Nathan and Bathsheba before David
Nathan tells Bathsheba that Adonijah has become king without David's knowledge and warns that her life and Solomon's are at risk. He instructs her to remind David of his oath, then promises to enter after her and confirm the report.
T11hen Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it? 12Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
Bathsheba comes before the aged king, recalls his sworn promise that Solomon would reign, and reports Adonijah's feast and growing support. She presses the urgency by saying that without David's action, she and Solomon will be treated as offenders after his death.
15So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. 16And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?” 17“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it. 19And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon. 20And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”
Nathan enters after Bathsheba and asks whether David has truly declared Adonijah king. He recounts the feast, the acclamations around Adonijah, and the notable exclusions, then asks whether the king has acted without telling his servants who should reign next.
22And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king. 24“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’? 25For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. 27Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”