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 he said, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who today has chosen a successor to sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it.’” 49Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered. Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. 51Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, “Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!” 52Solomon replied, “If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, 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

Cross-references for 1 Kings 1:50

• 1 Kings 2:28Joab had not joined Absalom’s earlier rebellion, but he had joined Adonijah’s rebellion. So when Joab heard about Adonijah’s death, he ran to the sacred tent of the Lord and grabbed on to the horns of the altar.
• Exodus 21:14However, if someone deliberately kills another person, then the slayer must be dragged even from my altar and be put to death.
• Exodus 38:2He made horns for each of its four corners so that the horns and altar were all one piece. He overlaid the altar with bronze.
• Psalms 118:27The Lord is God, shining upon us. Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on 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