1 Kings 1 49

1 Kings 1:49 kjv

And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

1 Kings 1:49 nkjv

So all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid, and arose, and each one went his way.

1 Kings 1:49 niv

At this, all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and dispersed.

1 Kings 1:49 esv

Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way.

1 Kings 1:49 nlt

Then all of Adonijah's guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered.

1 Kings 1 verses

1 Kings 1 49 Meaning

1 Kings 1:49 describes the immediate, fear-driven reaction of Adonijah's invited supporters upon hearing that Solomon had been publicly anointed king by King David's command. The verse signifies the abrupt and complete collapse of Adonijah's unauthorized bid for the throne, as his followers, gripped by terror, instantly dispersed, abandoning their cause and him. This swift scattering highlights the overwhelming legitimacy of Solomon's succession, ordained by God and affirmed by David.

1 Kings 1 49 Context

Chapter 1 of 1 Kings opens with King David in his old age, infirm and near death. His fourth son, Adonijah, seeing an opportunity and having gained support from key figures like Joab (commander of the army) and Abiathar (a priest), declared himself king without David's knowledge or consent, or divine sanction. He gathered a large feast and celebration at En Rogel, effectively holding a self-coronation ceremony.

Upon learning of this usurpation through Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba (Solomon's mother), David, still holding royal authority despite his weakness, acted decisively. He commanded that Solomon be immediately taken to Gihon, anointed king by Zadok the priest and Nathan, and then officially enthroned. The sounds of this legitimate coronation—trumpets, flutes, and the shouts of joy from the people proclaiming "Long live King Solomon!"—reached Adonijah's feasting assembly. This dramatic shift of power, from Adonijah's self-appointed reign to Solomon's divinely sanctioned one, creates the immediate historical backdrop for verse 49. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, allegiance to a losing claimant was tantamount to treason, and the consequences were often fatal.

1 Kings 1 49 Word analysis

• And all the guests: (וְכָל־הַקְּרוּאִים - və-ḵāl-haqərû'îm) The term qeru'im means "those who were called" or "invited." These were not casual bystanders but chosen individuals, including military and religious leaders, whose presence Adonijah intended to legitimize his claim to the throne. Their attendance implicated them directly in his act of rebellion.
• that were with Adonijah: This phrase underscores their association and alignment with Adonijah's conspiratorial ambitions. They were literally "with" him in his usurpatory celebration, indicating shared purpose.
• were afraid: (וַיַּחַרְדוּ - vayyachar'du) The Hebrew verb ḥārad signifies a sudden, intense trembling or deep dread. It suggests a terror-stricken reaction, not merely apprehension. They realized the immense danger of having backed the losing side against a legitimately anointed, divinely chosen king, a decision that could mean their lives.
• and rose up: (וַיָּקֻמוּ - vayyāqūmū) This describes a rapid, unceremonious act of getting up. It indicates a hurried departure, lacking any pretense of orderly dismissal or dignified retreat, driven by panic.
• and went every man his way: (וַיֵּלְכוּ אִישׁ לְדַרְכּוֹ - vayyēlḵū 'îš lədarəkkô) This idiom means "they went, each one to his own path" or "dispersed individually." It emphasizes the chaotic, self-preserving flight. There was no longer any united purpose or loyalty to Adonijah; each person prioritized their own safety, dissolving the conspiracy.

1 Kings 1 49 Bonus section

• The immediate, public acclamation of Solomon following the private conspiracy of Adonijah creates a profound theological statement: God's legitimate chosen ruler will be glorified openly, while human usurpation crumbles in fear and shame.
• The absence of Adonijah's reaction in this verse (focused instead on his guests) subtly underscores his swift loss of leadership and influence; he is left abandoned, no longer the focal point of the narrative.
• The sudden silence that must have fallen over Adonijah's feast, broken only by the sounds of Solomon's acclamation, dramatically reverses the celebratory atmosphere, illustrating a rapid transition of power and fortune.

1 Kings 1 49 Commentary

1 Kings 1:49 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating the sudden and decisive end of Adonijah's audacious coup. The very act of his banquet—meant to consolidate power and publicize his "kingship"—becomes the stage for its dramatic dissolution. The joyous shouts accompanying Solomon's legitimate anointing, which rose above the revelry of Adonijah's feast, delivered the fatal blow to his ambition. The intense fear (vayyachar'du) experienced by his guests demonstrates their immediate recognition of the gravity of their predicament. They understood that siding with a pretender against a king established by divine decree and parental authority was an act of high treason with potentially fatal consequences.

Their frantic scattering, "every man his way," reveals the fragile nature of alliances built on ambition rather than divine favor or true loyalty. Unlike Solomon's joyful procession, Adonijah's gathering ended in disarray, signifying that human efforts against God's plan inevitably fail and result in ruin for their participants. This scene serves as a powerful biblical lesson: true authority and enduring power flow from God's appointment, and resistance to it will swiftly collapse into chaos and self-preservation.