a platter since he is my older brother and has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side!”