TRV
Translation
King James Version
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:
KJV (with Strong's)
Complete Jewish Bible
One day Adoniyah killed sheep, oxen and fattened calves at the Stone of Zochelet, by 'Ein-Rogel. He summoned all his brothers the king's sons, and all the men of Y'hudah the king's servants;
Berean Standard Bible
And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.
American Standard Version
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he called all his brethren, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants:
World English Bible Messianic
Adonijah killed sheep and cattle and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants:
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then Adoniiah sacrificed sheepe and oxen, and fat cattel by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel, and called all his brethren the kings sonnes, and al the men of Iudah ye Kings seruants,
Young's Literal Translation
And Adonijah sacrificeth sheep and oxen and fatlings near the stone of Zoheleth, that is by En-Rogel, and calleth all his brethren, sons of the king, and for all the men of Judah, servants of the king;
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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
1 Kings 1:9 vividly portrays Adonijah's calculated and unauthorized attempt to seize the throne from his aging father, King David. This pivotal verse details his orchestration of a lavish sacrificial feast at the prominent stone of Zoheleth near Enrogel, a strategic location for a public demonstration of power. By slaughtering numerous animals and summoning key members of the royal family and influential figures from the tribe of Judah, Adonijah publicly proclaimed his claim to kingship, thereby initiating a profound succession crisis at the twilight of David's reign and setting the stage for a dramatic contest over the divinely appointed heir.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The narrative in 1 Kings 1:9 employs several potent literary devices to convey its dramatic import. Foreshadowing is prominently featured, as Adonijah's feast, meticulously designed to mimic a royal enthronement, immediately sets the stage for the intense succession crisis that will dominate the chapter. His actions directly foreshadow the impending confrontation with Solomon, the divinely appointed heir. There is also a strong element of Irony present; Adonijah's grand, self-proclaimed coronation, intended to establish his authority and secure his reign, ultimately serves to highlight his lack of legitimate claim and precipitates his swift downfall. The Symbolism of the sacrificial feast itself is crucial; it is not merely a communal meal but a ritualistic act designed to legitimize a claim to power, reflecting the ancient Near Eastern practice of covenant-making and royal inauguration through communal feasting and sacrifice. The detailed geographical markers ("stone of Zoheleth," "Enrogel") lend a powerful sense of Realism and historical grounding to the narrative, making the events feel immediate and tangible to the reader.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 1:9 serves as a stark illustration of the dangers inherent in human ambition when it operates unchecked by divine will and legitimate authority. Adonijah's self-exaltation and his forceful attempt to seize the throne, rather than patiently awaiting God's appointed time or David's clear designation, highlight a recurring biblical theme: true leadership and lasting authority are divinely bestowed, not aggressively taken. His actions underscore the chaos and instability that inevitably arise when individuals operate outside God's sovereign plan, contrasting sharply with the peaceful and divinely sanctioned transfer of power to Solomon. This episode powerfully reminds us that human schemes, however well-orchestrated or lavishly presented, cannot ultimately thwart God's eternal purposes.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Adonijah's story in 1 Kings 1:9 offers a timeless and profound lesson about the perils of unchecked ambition and the paramount importance of humility and patience in awaiting God's perfect timing and divine appointment. In a world that frequently celebrates self-made success and the aggressive pursuit of power, Adonijah's example stands as a potent cautionary tale. His elaborate feast, meticulously planned to solidify his claim to the throne, instead exposed his presumption and ultimately led to his swift and decisive downfall. For believers today, this narrative compels us to critically examine our own desires for recognition, influence, or position. Are we seeking to advance ourselves through human strategies, manipulation, or self-promotion, or are we truly trusting in God's sovereign hand to open doors and elevate us according to His perfect and righteous will? True authority and lasting, meaningful impact come solely from God's anointing, not from our own efforts to seize what we believe we deserve. We are called to serve faithfully where we are, cultivating a spirit of humility, contentment, and unwavering trust, knowing with certainty that God alone is the one who "puts down one and exalts another" (Psalm 75:7).
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was Adonijah's feast considered an act of usurpation, and not just a family gathering?
Answer: Adonijah's feast was unequivocally an act of usurpation for several critical reasons, extending far beyond a mere family gathering. Firstly, it was conducted without the knowledge, consent, or blessing of the reigning King David, who was still alive, albeit frail. In ancient Near Eastern monarchies, such a public gathering involving a sacrificial feast and the summoning of key royal and tribal figures was universally understood as a ceremonial act of royal inauguration, a public declaration of kingship. Secondly, King David had already sworn an oath to Bathsheba that their son Solomon would succeed him (as explicitly revealed in 1 Kings 1:17). Adonijah's actions were, therefore, a direct and defiant challenge to this established, divinely sanctioned succession plan. Thirdly, the guest list was highly selective and strategically curated, deliberately excluding key figures known for their loyalty to David and Solomon, such as Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, and David's mighty men (as specifically mentioned in 1 Kings 1:10). This selective invitation clearly indicated Adonijah's intent to form a rival power base and bypass legitimate authority, making it a calculated political maneuver designed to force his claim to the throne.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Adonijah's attempted usurpation in 1 Kings 1:9, a blatant act of self-exaltation through human means and political maneuvering, stands in stark and profound contrast to the true and ultimate King, Jesus Christ. Adonijah sought to seize a throne that was not legitimately his, through a lavish display of power and strategic, self-serving alliances. His ambition was rooted purely in self-will and pride, leading to a temporary, illegitimate "coronation" that ultimately failed. In profound distinction, Jesus did not "slew sheep and oxen" to declare His kingship; rather, He was Himself the ultimate Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, offering His own perfect life as the supreme sacrifice for humanity. His kingship was not seized by force or human machination but was divinely appointed and eternally established, as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6-7 and powerfully confirmed throughout the New Testament. He came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Unlike Adonijah, who gathered supporters for his own personal gain and glory, Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). His kingdom is not of this world, established by political maneuvering or earthly power, but is a spiritual kingdom characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (John 18:36; Romans 14:17). Adonijah's ultimate failure underscores the eternal truth that true authority and lasting reign come only from God's sovereign appointment, a truth fully and gloriously realized in the undisputed and eternal reign of Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).