New King James Version
1 Kings 1:5
5Then 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.
- 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 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 lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4The young woman was very lovely; and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her. 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. 6(And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.) 7Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah.
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
People and places in 1 Kings 1:5
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 Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
- 1 Kings 1:11So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “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 confirmed me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a house for me, as He promised, Adonijah shall be put to death today!”
- Exodus 9:17As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go.
- Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Proverbs 18:12Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.
- Luke 14:11For whoever 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, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Deuteronomy 17:15you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.
- Judges 9:2“Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.”
- 1 Chronicles 22:5Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death.
- 1 Chronicles 28:5And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 29:1Furthermore King David said to all the assembly: “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced; and the work is great, because the temple is not for man but for the Lord God.
- Deuteronomy 17:16But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’
- 2 Samuel 15:1After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries