³⁸ Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites^(A) went down, had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and took him to Gihon. ³⁹ Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon.^(B) Then they blew the ram’s horn,^(C) and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”^{(D) 40} All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy^(E) that the earth split open from the sound.^[a]

Adonijah Hears of Solomon’s Coronation

⁴¹ Adonijah and all the invited guests who were with him^(F) heard the noise as they finished eating. Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn and said, “Why is the town in such an uproar?”^{(G) 42} He was still speaking when Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest,^(H) suddenly arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are an excellent man, and you must be bringing good news.”^(I)

⁴³ “Unfortunately not,” Jonathan answered him. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. ⁴⁴ And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have had him ride on the king’s mule. ⁴⁵ Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon.^(J) They have gone from there rejoicing. The town has been in an uproar; that’s the noise you heard. ⁴⁶ Solomon has even taken his seat on the royal throne.^(K)