David, now an old man, is still king of Israel. Among his sons, the ambitious Adonijah and the clever Solomon. The two young men are fierce rivals, since both are prospective heirs to the throne and only one can be successful. During a hunting expedition, Adonijah challenges his younger brother Solomon to a chariot race. While Solomon, though brave, still retains a modicum of caution, the daredevil Adonijah is eager to win at all costs — and loses control of his chariot.
Solomon takes the seriously injured Adonijah back to Jerusalem. On the way there they meet the attractive Abishag, who despite her youth is versed in the use of healing herbs. She actually succeeds in helping the prince. Adonijah falls in love with Abishag — but Bathsheba arranges things so that she works for David, hoping that her youth, her beauty and her healing powers will soothe the old king's suffering.
Several members of the influential priesthood and also the respected army general Joab, who served David loyally for many years, support Adonijah's claim to the throne— even though David has still not made any decision with regard to a potential successor. The battle-experienced Joab regards Solomon as an indecisive weakling, under whose leadership the kingdom would soon fall apart. When the prophet Nathan finds out about Adonijah's conspiracy he informs Bathsheba and Solomon, who urge David to take immediate action.
And so it comes to pass that preparations to anoint the future king of Israel are made both at the Spring of Enrogel, where Adonijah and his men are encamped, as well as in Jerusalem. The festive procession for Adonijah has already been assembled and the people enticed with delicious delicacies to cheer him on, when the news of Solomon's coronation reaches Enrogel. The people promptly acknowledge the will of King David and stream off to Jerusalem in their hordes to greet Solomon, their future ruler. Adonijah remains behind with a handful of loyal followers. He realizes that he has lost — for the time being. Humbly he places his life in his brother's hands. Adonijah is forgiven on one condition: that he always remains loyal to his brother Solomon.
The great King David is dead, and his son Solomon has succeeded him as the rightful ruler of Israel. Adonijah now has a request to make of Bathsheba: he wants to marry Abishag. Solomon hears about this seemingly innocent wish, and recognizes it as a renewed ploy on behalf of his brother to reclaim the throne — Adonijah's marriage to the last woman to share King David's bed would strengthen his political position considerably. Solomon knows that he has to act quickly and decisively if he is to secure his own power. He has his brother Adonijah and the latter's closest associate Joab executed. After this radical decision, Solomon withdraws to present sacrifices.
In a dream the Lord appears to him and grants him the fulfillment of a wish, whatever it may be. Solomon merely asks for wisdom — in order to become a good ruler and judge. With war between Egypt and Israel looming, Solomon then agrees to marry the daughter of the Pharaoh to create an alliance between Israel and Egypt. He does this with many of the daughters of the kings of the other surrounding countries to avoid war. However, the priests & Israelite governors and advisors to Solomon urge him to remember the Laws of Moses. Ironically, even though he promises them and God he will always follow the Laws of Moses, Solomon ends up worshiping the false gods of his many wives in order to appease them and Israel's relationships with their fathers.
Solomon also marries the Queen of Sheba and has a son by her, but after she gives birth to her son, she then regretfully leaves to go back to Sheba to continue being queen there. When he finally dies years later, his chief advisor, Jeroboam almost goes into a civil war with Solomon's son by the Ammonite princess Naamah, Rehoboam, and 11 of the 12 tribes secede from the union of Israel and Judah and decide to remain loyal only to Jeroboam, and only the Tribe of Judah decides to remain loyal to Rehoboam.
