1 Kings 1:50

1 Kings 1:50 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
• New International Version (NIV)But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; so he arose, and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

Context of 1 Kings 1:50

48and said, ‘Praise the Lord God of Israel who has let me see the heir to my throne.’ ” 49Adonijah’s guests were frightened, so they got up and scattered in all directions. Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up, went ⌞to the tent of meeting,⌟ and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51Someone told Solomon, “Adonijah is afraid of you, King Solomon. He is holding on to the horns of the altar and saying, ‘Make King Solomon swear to me today that he will not have me killed.’ ” 52Solomon said, “If he will behave like an honorable man, not one hair on his head will fall to the ground. But if he does ⌞anything⌟ wrong, he will die.”

1 Kings 1:50 word by word

וַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ יָרֵ֖א מִפְּנֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַיָּ֣קָם וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וַֽיַּחֲזֵ֖ק בְּקַרְנ֥וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Adonijahאֲדֹנִיָּ֫הוּ'ădônîyâh 'ădônîyâhû · AdonijahH138
• fearedיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• becauseפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440
• of Solomonשְׁלֹמֹהshelômôh · SolomonH8010
• and aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• and wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• and caught holdחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
• on the hornsקֶ֫רֶןqeren · hornH7161
• of the altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196

People and places in 1 Kings 1:50

• Adonijah
• Solomon

Cross-references for 1 Kings 1:50

• 1 Kings 2:28The news reached Joab. (He had supported Adonijah, although he hadn’t supported Absalom.) So Joab fled to the Lord’s tent and clung to the horns of the altar.
• Exodus 21:14But whenever someone becomes so angry that he plans to kill his neighbor, you must take him away from my altar and put him to death.
• Exodus 38:2He made a horn at each of its four corners. He made the four horns and the altar out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟ covered with bronze.
• Psalms 118:27The Lord is God, and he has given us light. March in a festival procession with branches to the horns of the altar.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 1:50

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 50Adonijah feared - He knew he had usurped the kingdom, and had not his father's consent; and, as he finds now that Solomon is appointed by David, he knows well that the people will immediately respect that appointment, and that his case is hopeless; he therefore took sanctuary, and, fleeing to the tabernacle, laid hold on one of the horns of the altar, as if appealing to the protection of God against the violence of men. The altar was a privileged place…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 50On the “horns” of the altar, see Exodus 27:2 note. The altar to which Adonijah fled was probably in the “tabernacle” already referred to 1 Kings 1:39.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 32-53Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 50-53Fearing for his life, Adonijah sought safety at the horns (projections at the corners) of the altar (Exodus 27:2), hoping for mercy based on biblical tradition (see Exodus 21:12–14). However, this protection was only for accidental killings, so only the king could forgive Adonijah's treason. Solomon showed him kindness if he stayed loyal. Despite appearances, Adonijah still tried to make himself king and was later killed for causing trouble (1 Kings…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 50-5350-53. Adonijah ... went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar--most probably the altar of burnt offering which had been erected on Mount Zion, where Abiathar, one of his partisans, presided as high priest. The horns or projections at the four corners of the altar, to which the sacrifices were bound, and which were tipped with the blood of the victim, were symbols of grace and salvation to the sinner. Hence the altar was regarded as a sanctuary (Ex…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 1:50

• Altar

In the dictionaries

• Adonijah
• Solomon
• Horns of the Altar
• Account
• Assuredly
• Cherish
• David
• Horn
• Zoheleth
• Abishag

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