ADONIJAH, the fourth Son of David 2 Sam. iii. 4.and Haggith, was born at Hebron, at the time when his Father was acknowledged King by one part only of Israel, while the most considerable paid obedience still to Ishbosheth, the Son of Saul. Adonijah seeing his eldest Brothers Amnon and Absalom were dead, believed that the Crown of Judah, by right of birth, unquestionably belong’d to him; and as his Father David, towards the latter end of his Life, was fallen into so weak a condition that he could take no care of the affairs of Government, he thought he should endeavour before his death to have himself acknowledged King: he therefore set up a magnificent Equipage, commanded chariots to be made, took 1 Kings i. 5, 6, &c.Horsemen into his service, and fifty Men to run before him, and these at all times attended him. David his Father was not displeased with his doing this, and never reproved him for it. Adonijah was then the eldest of the Royal Family, extremely handsome in his person, was beloved by the King his Father, and had a strong party in the Court.
He had a very close engagement, particularly with Joab, the General of David’s Armies, and with the High-priest Abiathar; and these were the two persons who had more interest in the King than any others of his Dominions; but neither the High-priest Zadok, (for at that time there were two High-priests in the Kingdom) nor Benaiah, the Son of Jehoiada, Captain of the King’s guards, nor Nathan the Prophet, nor the body of David’s Army, were of his party. One day therefore, Adonijah having made a great entertainment for his Adherents near the fountain of Rogel, eastward of the City, and below the walls of Jerusalem, he invited all the King’s Sons to it except Solomon, and the principal Persons of Judah, except Nathan, Zadok, and Benaiah. His design was to procure himself at that meeting to be proclaimed King of the Country, and to get possession of the Government before the death of David. But matters fell out quite otherwise.
Nathan having understood what was transacting, went directly to Bathsheba, the Mother of Solomon, and said to her, Do you know that Adonijah designs to get himself proclaim’d King? and do you observe the danger which you and your Son Solomon will be expos’d to if he succeeds in this attempt? Be advis’d therefore by me; go to the King, tell him what is doing, and put him in mind of the promise which he made you, that Solomon your Son should be his Successor, and while you are thus conversing with the King, I will come in as by surprise and second what you shall have said. Bathsheba therefore went immediately to the King, and while she was talking with him, the King was told that the Prophet Nathan was there. David gave orders for his admission, and Nathan address’d himself to him in these terms: My Lord O King! is it by your orders that Adonijah has directed himself to be declared King, and Successor to your Majesty? for he has this day made a great entertainment for the chief officers of the Army, and the great men of the Court; and after it was over they all saluted him with the cries of Long live King Adonijah: But neither the High-priest Zadok, nor Benaiah, nor Solomon, or myself, were invited by him.
Then David, commanding Bathsheba to be again called in, swore to her that he would perform the Promise he had made in favour of Solomon; and sending immediately for Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah, he said to them, Take my guards with you, mount Solomon upon my mule, conduct him to the fountain of Gihon, which is westward of the City, and at this place let Zadok and Nathan crown him, and with trumpets sounding proclaim him King of Israel, with cries of Long live King Solomon. After this you shall bring him back hither, and seat him on my Throne; he shall reign in my place, and I will put the Government of Judah and Israel into his hands. This was all immediately executed, and all the People being got in crowds together, the sound of Instruments was every where heard, and the acclamations of the People, saying, God save King Solomon. Jonathan, the Son of Abiathar the High-priest, gave notice instantly of this to Adonijah, Joab, and all those of his party who were still in the tent where they had been eating.
Upon this they rose from table in great fright, and retired every one to his own home: Adonijah went out with the rest, and fearing lest Solomon should put him to death, retired to the Tabernacle, and laid hold of the horn of the Altar of Burnt-offerings, which being reported to Solomon, he said, If Adonijah would shew himself a worthy man, not a hair of his head should fall to the Earth; but if Wickedness should be found in him, he should surely die. King Solomon therefore sent, and they brought him down from the Altar, and he came and bowed himself to King Solomon; and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine House. This happened in the year of the World 2989, before Jesus Christ 1011, before the vulgar Æra 1015.
In the Year of the World 2990, before J. C 1010, before the vulgar Æra 1014. 1 Kings ii. 13.Some time after David dying, Adonijah waited upon Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, who said to him, Comest thou peaceably? He answer’d peaceably, and that he had a favour to ask of her. Thou knowest, added he, that the Kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me that I should reign, howbeit the Kingdom is turned about, and is become my Brother’s, for it was his from the Lord. And now I ask one petition of thee: Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the King (for he will not say thee nay) that he give me Abishag the Shunamite to Wife. Bathsheba promised him to speak unto the King about it, and in effect did so, telling him that Adonijah would be glad to have Abishag for his Wife, who had been given to David to warm him in his old Age. To this Solomon replied, Why dost thou ask this of me? ask for him the Kingdom also, (for he is mine elder Brother) even for him, for he has the High-priest Abiathar already for him, and Joab the General of the Troops. Then Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, God do so to me and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life. I swear by the Lord Adonijah shall be put to death this day. And Benaiah, the Son of Jehoiada, being sent to execute this order, fell upon Adonijah and slew him, in the year of the World 2990, before Jesus Christ 1010, before the vulgar Æra 1014.