The Bible Says
1 Kings 1:5-8 Meaning

1 Kings 1:5-8 opens with: Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king. So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him (v. 5). Here, we find King David’s son Adonijah stepping forward to claim the throne. Adonijah was born around the later years of David’s reign (980 BC), following his older brother Absalom’s rebellion. By announcing his intention, “I will be king”, and assembling chariots, horsemen, and an entourage of fifty men, Adonijah demonstrates an outward show of military and royal power. These chariots, commonly used for warfare and processions across the lands near Jerusalem, underscore his presumptive claim to authority over Israel. Through this act, he attempts to seize the limelight before David can officially appoint a successor.

Then, His father had never crossed him at any time by asking, Why have you done so? And he was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom (v. 6). This illustrates the family dynamic that emboldened Adonijah’s aspirations. He had allowed pride to grow unchecked in his heart. Mentioning that Adonijah was handsome connects him to Absalom, another striking son who led a previous uprising (2 Samuel 15). The prophet Samuel warned his servant that God does not consider outward appearance, but the state of the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). The genealogy confirms these were later children of King David, reinforcing the timeline of David’s near forty-year reign over Israel, primarily centered in Jerusalem.

As He had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and following Adonijah they helped him (v. 7).  Adonijah sought political and military backing. Joab, known as David’s military commander, was a seasoned warrior acclimated to the terrain and power structures around Jerusalem. Abiathar served as one of David’s priests, a trusted spiritual advisor. Their support for Adonijah reflects a fracturing allegiance among David’s most prominent leaders, who appear to sense an opportunity to steer the future of the kingdom. By joining forces with him, Joab and Abiathar suggest that Adonijah’s claim to the throne might find legitimacy in their influence.

In contrast, But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah (v. 8) highlights those who remained loyal to David. Zadok, historically a reputable priest, chose to uphold the king’s authority rather than join a premature coronation. Benaiah, commanding David’s elite forces, exhibited faithful courage, while Nathan the prophet, who served as David’s spiritual counselor, actively supported God's chosen line of succession. Their refusal to align with Adonijah illuminates a crucial divide within the royal court, laying a foundation for the tension soon unfolding as David’s reign transitions.