Adonijah’s Bid for Power

Adonijah son of Haggith(A) kept exalting himself, saying, “I will be king!” He prepared chariots, cavalry, and fifty men to run ahead of him.[a](B) But his father had never once infuriated(C) him by asking, “Why did you do that?” (D) In addition, he was quite handsome(E) and was born after Absalom.(F) He conspired[b] with Joab son of Zeruiah(G) and with the priest Abiathar.(H) They supported(I) Adonijah, but the priest Zadok,(J) Benaiah son of Jehoiada,(K) the prophet Nathan,(L) Shimei,(M) Rei, and David’s royal guard[c](N) did not side with Adonijah.

Adonijah sacrificed sheep, goats, cattle, and fattened cattle near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel.(O) He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king,(P) 10 but he did not invite the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, the royal guard, or his brother Solomon.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. 1:5 Heralds announcing his procession
  2. 1:7 Lit His words were
  3. 1:8 Lit David’s warriors

Now (A)Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” So (B)he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run before him. And his father had never rebuked him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?” And he was also a very handsome man, and [a](C)he was born after Absalom. Now [b]he had conferred with (D)Joab the son of Zeruiah and with (E)Abiathar the priest; and they allied themselves with (F)Adonijah. But (G)Zadok the priest, (H)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, (I)Nathan the prophet, (J)Shimei, Rei, and (K)the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened steers by the [c]stone of Zoheleth, which is beside (L)En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother (M)Solomon.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 1:6 Lit she gave him birth
  2. 1 Kings 1:7 Lit his words were
  3. 1 Kings 1:9 Or Sliding; or Serpent Stone

Now Adonijah,(A) whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots(B) and horses[a] ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. (His father had never rebuked(C) him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)

Adonijah conferred with Joab(D) son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar(E) the priest, and they gave him their support. But Zadok(F) the priest, Benaiah(G) son of Jehoiada, Nathan(H) the prophet, Shimei(I) and Rei and David’s special guard(J) did not join Adonijah.

Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel.(K) He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons,(L) and all the royal officials of Judah, 10 but he did not invite(M) Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 1:5 Or charioteers