Now that Absalom was dead, Adonijah, the son of David and Haggith, was the oldest surviving son. He was a very handsome man. David had never reprimanded him about anything, and he was ambitious to be king. He provided for himself chariots, horses, and an escort of fifty men.

Then he said, "Your Majesty, have you announced that Adonijah would succeed you as king?

But he sent messengers to all the tribes of Israel to say, "When you hear the sound of trumpets, shout, 'Absalom has become king at Hebron!' "

Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and asked her, "Haven't you heard that Haggith's son Adonijah has made himself king? And King David doesn't know anything about it!

Then he said, "Your Majesty, have you announced that Adonijah would succeed you as king?

Did Your Majesty approve all this and not even tell your officials who is to succeed you as king?"

"And now, my friends, I know that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was due to your ignorance.