Dictionaries :: Adonijah

Adonijah:

my Lord is Jehovah. (1.) The fourth son of David (2Sa 3:4). After the death of his elder brothers, Amnon and Absalom, he became heir-apparent to the throne. But Solomon, a younger brother, was preferred to him. Adonijah, however, when his father was dying, caused himself to be proclaimed king. But Nathan and Bathsheba induced David to give orders that Solomon should at once be proclaimed and admitted to the throne. Adonijah fled and took refuge at the altar, and received pardon for his conduct from Solomon on the condition that he showed himself "a worthy man" (1Ki 1:5-53). He afterwards made a second attempt to gain the throne, but was seized and put to death (1Ki 2:13-25).

(2.) A Levite sent with the princes to teach the book of the law to the inhabitants of Judah (2Ch 17:8).

(3.) One of the "chiefs of the people" after the Captivity (Neh 10:16).

Adonijah:

the Lord is my master

Adonijah:

ad-o-ni'-ja ('adhoniyahu or 'adhoniyah, "my lord is Yahweh"):

(1) The son of David and Haggith, the forth of David's sons, born in Hebron after David became king of Judah, principally known for his attempt to become king instead of Solomon (2Sa 3:4; 1Ch 3:2; 1Ki 1; 1Ki 2). The record gives no details concerning Chileab, the son of David and Abigail. Leaving him out, Adonijah was the oldest living son of David, after the death of Amnon and Absalom.

In treating the record it has been needlessly obscured by neglecting or distorting the time data. It says that the rebellion of Absalom broke out "at an end of forty years" (2Sa 15:7). The natural meaning is not forty years after the last-mentioned preceding date, but at the close of the fortieth calendar year of the reign of David. Since David reigned 40 1/2 years (2Sa 5:4-5), the close of his fortieth calendar year was the beginning of his last year. That the date intended was at the beginning of a vernal year is confirmed by the references to the season (2Sa 17:19, 28). Instead of giving this number Josephus says that 4 years had elapsed since the last preceding date, which is very likely correct.

Many considerations show that the outbreak cannot have occurred much earlier than the fortieth year of David; for Amnon and Absalom were born after David's reign began, and were men with establishments of their own before Amnon's offense against Tamar, and after that the record, if we accept the numeral of Josephus, accounts for 2 plus 3 plus 2 plus 4, that is, for 11 years (2Sa 13:23, 38; 14:28; Ant, VII, ix, 1). In the year following David's fortieth year there was ample room for the rebellions of Absalom and of Sheba, the illness of David, the attempt of Adonijah, and the beginning of the reign of Solomon. All things confirm the number forty as giving the date of the outbreak. The common assumption that the forty is to be reduced to four, on the basis of the number in Josephus, is contrary to the evidence.

On this view of the chronology all the events fall into line. David's idea of making Solomon king was connected with his temple-building idea. This is implied in Kings, and presented somewhat in full in Chronicles. The preparations described in Chronicles (1Ch 22-29) seem to have culminated in David's fortieth year (1Ch 26:31). David's policy was not altogether popular with the nation. His assembly (1Ch 28:1) is mostly made up of sarim and other appointed officials, the hereditary Israelite "princes" and "elders" being conspicuous by their absence. The outbreak under Absalom was mainly a matter of skillful manipulation; the hearts of the people were really with David. And yet the party of Absalom was distinctly a legitimist party. It believed in the succession of the eldest son, and it objected to many things in the temple-building policy. Joab and Abiathar and others sympathized with this party, but they remained with David out of personal loyalty to him.

The Absalom campaign began early in the calendar year. There is no reason to think that it lasted more than a few weeks. Later in the year a few weeks are enough time to allow for the campaign against Sheba. Joab must have been more or less alienated from David by David's appointment of Amasa to supersede him. Then came David's serious illness. Abishag was brought in, not to "attend upon David during his declining years," but to put her vitality at his disposal during a few weeks. Joab and Abiathar did not believe that David would ever do business again. Their personal loyalty to him no longer restrained them from following their own ideas, even though these were contrary to his wishes.

The narrative does not represent that Nathan and Bathsheba influenced David to interfere on behalf of Solomon; it represents that they succeeded in arousing him from his torpor, so that he carried out his own wishes and intentions. Perhaps resting in bed had done something for him. The treatment by Abishag had not been unsuccessful. And now a supreme appeal to his mind proved sufficient to arouse him. He became himself again, and acted with his usual vigor and wisdom.

Adonijah is described as a handsome and showy man, but his conduct does not give us a high opinion of his capabilities. He had no real command of the respect of the guests who shouted "Live King Adonijah." When they heard that Solomon had been crowned, they "were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way." Adonijah made his submission, but afterward attempted to engage in intrigues, and was put to death.

(2) One of the Levites sent out by Jehoshaphat, in his third year, with the Book of the Law, to give instruction in Judah (2Ch 17:8).

(3) One of the names given, under the heading "the chiefs of the people," of those who sealed the covenant along with Nehemiah (Neh 10:16).

Written by Willis J. Beecher

Adonijah: 1. Son of David and Haggith

2Sa 3:4; 1Ki 1:5, 6; 1Ch 3:2

Usurpation of, and downfall,

1Ki 1.

Executed by Solomon,

1Ki 2:13-25.

Adonijah: 2. A Levite

2Ch 17:8

Adonijah: 3. Adonijah

See ADONIKAM

Adonijah:

(my Lord is Jehovah).

(1.) The fourth son of David by Haggith, born at Hebron while his father was king of Judah (2 Samuel 3:4). (B.C. about 1050) After the death of his three brothers, Amnon, Chileab and Absalom, he became eldest son; and when his father's strength was visibly declining, put forward his pretensions to the crown. Adonijah's cause was espoused by Abiathar and by Joab the famous commander of David's army. SEE [JOAB]. His name and influence secured a large number of followers among the captains of the royal army belonging to the tribe of Judah, (compare 1 Kings 1:5) and these, together with all the princes except Solomon, were entertained by Adonijah at the great sacrificial feast held "by the stone Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel." SEE [ENROGEL]. Apprised of these proceedings, David immediately caused Solomon to be proclaimed king (1 Kings 1:33-34) at Gihon. SEE [GIHON]. This decisive measure struck terror into the opposite party, and Adonijah fled to the sanctuary, but was pardoned by Solomon on condition that he should "show himself a worthy man." (1 Kings 1:52). The death of David quickly followed on these events; and Adonijah begged Bath-sheba to procure Solomon's consent to his marriage with Abishag, who had been the wife of David in his old age (1 Kings 1:3). This was regarded as equivalent to a fresh attempt on the throne and therefore Solomon ordered him to be put to death by Benaiah (1 Kings 2:25). SEE [ABSALOM], [ABNER].

(2.) A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:8).

(3.) The same as ADONIKAM (Nehemiah 10:16). SEE [ADONIKAM].