1 Kings 1 51

1 Kings 1:51 kjv

And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

1 Kings 1:51 nkjv

And it was told Solomon, saying, "Indeed Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; for look, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.' "

1 Kings 1:51 niv

Then Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, 'Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.'?"

1 Kings 1:51 esv

Then it was told Solomon, "Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.'"

1 Kings 1:51 nlt

Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, "Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!"

1 Kings 1 verses

1 Kings 1 51 Meaning

1 Kings 1:51 describes Adonijah's immediate action after hearing about Solomon's anointing as king. Fearing for his life, Adonijah sought refuge by clinging to the horns of the altar, a traditional place of sanctuary. He sent a message to Solomon, demanding an oath that his life would be spared from the sword, signifying execution, acknowledging Solomon's new authority even in his request for mercy.

1 Kings 1 51 Context

This verse is critically positioned at the immediate aftermath of Solomon's anointing as king. In the preceding verses of 1 Kings chapter 1, David, nearing death, was unaware that his son Adonijah had launched a premature coup to seize the throne (1 Ki 1:5-10). Adonijah, supported by prominent figures like Joab (the army commander) and Abiathar (the priest), celebrated his coronation. However, Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba (Solomon's mother) informed David, reminding him of his oath to make Solomon king. David swiftly responded by having Solomon publicly anointed and enthroned (1 Ki 1:32-40), effectively nullifying Adonijah's attempted usurpation. The celebration of Solomon's kingship caused panic among Adonijah's followers (1 Ki 1:41-49), leading directly to Adonijah's flight to the altar in this verse. The historical-cultural context reveals the sanctity attributed to altars as places of temporary refuge, though it was not an absolute sanctuary, particularly for capital crimes or direct threats to the state, as would become clear in the next chapter with Joab.

1 Kings 1 51 Word analysis

• Then they told Solomon: The phrase implies urgency and formal reporting, possibly by someone who had been with Adonijah or had witnessed his actions. "They" refers to messengers or observers from Adonijah's faction or those who were simply relaying the information about his flight.
• Indeed, Adonijah: The particle "Indeed" (Hebrew: הִנֵּה, hineh) serves as an intensifier, drawing immediate attention to the remarkable nature of the reported fact. Adonijah, the primary claimant to the throne, is now shown in a state of desperation.
• is afraid of King Solomon: This signifies Adonijah's deep fear (חָרֵד, charēd), reflecting his understanding of the precariousness of his position after his failed coup. His life, having sought the kingship, was forfeit by common practice. This fear compels his dramatic action. "King Solomon" immediately establishes the new locus of authority, an implicit acknowledgment by Adonijah himself.
• for behold, he has taken hold of: The conjunction "for" (כִּי, ki) introduces the reason for Adonijah's fear and validates the report. "Behold" again, emphasizing the surprising or significant act. "Taken hold of" (אָחַז, 'achaz) is a purposeful grasp, indicating his intentional act of seeking refuge.
• the horns of the altar: (קַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, qarnōt hammizbēach) The four projections on the corners of the altar, often symbolizing strength or power. In ancient Near Eastern law and Israelite practice (Exod 21:14), gripping these horns was an ancient, customary act of seeking asylum or sanctuary from immediate vengeance or capital punishment. It suggests an appeal to God's presence, indicating a desperate plea for protection. This specific altar would have been the altar of burnt offering, perhaps the one at Gibeon or later in Jerusalem.
• saying, "Let King Solomon swear to me today": Adonijah, through messengers, is not just passively seeking refuge, but making an active, desperate demand for an oath. "Swear" (נִשְׁבַּע, nishba) refers to a binding, formal, and often divinely witnessed promise, a potent covenant in the ancient world. "Today" adds urgency, demanding an immediate resolution to his precarious state.
• that he will not put his servant to death: Adonijah refers to himself as "his servant" (עַבְדּוֹ, avdo), a term of humble submission to the new king, implicitly acknowledging Solomon's royal authority and his own subordinate status. He is negotiating for his life. "Put...to death" indicates capital punishment.
• with the sword": (בַּחֶרֶב, baḥerev) The sword symbolizes execution, a king's instrument of judgment and justice, often signifying summary punishment for rebellion or serious offenses. It underscores the severity of Adonijah's perceived crime (usurpation) and his acute fear of its consequence.

1 Kings 1 51 Bonus section

• The act of taking hold of the altar horns was a public display, serving not only as an appeal for sanctuary but also as a public declaration of submission to Solomon and a demand for clemency from all present.
• Adonijah’s choice to approach the altar reflects his deep understanding of Israelite religious and legal customs, highlighting the ingrained societal expectation that even those who rebelled might appeal to a higher principle of mercy, often linked to God's sanctuary.
• This incident anticipates Joab's similar flight to the altar in 1 Kings 2:28. The contrast in Solomon's responses (mercy for Adonijah initially, execution for Joab) illustrates Solomon's discerning judgment: Adonijah had rebelled politically but submitted immediately; Joab had accumulated grave blood-guilt and remained a dangerous element. This demonstrates that altar refuge was not absolute and could be overridden, particularly in cases of severe crime or ongoing political threat.
• The incident underscores the tension between justice and mercy, and how a king must navigate these as he establishes his rule. Solomon's initial act of mercy grants Adonijah conditional freedom, an act of wisdom that avoids starting his reign with immediate bloodshed, yet warns of consequences for future rebellion.

1 Kings 1 51 Commentary

1 Kings 1:51 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating the dramatic shift of power and the immediate political implications of Solomon's ascent to the throne. Adonijah's action of fleeing to the altar's horns is a desperate, strategic move, appealing to an ancient tradition of sanctuary. This act implicitly acknowledges Solomon's undisputed authority while publicly forcing his hand. Adonijah's demand for an oath demonstrates not just a desire for life, but also an attempt to secure a public, binding guarantee of his safety. Solomon's response to this appeal (in 1 Kings 1:52-53) sets an important precedent for his reign: one of initial clemency tempered with an expectation of loyalty. It highlights the transition from David's lenient rule to Solomon's more decisive, yet often calculating, justice. The vulnerability of a human leader to a power challenge is seen, alongside the overarching divine sovereignty that determines kingship, rendering human schemes like Adonijah's ultimately futile. The altar, normally a place of worship and atonement, is temporarily a sanctuary for human life, yet its protection is limited and conditional upon the new king's discretion and the true nature of the refugee's repentance.