1 Kings 1:5

_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._ Then Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself. Nothing is said as to the origin or rank of Haggith, so that it is probable she was not distinguished by family descent. Adonijah, though David's fourth son (2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Chronicles 3:2), was now the oldest alive; and personal attractions and manners (cf. 1 Samuel 9:2) not only recommended him to the leading men about court, but made him the favourite of his father, who, though seeing him assume an entourage becoming only the heir-presumptive to the throne ...

5-10 Indulgent parents are often chastised with disobedient children, who are anxious to possess their estates. No worldly wisdom, nor experience, nor sacredness of character, can insure the continuance in any former course of those who remain under the power of self-love. But we may well wonder by what arts Joab and Abiathar could be drawn aside....

Verse 1 Kings 1:5. _ADONIJAH THE SON OF HAGGITH_] Who this woman was we know not; Adonijah was evidently David's eldest son now living, and one of whom his father was particularly fond; see 1 Kings 1:6. _PREPARED HIM CHARIOTS AND HORSEMEN_] He copied the conduct of his brother Absalom in every respect. See 2 Samuel 15:1....

THE NARRATIVE CONCERNING - Abishag, the Shunammite (see the margin reference “a”), is introduced as necessary for a proper understanding of Adonijah’s later history (see 1 Kings 2:13.) But even as it stands, it heightens considerably the picture drawn of the poor king’s weak and helpless condition, of which Adonijah was not ashamed to take advantage for his own aggrandizement. Adonijah was born while David reigned at Hebron, and was therefore now between thirty-three and forty years of age. He was David’s fourth son, but had probably become the eldest by the death of his three older brothers. He claimed the crown by right of primogeniture 1 Kings 2:15, and secretly to his partisans (compare 1 King

EXPOSITION THE REVOLT OF ADONIJAH AND THE ACCESSION OF SOLOMON.—The first chapter of this book is occupied with the accession of Solomon and with the circumstances which preceded, marked, and followed that event. The author, or compiler, evidently considered that his work properly began with the reign of Israel's third king, and David's illness and death are only introduced into the narrative because they necessitated a hasty and premature coronation of Solomon, and exercised an important influence on the beginning of his reign (1 Kings 2:1). In the natural order of events, Solomon would not have succeeded until his father's death, but Adonijah's attempt to possess himself of the kingdom required the immediate elevation of Sol

THEN ADONIJAH THE SON OF HAGGITH EXALTED HIMSELF,.... This was his mother's name, 2 Samuel 3:4; his father David being old and infirm, and not like to live long, notable to oppose him; and he being the eldest son, and a comely person, was inspired with ambition to set up for king: SAYING, I WILL BE KING; though he knew that Solomon was appointed of God, and promised by David, and expected by the people to be king, yet he was resolved to set up himself for king, and try if he could not get himself to the throne; on this he was bent and determined: AND HE PREPARED HIM CHARIOTS AND HORSEMEN, AND FIFTY MEN TO RUN BEFORE HIM; just as Absalom had done, when he had the same thing in view, to make him respectable among the people, see 2 Samuel 15:1....

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. DAVID'S LAST DAYS AND THE CROWNING OF SOLOMON 1. Adonijah's Exaltation to be King CHAPTER 1:1-27 _ 1. David's decrepitude (1 Kings 1:1)_ 2. Adonijah's self-exaltation (1 Kings 1:5) 3. The plot of Nathan and Bath-sheba (1 Kings 1:10) 4. Bath-sheba and Nathan before the king (1 Kings 1:15) David was about 70 years old and extremely feeble. The strenuous life he had led, the exposures and hardships of his youth, the cares and anxieties of his reign, and the chastenings through which he passed on account of his great sin, and much else were responsible for thi

LAST DAYS OF DAVID AND ACCESSION OF SOLOMON. This chapter with the following has many analogies with the court history of David (2 Samuel 11-20). The narrative bears every sign of an authentic account of actual events, told with complete impartiality, and without any attempt to comment favourably or otherwise on the events related. David is represented as a very aged man nursed by his youngest wife, Abishag the Shunammite (1 Kings 1:3). Her beauty is especially noticed as it may have caused the death of David's son, Adonijah. Shunem, her native place, was a slope overlooking the plain of Esdraelon near Jezreel, and she is the Shulammite in the Song of Songs (Ca. 1 Kings 6:13). The pivot around which all revolves is the succession. The chief claimant was Adonijah the son of Haggith ...

ADONIJAH. Fourth son of David (1 Samuel 3:4). Amnon dead (2 Samuel 13:29), Absalom dead (2 Samuel 18:14), and probably Chileab (2 Samuel 3:3). MEN. Hebrew. _ish_. App-14....

Adonijah attempts to make himself king (Not in Chronicles) 5. _Adonijah, the son of Haggith_ He seems now to have been the eldest of David's living sons. See the list of them 2 Samuel 3:2-5. Amnon and Absalom we know were dead, and of the second son, Chileab (called Daniel 1 Chronicles 3:1), we have no notice in Scripture, so that he seems to have died young. Adonijah stands fourth in the list; of his mother's parentage or connexion no mention is made. _chariots and horsemen_&c. Compare the similar conduct of Absalom (2 Samuel 15:1) at the time of his conspiracy against his father. The words refer not to the preparation of an armament for war, but to a kingly retinue which should attend