Dâ•widꞋ ha-MëlꞋëkh Feeble

Shu•neimꞋ (corrupted to "Shunem")

As the days went by, ha-MëlꞋëkh Dâ•widꞋ grew old and developed a circulatory problem that made him feel cold. No amount of blankets could keep him warm. Some of his attendants met together and decided that perhaps a young woman might keep him warm. So they searched throughout Yi•sᵊr•â•eilꞋ and brought the most beautiful woman in Yi•sᵊr•â•eilꞋ, a young woman from Shu•neimꞋ, named Av•i•shagꞋ, to keep him company and warm him up. (But no intimacy was involved.)

A•don•i•yâhꞋu Attempts To Grab The Throne Of YᵊhudꞋâh

Ir Dâ•widꞋ, capital of Yᵊru•shâ•laꞋyim.

Seeing that the mëlꞋëkh was becoming increasingly feeble, one of his sons (by his wife Queen Khag•itꞋ), Prince A•don•iꞋyâhꞋu, proclaimed himself heir to the throne of YᵊhudꞋâh, reigning over Yi•sᵊr•â•eilꞋ. He was very handsome and spoiled. His father had never disciplined him. To promote himself as the next mëlꞋëkh, he hired a chariot with drivers and 50 men to run ahead of his chariot. Attempting a coup, he persuaded the Chief of Staff of the TzaꞋh"l, 4-star General Yo•âvꞋ Bën-Tzᵊru•yâhꞋ and Ëv•yâ•târꞋ the Ko•heinꞋ ha-Jâ•dolꞋ, to support him as heir-apparent and have him crowned mëlꞋëkh.

Ir Dâ•widꞋ and Hei•khâlꞋ (Capital Palace) Dâ•widꞋ ha-MëlꞋëkh, in Yᵊru•shâ•laꞋyim (showing the Mi•loꞋ3)

But Tzâ•doqꞋ¹ the Ko•heinꞋ, Bᵊnâ•yâhꞋu Bën-Yᵊho•yâ•dâꞋ, Nâ•tânꞋ ha-Nâ•viꞋ, Shi•mᵊeiꞋ, Rei•iyꞋ and Dâ•widꞋ's heroes remained loyal to the wishes of Dâ•widꞋ.

So Prince A•don•iꞋyâhꞋu, slaughtered sacrifices of tzon, cattle and a fattened bull on "Reptile Rock,"² on the hill opposite KᵊpharꞋ ha-Shi•loꞋakh in the capital, Yᵊru•shâ•laꞋyim; and he invited all of his supporters, friends and brother-princes — except Nâ•tânꞋ ha- Nâ•viꞋ, Bᵊnâ•yâhꞋu, Dâ•widꞋ's heroes and ShᵊlomꞋoh.

Nâ•tânꞋ ha- Nâ•viꞋ Counsels Queen Bat-ShëvꞋa

The Mi•loꞋ3 today, reinforcing the downhill corner of the platform support­ing the Royal Palace of Dâ•widꞋ ha-MëlꞋëkh and ShᵊlomꞋoh ha-MëlꞋëkh in Yi•sᵊr•â•eilꞋ's Capital, Yᵊru•shâ•laꞋyim.

Seeing that Prince A•don•iꞋyâhꞋu, was orchestrating his own coronation, Nâ•tânꞋ ha- Nâ•viꞋ alerted Queen Bat-ShëvꞋa, the mother of Prince ShᵊlomꞋoh. "Have you not heard that Prince A•don•iꞋyâhꞋu, Bën-Khag•itꞋ is crowning himself mëlꞋëkh, and a•don•einꞋu Dâ•widꞋ ha-MëlꞋëkh doesn't know about it? If Prince A•don•iꞋyâhꞋu, succeeds in crowning himself mëlꞋëkh, he may kill not only his rival to the throne, your son Prince ShᵊlomꞋoh, but you as well. So let's go and confirm with a•don•einꞋu Dâ•widꞋ ha-MëlꞋëkh that he swore to you that your son, Prince ShᵊlomꞋoh, would succeed him on his throne. Ask him straight out: 'So why has Prince A•don•iꞋyâhꞋu, become mëlꞋëkh?' Then, while you're still speaking with Dâ•widꞋ ha-MëlꞋëkh, I'll come in and take it from there."