A reading from the book of first kings.

Now King David was old and advanced in years, and although they covered him with clothes,

he could not get warm. Therefore his servant said to him,

Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his

service. Let her lie in your arms that my lord, the king, may be warm.

So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel

and found Abashag the Shunamite and brought her to the king.

The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king, and attended to him,

but the king knew her not.

Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, exalted himself,

saying, I will be king, and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and 50 men to run before him.

His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, why have you done thus and so? He was also

a very handsome man, and he was born next, after Absalom.

He conferred with Joab, the son of Zeruya, and with Abyathar, the priest, and they followed

Adonijah and helped him. But Zadok the priest and Menea, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan

the prophet, and Shemiah and Riyah, and David's mighty men were now with Adonijah.

Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calf by the Riyai, and David's mighty men were now with Adonijah. Adonijah sacrificed sheep,

oxen, and fattened calf by the serpent stone, which is beside Enrogal, and he invited all his

brothers, the king's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah. But he did not invite Nathan

the prophet, or Banea, or the mighty men, or Solomon, his brother. Then Nathan said to Bathsheba,

the mother of Solomon, have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king,

and David our Lord does not know it? Now therefore come, let me give you advice, that you may save

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