1 Kings 1:50
New International Version
But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

New Living Translation
Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar.

English Standard Version
And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

Berean Standard Bible
But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

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

New King James Version
Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; so he arose, and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

New American Standard Bible
Adonijah also was afraid of Solomon, and he got up, and went, and took hold of the horns of the altar.

NASB 1995
And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

NASB 1977
And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went, and took hold of the horns of the altar.

Amplified Bible
And Adonijah feared Solomon, and he got up and went [to the tabernacle on Mt. Zion] and took hold of the horns of the altar [seeking asylum].

Christian Standard Bible
Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

American Standard Version
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

Contemporary English Version
Adonijah himself was afraid of what Solomon might do to him, so he ran to the sacred tent and grabbed hold of the corners of the altar for protection.

English Revised Version
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up, went [to the tent of meeting,] and took hold of the horns of the altar.

Good News Translation
Adonijah, in great fear of Solomon, went to the Tent of the LORD's presence and took hold of the corners of the altar.

International Standard Version
Afraid of Solomon, Adonijah also jumped up and headed straight for the horns of the altar.

Majority Standard Bible
But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

NET Bible
Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar.

New Heart English Bible
Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

World English Bible
Adonijah was afraid because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and hung onto the horns of the altar.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Adonijah fears because of Solomon, and rises, and goes, and lays hold on the horns of the altar.

Young's Literal Translation
and Adonijah feareth because of Solomon, and riseth, and goeth, and layeth hold on the horns of the altar.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Adonijah will, be afraid of the face of Solomon, and he will rise and go, and lay hold upon the horns of the altar.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Adonias fearing Solomon, arose, and went, and took hold on the horn of the altar.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Adonijah, fearing Solomon, rose up and went away. And he took hold of the horn of the altar.

New American Bible
but Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to grasp the horns of the altar.

New Revised Standard Version
Adonijah, fearing Solomon, got up and went to grasp the horns of the altar.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Aduniah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, he went and he seized refuge on the horns of the altar.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Adonias feared because of Solomon, and arose, and departed, and laid hold on the horns of the altar.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Adonijah Learns of Solomon's Kingship
49At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered. 50But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar. 51It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’ ”…

Cross References
Exodus 21:14
But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

1 Kings 2:28-34
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!” / And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.” ...

Numbers 35:6-34
Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities. / The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, with their corresponding pasturelands. / The cities that you apportion from the territory of the Israelites should be given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one.” ...

Joshua 20:1-9
Then the LORD said to Joshua, / “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, / so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood. ...

Deuteronomy 19:1-13
When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land He is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their cities and houses, / then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess. / You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities. ...

1 Samuel 2:10
Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder from heaven against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth and will give power to His king. He will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

1 Samuel 22:17-18
Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD. / So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

2 Samuel 3:29
May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”

2 Samuel 14:11
“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

2 Samuel 22:3
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence.

Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 46:1
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Psalm 61:3
For You have been my refuge, a tower of strength against the enemy.

Psalm 91:2
I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 142:5
I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

caught

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.

Exodus 21:14
But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

Exodus 38:2
And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass.

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1 Kings 1
1. Abishag cherishes David in his extreme age
5. Adonijah, David's darling, usurps the kingdom
11. By the council of Nathan
15. Bathsheba moves the king
22. And Nathan seconds her
28. David renews his oath to Bathsheba
32. Solomon, by David's appointment,
38. being anointed king by Zadok and Nathan, the people triumph
41. Jonathan bringing the news, Adonijah's guests fly
50. Adonijah, flying to the horns of the altar, is dismissed by Solomon














Adonijah
Adonijah, whose name means "my Lord is Yahweh," was the fourth son of King David. His actions in this chapter reflect a common theme in the Old Testament: the struggle for power and the consequences of ambition. Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne without David's blessing highlights the importance of divine appointment and the dangers of self-exaltation. Historically, the succession of kings in Israel was a divine matter, often revealed through prophets or direct divine intervention, as seen in the anointing of David by Samuel.

in fear
The phrase "in fear" captures Adonijah's realization of the gravity of his actions. Fear, in the biblical sense, often denotes a profound respect or reverence, but here it is more about terror and dread of the consequences. Adonijah's fear is a recognition of the legitimate authority of Solomon, whom God had chosen. This fear is not just of Solomon's potential wrath but also of divine retribution, as the kingship was seen as a divine institution.

of Solomon
Solomon, whose name means "peace," was the son of David and Bathsheba. His rise to the throne was marked by divine favor and prophetic endorsement, as seen in 1 Chronicles 22:9-10. Solomon's wisdom and eventual reign of peace were foretold, making his kingship a fulfillment of God's promise to David. The fear of Solomon by Adonijah underscores the legitimacy and divine backing of Solomon's rule, contrasting with Adonijah's self-appointed claim.

went and took hold
This action signifies a desperate plea for mercy. In ancient Israel, taking hold of something often symbolized seeking refuge or protection. The act of physically grasping an object was a way to claim sanctuary or appeal for clemency. This reflects a common practice in the ancient Near East, where individuals sought asylum in sacred spaces or by holding onto sacred objects.

of the horns of the altar
The altar, particularly the horns, was a place of asylum in ancient Israel. The horns of the altar were considered sacred, and touching them was a way to seek divine protection. This practice is rooted in the belief that the altar was a place where God's presence dwelled, and thus, it was a place of mercy and refuge. The altar's horns, protruding from its corners, symbolized strength and divine power. By grasping them, Adonijah was appealing to the mercy of God and the king, acknowledging his wrongdoing and seeking pardon. This act is reminiscent of the cities of refuge described in Numbers 35, where those who committed unintentional manslaughter could seek asylum.

(50) The horns of the altar.--The horns were projections from the altar, to which (see Psalm 118:27) the victims were fastened, and on which the blood was sprinkled (Exodus 29:12). To take hold of them was, of course, to claim the right of sanctuary--a right, however, which the Law, ruled as usual by moral considerations, formally denied to wilful murder (Exodus 21:14), and which accordingly (see 1Kings 2:30-31) was refused hereafter to Joab. Adonijah, by the acknowledgment of "King Solomon," seems to represent his usurpation as one of those acts of haste and inadvertency, to which alone sanctuary was conceded.

Verse 50. - And Adonijah feared because of Solomon and he arose and went and caught hold of the horns of the altar. [Cf. 1 Kings 2:28. Probably the altar of Mount Zion, 1 Kings 3:15; 2 Samuel 6:17. Though it is impossible to say positively whether this or the altar at Gibeon (chap. 3:4) or that recently erected on the threshing floor of Araunah (2 Samuel 24:25) is meant. For the "horns," see Exodus 27:2; Exodus 38:2; and compare Exodus 30:2. They were of shittim (i.e., acacia) wood overlaid with brass, and served a double purpose. Victims were bound to them (Psalm 118:27), and blood was put upon them, Exodus 29:12. As to the altar as a place of sanctuary, see on 1 Kings 2:28. Evidently a right of sanctuary existed amongst both Jews and Gentiles at the time of the Exodus, and probably from time immemorial. It is referred to in Exodus 21:14, but it was much circumscribed by the appointment of the cities of refuge (Numbers 35:10 sqq.) By "laying hold of the horns the offender thereby placed himself under the protection of the saving and helping grace of God" (Bahr, "Symbolik," 1:474)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Adonijah,
וַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ (wa·’ă·ḏō·nî·yā·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 138: Adonijah -- 'my Lord is Yahweh', the name of several Israelites

in fear
יָרֵ֖א (yā·rê)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

of
מִפְּנֵ֣י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

Solomon,
שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה (šə·lō·mōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

got up
וַיָּ֣קָם (way·yā·qām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

and went
וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to take hold
וַֽיַּחֲזֵ֖ק (way·ya·ḥă·zêq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

of the horns
בְּקַרְנ֥וֹת (bə·qar·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 7161: A horn, a flask, cornet, an elephant's tooth, a corner, a peak, a ray, power

of the altar.
הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar


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OT History: 1 Kings 1:50 Adonijah feared because of Solomon (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 1:49
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