Adonijah (2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Chronicles 3:2; 1 Kings 1:5–8; 1 Kings 1:9–10; 1 Kings 1:11; 1 Kings 1:17–18; 1 Kings 1:30; 1 Kings 1:39–43; 1 Kings 1:49–53; 1 Kings 2:13–18; 1 Kings 2:22–25; 1 Kings 2:28)

Son of David and Haggith

The fourth son born to David in Hebron, the son of Haggith, who exalted himself in David's old age, saying I will be king, feasted by En-rogel with Joab and Abiathar, fled to the horns of the altar when Solomon was anointed, and was put to death after asking for Abishag.

Adonijah is listed fourth among the sons born to David in Hebron: “and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith” (2 Samuel 3:4). The text names him again only when David is old. “Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him” (1 Kings 1:5). He “conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him” (1 Kings 1:7), while Zadok, Benaiah, Nathan and David's mighty men “were not with Adonijah” (1 Kings 1:8).

At the stone of Zoheleth by En-rogel he made a feast and called his brethren and the men of Judah, “but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not” (1 Kings 1:10). Nathan and Bath-sheba went in to David, who swore that Solomon should reign and had him anointed at Gihon. When the noise reached the feast, “all the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. And Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar” (1 Kings 1:49-50). Solomon told him, “Go to thy house” (1 Kings 1:53).

After David's death Adonijah came to Bath-sheba and said, “Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine … howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother’s; for it was his from Jehovah” (1 Kings 2:15), and asked her to speak to Solomon that Abishag the Shunammite be given him to wife. Solomon answered, “ask for him the kingdom also” (1 Kings 2:22), and swore, “surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day” (1 Kings 2:24). He sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, “and he fell upon him, so that he died” (1 Kings 2:25). The New Testament does not mention him.

Weaknesses

• Exalted himself
• Called not Solomon his brother
• Spoke a word against his own life

Themes

• Claim to the throne
• Succession to David
• Sides taken
• Fear and pardon
• The kingdom from the LORD

Born in Hebron, the fourth son (2 Samuel 3:2–5; 1 Chronicles 3:1–2)

Among the sons born to David in Hebron, Adonijah is the fourth, the son of Haggith.

Exalts himself (1 Kings 1:1–8)

While old David is cared for by Abishag, Adonijah says he will be king, prepares chariots and horsemen, and wins Joab and Abiathar, but Zadok, Benaiah and Nathan are not with him.

Exalts himself

“Now king David was old and stricken in years” (1 Kings 1:1), and his servants sought “Abishag the Shunammite” (1 Kings 1:3) to cherish him; “the king knew her not” (1 Kings 1:4).

“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom” (1 Kings 1:5-6).

“And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men that belonged to David, were not with Adonijah” (1 Kings 1:7-8).

The feast at En-rogel (1 Kings 1:9–10)

Adonijah slays sheep and oxen by the stone of Zoheleth and calls his brethren and the men of Judah, but not Nathan, Benaiah, the mighty men or Solomon.

Nathan and Bath-sheba go in to David (1 Kings 1:11–31)

Nathan tells Bath-sheba that Adonijah reigns and David knows it not; she and Nathan speak to David, who swears again that Solomon shall reign.

The guests scatter; Adonijah at the altar (1 Kings 1:32–53)

David has Solomon anointed at Gihon; the noise reaches Adonijah's feast, his guests flee, and Adonijah takes hold of the horns of the altar until Solomon sends him to his house.

The guests scatter; Adonijah at the altar

“And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon” (1 Kings 1:39).

“And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating” (1 Kings 1:41). Jonathan the son of Abiathar came and told them, “Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king” (1 Kings 1:43). “And all the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. And Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar” (1 Kings 1:49-50).

Solomon said, “If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die” (1 Kings 1:52). “So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and did obeisance to king Solomon; and Solomon said unto him, Go to thy house” (1 Kings 1:53).

The request for Abishag (1 Kings 2:13–22)

After David's death Adonijah asks Bath-sheba to speak to Solomon that Abishag be given him to wife; Solomon refuses and says to ask the kingdom also.

The request for Abishag

“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably” (1 Kings 2:13).

“And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother’s; for it was his from Jehovah. And now I ask one petition of thee; deny me not” (1 Kings 2:15-16). He asked her to speak to Solomon “that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife” (1 Kings 2:17), and she said, “Well; I will speak for thee unto the king” (1 Kings 2:18).

Solomon answered his mother, “And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah” (1 Kings 2:22).

Put to death (1 Kings 2:23–25)

Solomon swears by the LORD that Adonijah shall die for this word and sends Benaiah, who falls upon him.

Put to death

“Then king Solomon sware by Jehovah, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah hath not spoken this word against his own life. Now therefore as Jehovah liveth, who hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me a house, as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day” (1 Kings 2:23-24).

“And king Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him, so that he died” (1 Kings 2:25).

The text records no last words or burial for Adonijah. It goes on to say that Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest, and that “Joab had turned after Adonijah” (1 Kings 2:28) and fled to the horns of the altar (1 Kings 2:27-28).

David (2 Samuel 3:2–4; 1 Kings 1:6; 1 Kings 1:28–30)

His father, who had not displeased him at any time, and who swore that Solomon should reign after him.

Haggith (2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Kings 1:5; 1 Kings 2:13)

His mother; he is called Adonijah the son of Haggith.

Solomon (1 Kings 1:10; 1 Kings 2:15; 1 Kings 2:22–25)

His brother, whom he called not to the feast, and to whom the kingdom turned about.

Bath-sheba (1 Kings 1:11–21; 1 Kings 2:13–21)

David's wife and Solomon's mother, who told David that Adonijah reigned, and later spoke to Solomon for him.

Nathan the prophet (1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 1:10–11; 1 Kings 1:24–27)

Not with him and not called to his feast, he told Bath-sheba that Adonijah reigned and asked David whether he had said Adonijah shall reign.

Joab (1 Kings 1:7; 1 Kings 1:41; 1 Kings 2:28)

Conferred with him and helped him; Joab had turned after Adonijah.

Abiathar the priest (1 Kings 1:7; 1 Kings 2:22; 1 Kings 2:26–27)

Conferred with him and helped him; Solomon later thrust him out from being priest.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada (1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 1:10; 1 Kings 2:25)

Was not with Adonijah and was not called to his feast; at Solomon's word he fell upon him, so that he died.

Major sections

• 2 Samuel 3:2–5
• 1 Kings 1:1–53
• 1 Kings 2:13–28

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