TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
Adoniyah the son of Haggit was beginning to claim that he would be king; to this end he organized chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run ahead of him.
Berean Standard Bible
At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.
American Standard Version
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.
World English Bible Messianic
Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then Adoniiah the sonne of Haggith exalted himselfe, saying, I will be king. And he gate him charets and horsemen, and fiftie men to run before him.
Young's Literal Translation
And Adonijah son of Haggith is lifting himself up, saying, `I do reign;' and he prepareth for himself a chariot and horsemen, and fifty men running before him,
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Commentary on 1 Kings 1 verses 5–10
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.
6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:
10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
David had much affliction in his children. Amnon and Absalom had both been his grief; the one his first-born, the other his third, Sa2 3:2, Sa2 3:3. His second, whom he had by Abigail, we will suppose he had comfort in; his fourth was Adonijah (Sa2 3:4); he was one of those that were born in Hebron; we have heard nothing of him till now, and here we are told that he was a comely person, and that he was next in age, and (as it proved) next in temper to Absalom, Kg1 1:6. And, further, that in his father's eyes he had been a jewel, but was now a thorn.
I. His father had made a fondling of him, Kg1 1:6. He had not displeased him at any time. It is not said that he never displeased his father; it is probably that he had done so frequently, and his father was secretly troubled at his misconduct and lamented it before God. But his father had not displeased him, by crossing him in his humours, denying him any thing he had a mind to, or by calling him to an account as to what he had done and where he had been, or by keeping him to his book or his business, or reproving him for what he saw or heard of that he did amiss; he never said to him, Why hast thou done so? because he saw it was uneasy to him, and he could not bear it without fretting. It was the son's fault that he was displeased at reproof and took it for affront, whereby he lost the benefit of it; and it was the father's fault that, because he saw it displeased him, he did not reprove him; and now he justly smarted for indulging him. Those who honour their sons more than God, as those do who keep them not under good discipline, thereby forfeit the honour they might expect from their sons.
II. He, in return, made a fool of his father. Because he was old, and confined to his bed, he thought no notice was to be taken of him, and therefore exalted himself, and said, I will be king, Kg1 1:5. Children that are indulged learn to be proud and ambitious, which is the ruin of a great many young people. The way to keep them humble is to keep them under. Observe Adonijah's insolence. 1. He looked upon the days of mourning for his father to be at hand, and therefore he prepared to succeed him, though he knew that by the designation both of God and David Solomon was to be the man; for public notice had been given of it by David himself, and the succession settled, as it were by act of parliament, in pursuance of God's appointment, Ch1 22:9; Ch1 23:1. This entail Adonijah attempted by force to cut off, in contempt both of God and his father. Thus is the kingdom of Christ opposed, and there are those that say, "We will not have him to reign over us." 2. He looked upon his father as superannuated and good for nothing, and therefore he entered immediately upon the possession of the throne. He cannot wait till his father's head be laid low, but it must now be said, Adonijah reigns (Kg1 1:18), and, God save king Adonijah, Kg1 1:25. His father is not fit to govern, for he is old and past ruling, nor Solomon, for he is young, and not yet able to rule; and therefore Adonijah will take the government upon him. It argues a very base and wicked mind for children to insult over their parents because of the infirmities of their age. 3. In pursuance of this ambitious project, (1.) He got a great retinue (Kg1 1:5), chariots and horsemen, both for state and strength, to wait on him, and to fight for him. (2.) He made great interest with no less than Joab, the general of the army, and Abiathar the high priest, Kg1 1:7. That he should make his court to those who by their influence in church and camp were capable of doing him great service is not strange; but we may well wonder by what arts they could be drawn to follow him and help him. They were old men, who had been faithful to David in the most difficult and troublesome of his times, men of sense and experience, who, one would think, would not easily be wheedled. They could not propose any advantage to themselves by supporting Adonijah, for they were both at the top of their preferment and stood fast in it. They could not be ignorant of the entail of the crown upon Solomon, which it was not in their power to cut off, and therefore it was their interest to oblige him. But God, in this matter, left them to themselves, perhaps to correct them for some former misconduct with a scourge of their own making. We are told (Kg1 1:8) who those were that were of such approved fidelity to David that Adonijah had not the confidence so much as to propose his project to them - Zadok, Benaiah, and Nathan. A man that has given proofs of his resolute adherence to that which is good shall not be asked to do a bad thing. (3.) He prepared a great entertainment (Kg1 1:9) at En-rogel, not far from Jerusalem; his guests were the king's sons, and the king's servants, whom he feasted and caressed to bring them over to his party; but Solomon was not invited, either because he despised him or because he despaired of him, Kg1 1:10. Such as serve their own belly, and will be in the interest of those that will feast them what side soever they are of, are an easy prey to seducers, Rom 16:18. Some think that Adonijah slew these sheep and oxen, even fat ones, for sacrifice, and that it was a religious feast he made, beginning his usurpation with a show of devotion, as Absalom under the colour of a vow (Sa2 15:7), which he might do the more plausibly when he had the high priest himself on his side. It is a pity that any occasion should ever be given to say, In nomine Domini incipit omne malam - In the name of the Lord begins all evil, and that all religious exercises should be made to patronise all religious practices.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 5–10. Public domain.
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SUMMARY
Adonijah, David's fourth son, who presumptuously "exalted himself" by declaring his intention to be king, despite lacking divine or paternal appointment. His actions, marked by the public display of chariots, horsemen, and a retinue of fifty runners, mirrored the royal pomp of a legitimate monarch and signaled a clear attempt to usurp the throne, setting the stage for a critical succession crisis at the end of David's reign and highlighting the tension between human ambition and divine sovereignty.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices to convey its dramatic message. Irony is evident in Adonijah's self-exaltation, as his presumptuous attempt to seize power ultimately leads to his swift downfall and the divinely ordained establishment of Solomon's reign, demonstrating the futility of human schemes against God's sovereign will. Foreshadowing is present in Adonijah's actions, which deliberately echo the rebellious tactics of his half-brother Absalom, hinting at a similar tragic outcome for this usurper. The meticulous description of his preparations ("chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him") serves as powerful imagery that vividly portrays his royal pretensions and the public, audacious nature of his usurpation. This detailed imagery also functions as potent symbolism, where the chariots, horsemen, and runners symbolize royal authority, military might, and public prestige, all of which Adonijah attempts to appropriate for himself as a visual declaration of his assumed kingship.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 1:5 serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked human ambition and the futility of self-exaltation when it runs contrary to divine purpose. Adonijah's actions highlight a recurring biblical theme: God is the one who exalts and deposes rulers, not human striving or political maneuvering. His presumptuous grab for power underscores the contrast between those who patiently wait for God's timing and those who attempt to force their own agenda. This narrative sets the stage for God's clear demonstration of sovereignty in establishing Solomon, teaching that true authority and lasting success come from divine appointment and humble obedience, not from human strength, cunning, or self-promotion.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Adonijah's story in 1 Kings 1:5 offers a powerful cautionary tale for believers today, challenging us to deeply examine our own ambitions and desires for position, influence, or recognition. Are we truly willing to wait for God's timing and trust in His sovereign plan, even when circumstances seem to invite us to take matters into our own hands? Or are we prone to "exalt ourselves," pushing our own agendas and assuming authority that has not been given? True leadership and lasting blessing in God's kingdom do not come from self-promotion, outward displays of power, or strategic maneuvering, but from humble submission to His will and patient endurance. This verse encourages us to cultivate a spirit of humility, recognizing that all authority ultimately belongs to God, and He alone determines who He will raise up or bring down. Our focus should be on faithfulness in our current calling, diligently serving where we are, and trusting that God will open doors and provide opportunities according to His perfect wisdom and timing, rather than striving to create them ourselves.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "exalted himself" mean in this context?
Answer: In 1 Kings 1:5, "exalted himself" (Hebrew mithnassêʼ) means that Adonijah arrogantly and presumptuously took it upon himself to claim the kingship. It signifies a self-proclamation of authority and status without legitimate divine or human appointment. He was not merely expressing a desire, but actively asserting his right to the throne and taking steps to publicly assume the role of king, in defiance of David's unstated but understood preference for Solomon and God's prior designation of Solomon. This phrase implies a strong sense of self-will, an overestimation of his own position, and an attempt to force his way into power.
Why was Adonijah's attempt to become king a problem if he was the eldest surviving son?
Answer: While primogeniture was a common custom in the ancient Near East, it was not an absolute rule for succession in the Israelite monarchy, especially when God had a specific plan. The primary reason Adonijah's attempt was problematic was that God had already designated Solomon, David's son by Bathsheba, to be the next king and to build the Temple (as revealed in 1 Chronicles 22:9-10 and foreshadowed in the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7:12-16). David himself had made a private oath to Bathsheba that Solomon would succeed him (1 Kings 1:13). Adonijah's actions were a direct usurpation of both divine will and the reigning king's prerogative to name his successor, making it an illegitimate coup attempt rather than a rightful claim based on custom.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Adonijah's self-exaltation and attempt to seize the throne in 1 Kings 1:5 stands in stark contrast to the true King, Jesus Christ. Adonijah sought a kingdom by human ambition and outward display, preparing chariots and horsemen to assert his power and gather support. Jesus, however, came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). His kingdom was not of this world, established by force or human might, but by humble obedience and sacrificial love (John 18:36). While Adonijah's claim was illegitimate and ultimately failed, Jesus' kingship is divinely appointed and eternal, established by God the Father who "highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9) because of His perfect obedience, even to death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). Adonijah's display of earthly power and his ultimate failure foreshadow the futility of all human attempts to establish lasting dominion apart from God's will, while Christ's humble entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (Matthew 21:5) perfectly fulfills prophecy and demonstrates the true nature of divine kingship—one of peace, righteousness, and ultimate victory through self-giving love.