English Standard Version
1 Kings 1:5
5Now 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.
1 Kings 1:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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 International Version (NIV)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 (NKJV)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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him.
Context of 1 Kings 1:5
3So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not. Now 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. 6His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, "Why have you done thus and so?" He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. 7He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him.
Read all of 1 Kings 11 Kings 1:5 word by word
וַאֲדֹנִיָּ֧ה בֶן־חַגִּ֛ית מִתְנַשֵּׂ֥א לֵאמֹ֖ר אֲנִ֣י אֶמְלֹ֑ךְ וַיַּ֣עַשׂ ל֗וֹ רֶ֚כֶב וּפָ֣רָשִׁ֔ים וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ רָצִ֥ים לְפָנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then Adonijahאֲדֹנִיָּ֫הוּ'ădônîyâh 'ădônîyâhû · AdonijahH138
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Haggithחַגִּיתchaggîyth · HaggithH2294
- exaltedמִתְנַשֵּׂאmithnaώώê' · to exaltH4984
- himself, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- I will be kingמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
- and he preparedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- him chariotsרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
- and horsemenפָּרָשׁpârâsh · horsemanH6571
- and fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
- menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- to runרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
Cross-references for 1 Kings 1:5
- 2 Samuel 3:4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
- 1 Chronicles 3:2the third, Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith;
- 1 Kings 1:11Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king and David our lord does not know it?
- 1 Kings 2:24Now therefore as the Lord lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today."
- Exodus 9:17You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go.
- Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Proverbs 18:12Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
- Luke 14:11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
- Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
- Deuteronomy 17:15you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.
- Judges 9:2"Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh."
- 1 Chronicles 22:5For David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it." So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.
- 1 Chronicles 28:5And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 29:1And David the king said to all the assembly, "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God.
- Deuteronomy 17:16Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, 'You shall never return that way again.'
- 2 Samuel 15:1After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 1:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Adonijah the son of Haggith - Who this woman was we know not; Adonijah was evidently David's eldest son now living, and one of whom his father was particularly fond; see 1 Kings 1:6. Prepared him chariots and horsemen - He copied the conduct of his brother Absalom in every respect. See 2 Samuel 15:1.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5The narrative concerning - Abishag, the Shunammite (see the margin reference “a”), is introduced as necessary for a proper understanding of Adonijah‘s later history (see 1 Kings 2:13-25.) But even as it stands, it heightens considerably the picture drawn of the poor king‘s weak and helpless condition, of which Adonijah was not ashamed to take advantage for his own aggrandizement. Adonijah was born while David reigned at Hebron, and was therefore now…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-10Verses 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.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6Adonijah was David’s fourth son. His older brothers, Amnon, Daniel, and Absalom, had died. So, Adonijah thought he would become king. However, according to ancient Near Eastern tradition, Solomon, the son of David’s favorite wife Bathsheba, was to become king. David had already told Solomon about this (1 Kings 1:13, 17; 1 Chronicles 22:6–10). Adonijah's ambition, likely encouraged by his father's lenient discipline, showed when he declared, “I will be…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-65-6. Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself--Nothing is said as to the origin or rank of Haggith, so that it is probable she was not distinguished by family descent. Adonijah, though David's fourth son (2Sa 3:4; 1Ch 3:2), was now the oldest alive; and his personal attractions and manners (1Sa 9:2) not only recommended him to the leading men about court, but made him the favorite of his father, who, though seeing him assume an equipage becoming…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 1:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries