1 Kings 1:5 - Forerunner Commentary

1 Kings 1:5

3 So they sought for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found ^aAbishag the ^bShunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 The young woman was very lovely; and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her.

5 Then ^aAdonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will² be king”; and ^bhe prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 (And his father had not¹ rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” He was also very good-looking. ^aHis mother had borne him after Absalom.)

7 Then he conferred with ^aJoab the son of Zeruiah and with ^bAbiathar the priest, and ^cthey followed and helped Adonijah.

8 But ^aZadok the priest, ^bBenaiah the son of Jehoiada, ^cNathan the prophet, ^dShimei, Rei, and ^ethe mighty men who belonged to David were not with Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of¹ Zoheleth, which is by ^aEn Rogel; he also invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants.

10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or ^aSolomon his brother.

11 So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of ^aHaggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it?

12 Come, please, let me now give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

13 Go immediately to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, ^a“Assuredly your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne“? Why then has Adonijah become king?’

14 Then, while you are still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.”

15 So Bathsheba went into the chamber to the king. (Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.)

16 And Bathsheba bowed and did homage to the king. Then the king said, “What is your wish?”

17 Then she said to him, “My lord, ^ayou swore by the Lord your God to your maidservant, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’

18 So now, look! Adonijah has become king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know about it.

19 ^aHe has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon your servant he has not invited.

20 And as for you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

Verse Comparison: 1 Kings 1:5

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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.

Amplified® Bible
Then Adonijah son of [David's wife] Haggith exalted himself, saying, I [the eldest living son] will be king. And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run before him.

Contemporary English Version
Adonijah was the son of David and Haggith. He was Absalom's younger brother and was very handsome. One day, Adonijah started bragging, "I'm going to make myself king!" So he got some chariots and horses, and he hired fifty men as bodyguards. David did not want to hurt his feelings, so he never asked Adonijah why he was doing these things.

Darby English Version
And Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king; and he provided himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

Good News Bible
Now that Absalom was dead, Adonijah, the son of David and Haggith, was the oldest surviving son. He was a very handsome man. David had never reprimanded him about anything, and he was ambitious to be king. He provided for himself chariots, horses, and an escort of fifty men.

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.

New American Standard Bible
Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king. So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him."

New International Version
Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, "I will be king." So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him.

New King James Version
Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will make myself king." So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him.

Revised Standard Version
Now Adoni'jah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty 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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