5 At this time Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, puffed himself up saying, "I'm the next king!" He made quite a splash, with chariots and riders and fifty men to run ahead of him. 6 His father had spoiled him rotten as a child, never once reprimanding him. Besides that, he was very good-looking and the next in line after Absalom. 7 Adonijah talked with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they threw their weight on his side. 8 But neither the priest Zadok, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor Nathan the prophet, nor Shimei and Rei, nor David's personal bodyguards supported Adonijah. 9 Next Adonijah held a coronation feast, sacrificing sheep, cattle, and grain-fed heifers at the Stone of Zoheleth near the Rogel Spring. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and everyone in Judah who had position and influence - 10 but he did not invite the prophet Nathan, Benaiah, the bodyguards, or his brother Solomon.
11 Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Did you know that Adonijah, Haggith's son, has taken over as king, and our master David doesn't know a thing about it? 12 Quickly now, let me tell you how you can save both your own life and Solomon's. 13 Go immediately to King David. Speak up: 'Didn't you, my master the king, promise me, "Your son Solomon will be king after me and sit on my throne"? So why is Adonijah now king?' 14 While you're there talking with the king, I'll come in and corroborate your story." 15 Bathsheba went at once to the king in his palace bedroom. He was so old! Abishag was at his side making him comfortable. 16 As Bathsheba bowed low, honoring the king, he said, "What do you want?" 17 "My master," she said, "you promised me in God's name, 'Your son Solomon will be king after me and sit on my throne.' 18 And now look what's happened - Adonijah has taken over as king, and my master the king doesn't even know it! 19 He has thrown a huge coronation feast - cattle and grain-fed heifers and sheep - inviting all the king's sons, the priest Abiathar, and Joab head of the army. But your servant Solomon was not invited. 20 My master the king, every eye in Israel is watching you to see what you'll do - to see who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him. 21 If you fail to act, the moment you're buried my son Solomon and I are as good as dead." 22 Abruptly, while she was telling the king all this, Nathan the prophet came in 23 and was announced: "Nathan the prophet is here." He came before the king, honoring him by bowing deeply, his face touching the ground. 24 "My master the king," Nathan began, "did you say, 'Adonijah shall be king after me and sit on my throne'? 25 Because that's what's happening. He's thrown a huge coronation feast - cattle, grain-fed heifers, sheep - inviting all the king's sons, the army officers, and Abiathar the priest. They're having a grand time, eating and drinking and shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!' 26 But I wasn't invited, nor was the priest Zadok, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. 27 Is this something that my master the king has done behind our backs, not telling your servants who you intended to be king after you?"
28 King David took action: "Get Bathsheba back in here." She entered and stood before the king. 29 The king solemnly promised, "As God lives, the God who delivered me from every kind of trouble, 30 I'll do exactly what I promised in God's name, the God of Israel: Your son Solomon will be king after me and take my place on the throne. And I'll make sure it happens this very day." 31 Bathsheba bowed low, her face to the ground. Kneeling in reverence before the king she said, "Oh, may my master, King David, live forever!"
32 King David said, "Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." They came to the king. 33 Then he ordered, "Gather my servants, then mount my son Solomon on my royal mule and lead him in procession down to Gihon. 34 When you get there, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the ram's horn trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!' 35 You will then accompany him as he enters and takes his place on my throne, succeeding me as king. I have named him ruler over Israel and Judah." 36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada backed the king: "Yes! And may God, the God of my master the king, confirm it! 37 Just as God has been with my master the king, may he also be with Solomon and make his rule even greater than that of my master King David!" 38 Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king's personal bodyguard (the Kerethites and Pelethites) went down, mounted Solomon on King David's mule, and paraded with him to Gihon. 39 Zadok the priest brought a flask of oil from the sanctuary and anointed Solomon. They blew the ram's horn trumpet and everyone shouted, "Long live King Solomon!" 40 Everyone joined the fanfare, the band playing and the people singing, the very earth reverberating to the sound.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 1:5-40
Commentary on 1 Kings 1:5-10
(Read 1 Kings 1:5-10)
Indulgent parents are often chastised with disobedient children, who are anxious to possess their estates. No worldly wisdom, nor experience, nor sacredness of character, can insure the continuance in any former course of those who remain under the power of self-love. But we may well wonder by what arts Joab and Abiathar could be drawn aside.
Commentary on 1 Kings 1:11-31
(Read 1 Kings 1:11-31)
Observe Nathan's address to Bathsheba. Let me give thee counsel how to save thy own life, and the life of thy son. Such as this is the counsel Christ's ministers give us in his name, to give all diligence, not only that no man take our crown, Revelation 3:11, but that we save our lives, even the lives of our souls. David made a solemn declaration of his firm cleaving to his former resolution, that Solomon should be his successor. Even the recollection of the distresses from which the Lord redeemed him, increased his comfort, inspired his hopes, and animated him to his duty, under the decays of nature and the approach of death.
Commentary on 1 Kings 1:32-53
(Read 1 Kings 1:32-53)
The people expressed great joy and satisfaction in the elevation of Solomon. Every true Israelite rejoices in the exaltation of the Son of David. Combinations formed upon evil principles will soon be dissolved, when self-interest calls another way. How can those who do evil deeds expect to have good tidings? Adonijah had despised Solomon, but soon dreaded him. We see here, as in a glass, Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God, exalted to the throne of glory, notwithstanding all his enemies. His kingdom is far greater than that of his father David, and therein all the true people of God cordially rejoice. The prosperity of his cause is vexation and terror to his enemies. No horns of the altar, nor forms of godliness, nor pretences to religion, can profit those who will not submit to His authority, and accept of his salvation; and if their submission be hypocritical, they shall perish without remedy.