Adonijah (son of Haggith)

The Ambitious Prince

Yhdistynyt kuningaskuntaPrinceClaimant to the thronec. 1005–970 BC

Adonijah was King David's fourth son, born to Haggith in Hebron. After his older brothers Amnon and Absalom had died, and the second son Daniel (Kileab) had disappeared from the biblical narrative, Adonijah stood as likely the oldest surviving heir to the throne. When David had grown old and weak, Adonijah took the initiative and attempted to secure the kingship with support from the army commander Joab and the priest Abiathar. However, the prophet Nathan and Bathsheba prevented this by reminding David of his promise that Solomon would succeed him, and David immediately ordered Solomon's anointing. Adonijah sought refuge at the horns of the altar and was granted mercy by Solomon. After David's death, he asked to be given Abishag the Shunammite, David's last concubine, as a wife – a request that, according to the customs of that time, was interpreted as a renewed claim to the kingship. Solomon then had him executed. Adonijah's fate illustrates the brutal realities of ancient succession politics and underscores the biblical theme that God's choice does not necessarily follow human expectations regarding primogeniture.

Perhe

IsäDavid ÄitiHaggith SisarusAmnon SisarusAbsalom SisarusSolomon SisarusKilab/Daniel (son with Abigail)SisarusShephatiah (son with Abital)SisarusJitream

Avaintapahtumat

Adonijah's Attempt to Seize the Throne

Adonijah exalted himself and declared he would become king while David was old and weak. He acquired chariots, horsemen, and fifty men who ran ahead of him—a method reminiscent of Absalom's earlier display of power. He gained support from the army commander Joab and the priest Abiathar, and held a large sacrificial gathering at the Serpent Stone (Even ha-Zohelet) near En-Rogel.

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5Now Adonijah son of Haggith put himself forward, saying, "I will be king." He provided himself with chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

וַאֲדֹנִיָּ֧ה בֶן־חַגִּ֛ית מִתְנַשֵּׂ֥א לֵאמֹ֖ר אֲנִ֣י אֶמְלֹ֑ךְ וַיַּ֣עַשׂ ל֗וֹ רֶ֚כֶב וּפָ֣רָשִׁ֔ים וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ רָצִ֥ים לְפָנָֽיו׃ ‬

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6His father had never rebuked him or asked, "Why have you done this?" He was also very handsome, and he was born next after Absalom.

וְלֹֽא־עֲצָב֨וֹ אָבִ֤יו מִיָּמָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַדּ֖וּעַ כָּ֣כָה עָשִׂ֑יתָ וְגַם־ה֤וּא טֽוֹב־תֹּ֙אַר֙ מְאֹ֔ד וְאֹת֥וֹ יָלְדָ֖ה אַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ ‬

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7He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave their support to Adonijah.

וַיִּהְי֣וּ דְבָרָ֔יו עִ֚ם יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֔ה וְעִ֖ם אֶבְיָתָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַֽיַּעְזְר֔וּ אַחֲרֵ֖י אֲדֹנִיָּֽה׃ ‬

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8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's own warriors did not side with Adonijah.

וְצָד֣וֹק הַ֠כֹּהֵן וּבְנָיָ֨הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֜ע וְנָתָ֤ן הַנָּבִיא֙ וְשִׁמְעִ֣י וְרֵעִ֔י וְהַגִּבּוֹרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְדָוִ֑ד לֹ֥א הָי֖וּ עִם־אֲדֹנִיָּֽהוּ׃ ‬

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9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah who were royal officials,

וַיִּזְבַּ֣ח אֲדֹנִיָּ֗הוּ צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ וּמְרִ֔יא עִ֚ם אֶ֣בֶן הַזֹּחֶ֔לֶת אֲשֶׁר־אֵ֖צֶל עֵ֣ין רֹגֵ֑ל וַיִּקְרָ֗א אֶת־כָּל־אֶחָיו֙ בְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּלְכָל־אַנְשֵׁ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה עַבְדֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ‬

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10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, or Benaiah, or the warriors, or his brother Solomon.

וְֽאֶת־נָתָן֩ הַנָּבִ֨יא וּבְנָיָ֜הוּ וְאֶת־הַגִּבּוֹרִ֛ים וְאֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה אָחִ֖יו לֹ֥א קָרָֽא׃ ‬

Nathan and Bathsheba's Countermove

The prophet Nathan and Bathsheba went to King David and reminded him of his promise that Solomon would succeed him as king. David immediately ordered that Solomon be anointed as king.

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11Then Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר נָתָ֗ן אֶל־בַּת־שֶׁ֤בַע אֵם־שְׁלֹמֹה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הֲל֣וֹא שָׁמַ֔עַתְּ כִּ֥י מָלַ֖ךְ אֲדֹנִיָּ֣הוּ בֶן־חַגִּ֑ית וַאֲדֹנֵ֥ינוּ דָוִ֖ד לֹ֥א יָדָֽע׃ ‬

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12Come now, let me advise you how to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

וְעַתָּ֕ה לְכִ֛י אִיעָצֵ֥ךְ נָ֖א עֵצָ֑ה וּמַלְּטִי֙ אֶת־נַפְשֵׁ֔ךְ וְאֶת־נֶ֥פֶשׁ בְּנֵ֖ךְ שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ ‬

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13Go in to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to your servant, "Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?'

לְכִ֞י וּבֹ֣אִי ׀ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד וְאָמַ֤רְתְּ אֵלָיו֙ הֲלֹֽא־אַתָּ֞ה אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ נִשְׁבַּ֤עְתָּ לַאֲמָֽתְךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כִּֽי־שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה בְנֵךְ֙ יִמְלֹ֣ךְ אַחֲרַ֔י וְה֖וּא יֵשֵׁ֣ב עַל־כִּסְאִ֑י וּמַדּ֖וּעַ מָלַ֥ךְ אֲדֹנִיָֽהוּ׃ ‬

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14While you are still speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm what you have said."

הִנֵּ֗ה עוֹדָ֛ךְ מְדַבֶּ֥רֶת שָׁ֖ם עִם־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַאֲנִי֙ אָב֣וֹא אַחֲרַ֔יִךְ וּמִלֵּאתִ֖י אֶת־דְּבָרָֽיִךְ׃ ‬

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15So Bathsheba went in to the king in his chamber. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending him.

וַתָּבֹ֨א בַת־שֶׁ֤בֶע אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַחַ֔דְרָה וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ זָקֵ֣ן מְאֹ֑ד וַֽאֲבִישַׁג֙ הַשּׁ֣וּנַמִּ֔ית מְשָׁרַ֖ת אֶת־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ‬

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16Bathsheba bowed low and paid homage to the king. "What do you want?" the king asked.

וַתִּקֹּ֣ד בַּת־שֶׁ֔בַע וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מַה־לָּֽךְ׃ ‬

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17She said to him, "My lord, you yourself swore to your servant by the LORD your God: 'Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne.'

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ אֲדֹנִי֙ אַתָּ֨ה נִשְׁבַּ֜עְתָּ בַּֽיהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ לַֽאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ כִּֽי־שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנֵ֖ךְ יִמְלֹ֣ךְ אַחֲרָ֑י וְה֖וּא יֵשֵׁ֥ב עַל־כִּסְאִֽי׃ ‬

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28Then King David said, "Call Bathsheba in to me." She came into the king's presence and stood before him.

וַיַּ֨עַן הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ דָּוִד֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר קִרְאוּ־לִ֖י לְבַת־שָׁ֑בַע וַתָּבֹא֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ‬

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29And the king swore an oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble,

וַיִּשָּׁבַ֥ע הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חַי־יְהוָ֕ה אֲשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ה אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י מִכָּל־צָרָֽה׃ ‬

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30I will carry out this very day what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place."

כִּ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁבַּ֨עְתִּי לָ֜ךְ בַּיהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כִּֽי־שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה בְנֵךְ֙ יִמְלֹ֣ךְ אַחֲרַ֔י וְה֛וּא יֵשֵׁ֥ב עַל־כִּסְאִ֖י תַּחְתָּ֑י כִּ֛י כֵּ֥ן אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ ‬

Adonijah Seeks Refuge at the Altar

When Adonijah heard that Solomon had been anointed king, he fled in fear and grabbed hold of the altar's horns to seek protection. Solomon spared him on condition that he prove himself loyal and worthy.

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49At this all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm, and each went his own way.

וַיּֽ͏ֶחֶרְדוּ֙ וַיָּקֻ֔מוּ כָּל־הַ֨קְּרֻאִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לַאֲדֹנִיָּ֑הוּ וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ לְדַרְכּֽוֹ׃ ‬

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50But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

וַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ יָרֵ֖א מִפְּנֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַיָּ֣קָם וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וַֽיַּחֲזֵ֖ק בְּקַרְנ֥וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ ‬

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51Then Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and has taken hold of the horns of the altar. He says, 'Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to the sword.'"

וַיֻּגַּ֤ד לִשְׁלֹמֹה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּה֙ אֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ יָרֵ֖א אֶת־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וְ֠הִנֵּה אָחַ֞ז בְּקַרְנ֤וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יִשָּֽׁבַֽע־לִ֤י כַיּוֹם֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה אִם־יָמִ֥ית אֶת־עַבְדּ֖וֹ בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ ‬

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52Solomon replied, "If he proves himself a man of honor, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die."

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה אִ֚ם יִהְיֶ֣ה לְבֶן־חַ֔יִל לֹֽא־יִפֹּ֥ל מִשַּׂעֲרָת֖וֹ אָ֑רְצָה וְאִם־רָעָ֥ה תִמָּצֵא־ב֖וֹ וָמֵֽת׃ ‬

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53Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. Adonijah came and bowed before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה וַיֹּרִדֻ֙הוּ֙ מֵעַ֣ל הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וַיָּבֹ֕א וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ל֥וֹ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לֵ֥ךְ לְבֵיתֶֽךָ׃ פ ‬

Adonijah's Fatal Request for Abishag

After David's death, Adonijah approached Bathsheba and asked her to speak on his behalf with King Solomon to obtain Abishag of Shunem as his wife. In the ancient Near East, taking a king's concubine was regarded as a claim to the throne, and Solomon interpreted the request as a political power play.

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13Now Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked, "Do you come in peace?" "In peace," he said.

וַיָּבֹ֞א אֲדֹנִיָּ֣הוּ בֶן־חַגֵּ֗ית‪[t]‬ אֶל־בַּת־שֶׁ֙בֶע֙ אֵם־שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַתֹּ֖אמֶר הֲשָׁל֣וֹם בֹּאֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שָׁלֽוֹם׃ ‬

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14Then he added, "I have something to say to you." "Speak," she said.

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר דָּבָ֥ר לִ֖י אֵלָ֑יִךְ וַתֹּ֖אמֶר דַּבֵּֽר׃ ‬

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15He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel looked to me as king. But the kingdom has turned about and gone to my brother, for it came to him from the LORD.

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַ֤תְּ יָדַ֙עַתְּ֙ כִּי־לִי֙ הָיְתָ֣ה הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה וְעָלַ֞י שָׂ֧מוּ כָֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם לִמְלֹ֑ךְ וַתִּסֹּ֤ב הַמְּלוּכָה֙ וַתְּהִ֣י לְאָחִ֔י כִּ֥י מֵיְהוָ֖ה הָ֥יְתָה לּֽוֹ׃ ‬

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16Now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me." "Speak," she said.

וְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁאֵלָ֤ה אַחַת֙ אָֽנֹכִי֙ שֹׁאֵ֣ל מֵֽאִתָּ֔ךְ אַל־תָּשִׁ֖בִי אֶת־פָּנָ֑י וַתֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו דַּבֵּֽר׃ ‬

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17He said, "Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אִמְרִי־נָא֙ לִשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֥י לֹֽא־יָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־פָּנָ֑יִךְ וְיִתֶּן־לִ֛י אֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֥ג הַשּׁוּנַמִּ֖ית לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ ‬

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18"Very well," Bathsheba said, "I will speak to the king for you."

וַתֹּ֥אמֶר בַּת־שֶׁ֖בַע ט֑וֹב אָנֹכִ֕י אֲדַבֵּ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ‬

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19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose to meet her and bowed to her; then he sat down on his throne and had a throne brought for the king's mother, and she sat at his right hand.

וַתָּבֹ֤א בַת־שֶׁ֙בַע֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה לְדַבֶּר־ל֖וֹ עַל־אֲדֹנִיָּ֑הוּ וַיָּקָם֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ לִקְרָאתָ֜הּ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֣חוּ לָ֗הּ וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ וַיָּ֤שֶׂם כִּסֵּא֙ לְאֵ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַתֵּ֖שֶׁב לִֽימִינֽוֹ׃ ‬

1. Kun. 2:20 Näytä asiayhteydessä →

20She said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." The king answered, "Ask, my mother; I will not refuse you."

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שְׁאֵלָ֨ה אַחַ֤ת קְטַנָּה֙ אָֽנֹכִי֙ שֹׁאֶ֣לֶת מֵֽאִתָּ֔ךְ אַל־תָּ֖שֶׁב אֶת־פָּנָ֑י וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֤הּ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שַׁאֲלִ֣י אִמִּ֔י כִּ֥י לֹֽא־אָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־פָּנָֽיִךְ׃ ‬

1. Kun. 2:21 Näytä asiayhteydessä →

21So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife."

וַתֹּ֕אמֶר יֻתַּ֖ן אֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֣ג הַשֻּׁנַמִּ֑ית לַאֲדֹנִיָּ֥הוּ אָחִ֖יךָ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ ‬

1. Kun. 2:22 Näytä asiayhteydessä →

22King Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask the kingdom for him as well—he is my older brother—yes, for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah!"

וַיַּעַן֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאִמּ֗וֹ וְלָמָה֩ אַ֨תְּ שֹׁאֶ֜לֶת אֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֤ג הַשֻׁנַּמִּית֙ לַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ וְשַֽׁאֲלִי־לוֹ֙ אֶת־הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה כִּ֛י ה֥וּא אָחִ֖י הַגָּד֣וֹל מִמֶּ֑נִּי וְלוֹ֙ וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וּלְיוֹאָ֖ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָֽה׃ פ ‬

Adonijah's Execution

King Solomon ordered Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to execute Adonijah because of his request for Abishag. Solomon considered this high treason and a renewed claim to royal authority, and swore by the Lord that Adonijah must pay with his life.

1. Kun. 2:23 Näytä asiayhteydessä →

23Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: "May God do so to me and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word at the cost of his life!

וַיִּשָּׁבַע֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה בַּֽיהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֣ה יַֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י בְנַפְשׁ֔וֹ דִּבֶּר֙ אֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה׃ ‬

1. Kun. 2:24 Näytä asiayhteydessä →

24Now therefore, as the LORD lives, who has established me and seated me on the throne of my father David and who has made me a house as he promised—today Adonijah shall be put to death!"

וְעַתָּ֗ה חַי־יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֱכִינַ֗נִי *ויושיביני **וַיּֽוֹשִׁיבַ֙נִי֙ עַל־כִּסֵּא֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔י וַאֲשֶׁ֧ר עָֽשָׂה־לִ֛י בַּ֖יִת כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר כִּ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם יוּמַ֖ת אֲדֹנִיָּֽהוּ׃ ‬

1. Kun. 2:25 Näytä asiayhteydessä →

25So King Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who struck Adonijah down, and he died.

וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה בְּיַ֖ד בְּנָיָ֣הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע וַיִּפְגַּע־בּ֖וֹ וַיָּמֹֽת׃ ס ‬