Keraia
People

Adonijah

Adonijah, the fourth son of David, declared himself king when David was old, but Solomon was chosen to succeed David instead, and Adonijah was later put to death for his rebellious actions.

The name Adonijah means “the Lord is my master”

MaleDavid's sonTribe of JudahUnited Monarchy eraOld Testament3 books37 verses

Summary

A man from the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2 Samuel 3:4; only referred to as Adonijah (אֲדֹנִיָּ֫הוּ); a son of David and Haggith; half-brother of: Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Shephatiah, Ithream, Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet, Tamar, Elpelet, Nogah and Jerimoth.

Glossary entries

Adonijah

Family members

Father

David

Mother

Haggith

Siblings

Absalom Amnon Chileab Eliada Eliphelet Elishama Elishua Elpelet Ibhar Ithream Japhia Jerimoth Nathan Nepheg Nogah Shammua Shephatiah Shobab Solomon Tamar

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 13 verses that refer to Adonijah without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. 2 Samuel 3:4
    …his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;
  2. 1 Kings 1:5
    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.
  3. 1 Kings 1:6Referred to, not named
    (His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)
  4. 1 Kings 1:7
    So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.
  5. 1 Kings 1:8
    But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.
  6. 1 Kings 1:9
    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.
  7. 1 Kings 1:10Referred to, not named
    But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
  8. 1 Kings 1:11
    Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?
  9. 1 Kings 1:13
    Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’
  10. 1 Kings 1:18
    But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.
  11. 1 Kings 1:19Referred to, not named
    And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon.
  12. 1 Kings 1:24
    “My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?
  13. 1 Kings 1:25
    For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
  14. 1 Kings 1:26Referred to, not named
    But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
  15. 1 Kings 1:41
    Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab.
  16. 1 Kings 1:42
    As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”
  17. 1 Kings 1:43
    “Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.
  18. 1 Kings 1:45Referred to, not named
    Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.
  19. 1 Kings 1:49
    At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.
  20. 1 Kings 1:50
    But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.
  21. 1 Kings 1:51
    It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”
  22. 1 Kings 1:52Referred to, not named
    And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”
  23. 1 Kings 1:53Referred to, not named
    So King Solomon summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”
  24. 1 Kings 2:13
    Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she asked, “Do you come in peace?” “Yes, in peace,” he replied.
  25. 1 Kings 2:14Referred to, not named
    Then he said, “I have something to tell you.” “Say it,” she answered.
  26. 1 Kings 2:15Referred to, not named
    “You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.
  27. 1 Kings 2:16Referred to, not named
    So now I have just one request of you; do not deny me.” “State your request,” she told him.
  28. 1 Kings 2:17Referred to, not named
    Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
  29. 1 Kings 2:18Referred to, not named
    “Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”
  30. 1 Kings 2:19
    So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, and sat down on his throne. Then the king had a throne brought for his mother, who sat down at his right hand.
  31. 1 Kings 2:21
    So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”
  32. 1 Kings 2:22
    King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”
  33. 1 Kings 2:23
    Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life.
  34. 1 Kings 2:24
    And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!”
  35. 1 Kings 2:25Referred to, not named
    So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.
  36. 1 Kings 2:28
    When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.
  37. 1 Chronicles 3:2
    …the third was Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; the fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith;