Bible Dictionary: Adonijah

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Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Adonijah

the Lord is my master

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Adonijah

(my Lord is Jehovah).

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. [JOAB] His name and influence secured a large number of followers among the captains of the royal army belonging to the tribe of Judah, comp. (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." [EN-ROGEL] Apprised of these proceedings, David immediately caused Solomon to be proclaimed king, (1 Kings 1:33,34) at Gihon. [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 [ABSALOM; ABNER]; and therefore Solomon ordered him to be put to death by Benaiah. (1 Kings 2:25)
A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 17:8)
The same as Adonikam. (Nehemiah 10:16) [ADONIKAM, OR ADONIKAM]

ATS Bible Dictionary

Adonijah

The fourth son of David, by Haggith, 2 Samuel 3:4. After the death of Amnon and Absalom, he aspired to the throne, although it was promised to Solomon, his younger brother. Having gained over Joab and Abiathar and other adherents, he at length openly revolted and claimed the crown while David was yet living. The news of this revolt being brought to the king at once; upon which the friends of Adonijah dispersed, and he took refuge at the horns of the altar. Solomon dismissed him with only an admonition. But soon after the death of David, he applied for the hand of Abishag, thus renewing his pretensions to the throne, for which he was put to death, 1 Kings 1:1-2:46.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

My Lord is Jehovah.

(1.) The fourth son of David (2 Samuel 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" (1 Kings 1:5-53). He afterwards made a second attempt to gain the throne, but was seized and put to death (1 Kings 2:13-25).

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

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

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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 (2 Samuel 3:4 1 Chronicles 3:2 1 Kings 1, 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" (2 Samuel 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 (2 Samuel 5:4, 5), the close of his fortieth calendar year was the beginning of has last year. That the date intended was at the beginning of a vernal year is confirmed by the references to the season (2 Samuel 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 (2 Samuel 13:23, 38; 2 Samuel 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 (1 Chronicles 22-29) seem to have culminated in David's fortieth year (1 Chronicles 26:31). David's policy was not altogether popular with the nation. His assembly (1 Chronicles 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 has declining years," but to put her vitality at has 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 in behalf of Solomon; it represents that they succeeded in arousing him from has 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 has 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 has 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 (2 Chronicles 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 (Nehemiah 10:16).

Willis J. Beecher

Strong's Hebrew

138. Adoniyyahu -- "my Lord is Yahweh," the name of several ...
... "my Lord is Yahweh," the name of several Israelites. Transliteration: Adoniyyahu
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-o-nee-yaw') Short Definition: Adonijah. ... Adonijah. ...
/hebrew/138.htm - 6k

2899. Towb Adoniyahuw -- "good is my LORD," a Levite
... "good is my LORD," a Levite. Transliteration: Towb Adoniyahuw Phonetic Spelling:
(tobe ado-nee-yah'-hoo) Short Definition: Tob-adonijah. Tob-adonijah ...
/hebrew/2899.htm - 5k

Library

Adonijah
... ADONIJAH. BY REV. ... Chiliah, or Daniel, died we know not how, and then Adonijah, the
fourth son, the eldest of those surviving, followed in Absalom's footsteps. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/adonijah.htm

That David Made Great Preparations for the House of God; and That ...
... CHAPTER 14. That David Made Great Preparations For The House Of God; And That, Upon
Adonijah's Attempt To Gain The Kingdom, He Appointed Solomon To Reign. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 that david made.htm

How Solomon Became the Ruler of Israel
... Now when David was old, Adonijah thought, "I will be ruler of Israel." So he prepared
for himself chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run before him. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/how solomon became the ruler.htm

The Story of Solomon and his Temple
... But David had other sons who were older than Solomon; and one of these sons,
whose name was Adonijah, formed a plan to make himself king. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of solomon and.htm

How Solomon, when He had Received the Kingdom Took Off His
... 2. But Adonijah, who, while his father was living, attempted to gain possession
of the government, came to the king's mother Bathsheba, and saluted her with ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how solomon when.htm

The Horns of the Altar
... Solomon was to be the king after David, but his elder brother, Adonijah, was preferred
by Joab, the captain of the host, and by Abiathar, the priest; and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/the horns of the altar.htm

David Appointing Solomon
... this incident. David's eldest surviving son, Adonijah, had claimed the
succession, and gathered his partisans to a feast. Nathan ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/david appointing solomon.htm

The Fifth
... not right with David. He remained loyal when Absalom rebelled; but he took
part in the treason of Adonijah. Ahithophel is not there ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/the fifth.htm

The Building of the Golden House.
... David had another son, Adonijah, who tried to make himself king as Absalom did,
but David heard of it, and had Solomon proclaimed king before his own death ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxvi the building of.htm

The History of David
... reign and be king after him. Howbeit that Adonijah his son took on him to
be king during David's life. For which cause Bathsheba and ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

Thesaurus

Adonijah (28 Occurrences)
... But Solomon, a younger brother, was preferred to him. Adonijah, however, when his
father was dying, caused himself to be proclaimed king. ...ADONIJAH. ...
/a/adonijah.htm - 22k

Tob-adonijah (1 Occurrence)
Tob-adonijah. Tobadonijah, Tob-adonijah. Tobadoni'jah . Easton's Bible
Dictionary ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TOB-ADONIJAH. ...
/t/tob-adonijah.htm - 7k

Adonijah's (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Adonijah's (3 Occurrences). 1 Kings 1:49 And all Adonijah's
guests were afraid, and rose up and went every man his way. (DBY NIV). ...
/a/adonijah's.htm - 7k

Adoni'jah (26 Occurrences)
Adoni'jah. Adonijah, Adoni'jah. Adonijah's . ... 2 Samuel 3:4 and the fourth, Adonijah
the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; (See RSV ...
/a/adoni'jah.htm - 13k

Bathsheba (14 Occurrences)
... With the help of the prophet Nathan she renders futile the usurpation of Adonijah
and craftily secures the throne for her son Solomon (1 Kings 1:11). ...
/b/bathsheba.htm - 14k

Bath-sheba (12 Occurrences)
... With the help of the prophet Nathan she renders futile the usurpation of Adonijah
and craftily secures the throne for her son Solomon (1 Kings 1:11). ...
/b/bath-sheba.htm - 13k

Haggith (5 Occurrences)
... Festive; the dancer, a wife of David and the mother of Adonijah (2 Samuel 3:4; 1
Kings 1:5, 11; 2:13; 1 Chronicles 3:2), who, like Absalom, was famed for his ...
/h/haggith.htm - 9k

Abishag (5 Occurrences)
... After David's death Adonijah persuaded Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, to entreat the
king to permit him to marry Abishag. ...Adonijah sought Abishag in marriage. ...
/a/abishag.htm - 10k

Zoheleth (1 Occurrence)
... of the village of Siloam, and near the fountain of En-rogel, to which the women
of the village resort for water (1 Kings 1:5-9). Here Adonijah (qv) feasted all ...
/z/zoheleth.htm - 9k

Tobadonijah (1 Occurrence)
... Judah in the law (2 Chronicles 17:8). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
TOB-ADONIJAH. tob-ad-o-ni'-ja, tob-(Tobh 'adhoniyah, "good ...
/t/tobadonijah.htm - 7k

Bible Concordance

Adonijah (28 Occurrences)

2 Samuel 3:4 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:7 He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

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 who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:9 Adonijah killed sheep and cattle and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Haven't you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn't know it?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:13 Go in to king David, and tell him,'Didn't you, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? Why then does Adonijah reign?'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:18 Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don't know it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:24 Nathan said, "My lord, king, have you said,'Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:25 For he is gone down this day, and has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king's sons, and the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and say,'Long live king Adonijah!'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:42 While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said, "Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:43 Jonathan answered Adonijah, "Most certainly our lord king David has made Solomon king.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)

1 Kings 1:49 All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and each man went his way.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:50 Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:51 It was told Solomon, saying, "Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, behold, he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying,'Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.'"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 1:53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and did obeisance to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."
(See NIV)

1 Kings 2:13 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 2:19 Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 2:21 She said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 2:22 King Solomon answered his mother, "Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 2:23 Then king Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 2:24 Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Kings 2:25 King Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 2:28 The news came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn't turn after Absalom. Joab fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 3:2 the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 17:8 and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 10:16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Adonijah

Adonijah: A Levite

Adonijah: Son of David and Haggith

Adonijah: Son of David and Haggith: Executed by Solomon

Adonijah: Son of David and Haggith: Usurpation of, and Downfall

Related Terms

Tob-adonijah (1 Occurrence)

Adonijah's (3 Occurrences)

Adoni'jah (26 Occurrences)

Bathsheba (14 Occurrences)