Adonijah’s Bid for Power

Adonijah son of Haggith(A) kept exalting himself, saying, “I will be king!” He prepared chariots, cavalry, and 50 men to run ahead of him.[a](B) But his father had never once reprimanded[b](C) him by saying, “Why do you act this way?”(D) In addition, he was quite handsome(E) and was born after Absalom.(F) He conspired[c] with Joab son of Zeruiah(G) and with Abiathar the priest.(H) They supported(I) Adonijah, but Zadok the priest,(J) Benaiah son of Jehoiada,(K) Nathan the prophet,(L) Shimei,(M) Rei, and David’s warriors(N) did not side with Adonijah.

Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, 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 Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the warriors, or his brother Solomon.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 1:5 Heralds announcing his procession
  2. 1 Kings 1:6 Or grieved
  3. 1 Kings 1:7 Lit His words were

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