1 Kings 1 19

1 Kings 1:19 kjv

And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

1 Kings 1:19 nkjv

He has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon your servant he has not invited.

1 Kings 1:19 niv

He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.

1 Kings 1:19 esv

He has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but Solomon your servant he has not invited.

1 Kings 1:19 nlt

He has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king's sons to attend the celebration. He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon.

1 Kings 1 verses

1 Kings 1 19 Meaning

1 Kings 1:19 details the elaborate preparations and invitations by Adonijah, David's eldest surviving son, for a feast intended to publicly declare his claim to the throne. This act was a strategic maneuver to gather political and familial support, employing lavish sacrifices as both a display of wealth and a quasi-religious legitimization of his attempted usurpation before David's imminent death. It signifies Adonijah’s bold attempt to establish his rule, bypassing King David’s known intention and divine decree for Solomon to succeed him.

1 Kings 1 19 Context

King David, at an advanced age, is portrayed as weak and nearing death (1 Ki 1:1-4). This power vacuum creates an opportunity for succession disputes. Adonijah, being the fourth and eldest surviving son after the deaths of Amnon, Absalom, and Chileab, seizes the moment by exalting himself as king, without the knowledge or consent of his father or divine decree (1 Ki 1:5). Verse 19 describes the climactic public event of his self-coronation attempt. By sacrificing lavishly and inviting key figures—his brothers (excluding Solomon), and the leading "men of Judah" and "king's servants"—Adonijah sought to consolidate a formidable base of support and present a fait accompli before the ailing David could name his successor, thereby circumventing God's chosen successor, Solomon (1 Ki 1:13, 17, 30). This brazen act triggers the swift and decisive counter-actions by Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba, which ultimately secures Solomon’s rightful ascension.

1 Kings 1 19 Word analysis

• and he sacrificed (וַיִּזְבַּח, vayyizbach): From the root zavakh (זָבַח), meaning "to slaughter for sacrifice." This is not necessarily an atonement sacrifice, but more likely a zevakh shlamim (peace offering), which often culminates in a communal meal. In this context, it carries immense significance. It imbues Adonijah's feast with a pseudo-religious legitimacy, implying that his kingship has divine approval or is under a divine blessing, similar to a covenant meal. Such acts often served as solemn pledges and public affirmations in ancient Near Eastern cultures. His appropriation of this ritual for a political end signifies his ambition to seize authority, drawing a contrast with Saul's premature and unauthorized sacrifice in 1 Sam 13.
• oxen and fatlings and sheep (בָּקָר וּמְרִיא וְצֹאן, baqar umeri' vetzon): This list signifies the large quantity and variety of animals slaughtered.
  • Baqar (בָּקָר): cattle, oxen.
  • Meri' (מְרִיא): fatted animals, often used for special occasions and lavish feasts, indicating prosperity and abundance.
  • Tzon (צֹאן): sheep or goats.The combined mention conveys lavishness and extraordinary abundance, typical of royal banquets or grand communal gatherings. It functions as a display of Adonijah’s presumed royal wealth, generosity, and capability to provide for his followers, thereby attracting widespread support and bolstering his claim to kingship.
• in abundance (לָרֹב, larov): This adverb emphasizes the vast quantity of animals sacrificed. It highlights the ostentatious and extravagant nature of Adonijah’s feast, meant to impress and gather favor. The sheer scale underlines the public and significant nature of his usurpation attempt.
• and invited (וַיִּקְרָא, vayyiqra): From the root qara (קָרָא), meaning "to call," "to summon," "to invite." This is more than a casual invitation; it is a formal summons to a significant event, indicative of a political convocation. It implies a request for alliance and allegiance.
• all his brothers, the king’s sons (אֶת־כָּל־אֶחָיו בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, 'et-kol-'echayv b'nei hammelekh): This phrase highlights Adonijah's attempt to legitimate his claim through royal familial solidarity. By inviting "all his brothers" (with the crucial exclusion of Solomon, 1 Ki 1:10), he aimed to demonstrate internal family consensus. The mention of "the king's sons" underscores his royal lineage, leveraging it as a basis for his succession, albeit a faulty one without divine or paternal sanction.
• and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants (וְאֵת כָּל־אִישׁ יְהוּדָה עַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, v'et kol-'ish Yehudah 'avdei hammelekh): This significant phrase reveals Adonijah’s strategy to garner widespread support beyond his immediate family.
  • "All the men of Judah" points to tribal allegiance, suggesting Adonijah was appealing to his fellow Judahites, much as Absalom did. Judah was David's home tribe, and their support was critical for any ruler in Israel.
  • "The king’s servants" refers to officials, administrators, and military personnel who served in David’s government and court. Adonijah was effectively trying to hijack the existing state apparatus. This represents a direct challenge to David’s authority, as he was inviting David’s servants to align with him instead. Their presence would signal a major shift in loyalties and undermine the reigning king.
• Word-group Analysis:
  • "sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance": This phrase functions as the centerpiece of the ceremonial claim. The public and lavish nature of the offering aimed to give an appearance of God's blessing and secure popular endorsement. It transformed a regular political rally into a pseudo-religious covenant.
  • "invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants": This segment clearly outlines Adonijah's targeted audience. He strategically sought legitimacy from within the royal family (excluding his chief rival) and broad support from the tribal leadership of Judah and the current state officials. This combination suggests a deliberate attempt to form a comprehensive, powerful coalition for a swift and undeniable claim to the throne.

1 Kings 1 19 Bonus section

Adonijah’s actions closely mirror those of his late brother Absalom, who also "exalted himself" (2 Sam 15:1) and prepared a strategic "sacrifice" to draw a crowd before proclaiming himself king in Hebron (2 Sam 15:12). This repetition of rebellious patterns underscores a common theme in David’s household: a struggle for power despite divine decree. Adonijah's lack of divine endorsement or David's explicit word sets him in stark contrast to Solomon, who was explicitly chosen by God and promised the throne (1 Chron 22:9-10; 28:5-6). The inclusion of "the king’s servants" suggests a significant crisis of loyalty within David's court, a fracture indicating how severely David's authority had weakened. Despite the lavish feast, the absence of Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the military commander, and, crucially, Solomon, marked the fatal flaw in Adonijah's plan: he gathered human support but lacked divine and legitimate royal endorsement.

1 Kings 1 19 Commentary

1 Kings 1:19 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating Adonijah’s carefully orchestrated attempt to usurp the throne. His actions, rooted in his pride and conviction that he, as the eldest surviving son, had the inherent right to succeed David (1 Ki 1:5), reflect a familiar pattern of ambition bypassing divine ordination. The choice of "sacrifices" rather than merely a banquet elevated the event beyond a social gathering; it provided a veneer of spiritual legitimacy and made the attendees participants in a solemn, perhaps covenantal, act. The "abundance" of offerings showcased Adonijah’s power, wealth, and presumed generosity, appealing to public favor and binding supporters through a shared feast. The guest list reveals Adonijah’s strategic political acumen. By inviting "all his brothers," he sought to demonstrate family consensus and loyalty, pointedly excluding Solomon and those loyal to him (1 Ki 1:10). Furthermore, drawing "all the men of Judah" aimed to secure tribal support, echoing Absalom's earlier populist appeal. Most critically, gathering "the king's servants" signified an attempted takeover of David’s administrative and military machinery from within, indicating significant internal disloyalty to the aging king. This event served as a direct catalyst for the swift intervention of Nathan and Bathsheba, prompting King David to act decisively and reaffirm Solomon's rightful claim, thereby thwarting Adonijah's rebellion.