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Adonijah

maleUnited Monarchy

Meaning: “The LORD is my Lord

David’s fourth son who attempted to seize the throne in his father’s old age, was thwarted in favor of Solomon, and later executed for a second bid.

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Biography

Adonijah was the fourth son of David, born at Hebron to Haggith. After the deaths of his elder brothers Amnon and Absalom, he was the eldest surviving son — and "a very goodly man" — who set his heart on the throne (1 Kings 1:5–6).

The attempted coup

As David grew old, Adonijah exalted himself, gathered chariots and runners, and won the backing of Joab and the priest Abiathar. He held a coronation feast — but Nathan and Bathsheba alerted David, who immediately had Solomon anointed king instead (1 Kings 1:7–40). Adonijah's guests fled, and he sought sanctuary at the altar.

His end

Solomon spared him at first. But when Adonijah later asked to marry Abishag, David's last attendant — a request Solomon read as a renewed claim to the throne — Solomon had him executed (1 Kings 2:13–25).

Life Timeline

971 BC

Attempts to seize the throne; thwarted by Solomon

1 Kings 1:5
970 BC

Executed after a second bid for power

1 Kings 2:25

On the Bible timeline

Adonijah belongs to the The United Monarchy era (c. 1050 – 930 BC).

  1. c. 1010 – 970 BCDavid's Reign
  2. c. 966 BCSolomon's Temple Built
  3. c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides

Family Tree

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Themes & lessons from Adonijah

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Adonijah appears.

Civil Service9×Altars8×Bath-Sheba8×Solomon8×Abishag6×Widows4×Punishments3×Kings2×Throne2×Absalom1×Malice1×Ox, the1×Shephatiah1×Shimei1×Tabernacle1×Talmai1×

People they appear with

Solomon9×
David5×
Joab4×
Abiathar4×
Nathan3×
Bathsheba3×
Abishag2×
Absalom2×
Zadok1×
Shimei1×

Scripture Appearances

24 verses in 3 books
2 Samuel1 verse

2 Samuel 3:4

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

1 Kings22 verses

1 Kings 1:5

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. be king: Heb. reign

1 Kings 1:7

And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. he: Heb. his words were with following: Heb. helped after Adonijah

1 Kings 1:8

But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

1 Kings 1:9

And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants: Enrogel: or, the well Rogel

1 Kings 1:11

Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

1 Kings 1:13

Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

1 Kings 1:18

And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

1 Kings 1:24

And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

1 Kings 1:25

For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah. God: Heb. Let king Adonijah live

1 Kings 1:41

And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

1 Kings 1:42

And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.

1 Kings 1:43

And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

1 Kings 1:49

And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

1 Kings 1:50

And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

1 Kings 1:51

And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

1 Kings 2:13

And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

1 Kings 2:19

Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.

1 Kings 2:21

And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

1 Kings 2:22

And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

1 Kings 2:23

Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

1 Kings 2:24

Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

1 Kings 2:28

Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

1 Chronicles1 verse

1 Chronicles 3:2

The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:

Frequently asked about Adonijah

Who was Adonijah in the Bible?

David’s fourth son who attempted to seize the throne in his father’s old age, was thwarted in favor of Solomon, and later executed for a second bid.

What does the name Adonijah mean?

The name Adonijah means “The LORD is my Lord”.

Who were Adonijah's parents?

Adonijah was the child of David.

Where does Adonijah appear in the Bible?

Adonijah is mentioned 24 times across 3 books: 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles.

What can we learn from Adonijah?

The story of Adonijah touches on themes of civil service, altars, bath-sheba, solomon — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Adonijah's life.

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