Verse 5
ADONIJAH’S USURPATION, 1 Kings 1:5-10.
5. Adonijah the son of Haggith The fourth son of David, born at Hebron, while his father reigned over Judah only. 2 Samuel 3:4-5.
Exalted himself Became puffed up with a proud ambition, and urged his right and title to the kingdom. He was now the oldest living child of David, for Amnon and Absalom had perished, and Chileab seems to have been also dead, for we have no mention of him after his birth; so Adonijah could justly plead the rights of primogeniture. But the kingdom of Israel had not yet attained established usages as to regnal succession; and as Jehovah designated both Saul and David to the royal honours, and lifted them from obscurity to the highest position in the nation, so also he designated Solomon as David’s successor on the throne. 1 Chronicles 22:9-10; 1 Chronicles 28:5-6. In the face of this Divine interposition, how vain must be Adonijah’s ambition!
He prepared him chariots Affected royal dignity, as the rebellious Absalom had done before him. 2 Samuel 15:1. His action was all the more culpable from the fact that a full knowledge of Absalom’s miserable end did not deter him from following in his steps.
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