1 Kings 1:5

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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

3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her. 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. 6(His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.) 7Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support.

1 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 3:4the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
• 1 Chronicles 3:2the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
• 1 Kings 1:11Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it?
• 1 Kings 2:24And now, as surely as the Lord lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!”
• Exodus 9:17You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go.
• Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
• Proverbs 18:12Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
• Luke 14:11For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
• Luke 18:14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
• Deuteronomy 17:15be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite.
• Judges 9:2“Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
• 1 Chronicles 22:5David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.
• 1 Chronicles 28:5Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
• 1 Chronicles 29:1Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God.
• Deuteronomy 17:16The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”
• 2 Samuel 15:1In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of 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

• Adonijah
• Ambition
• Children
• Citizens
• Civil Service
• Diplomacy
• Footman
• Haggith
• Usurpation

In the dictionaries

• Adonijah
• I Will Be
• Account
• Assuredly
• Cherish
• Guard
• Haggith
• Solomon
• 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