1 Kings 1 53

1 Kings 1:53 kjv

So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.

1 Kings 1:53 nkjv

So King Solomon sent them to bring him down from the altar. And he came and fell down before King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

1 Kings 1:53 niv

Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, "Go to your home."

1 Kings 1:53 esv

So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

1 Kings 1:53 nlt

So King Solomon summoned Adonijah, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed respectfully before King Solomon, who dismissed him, saying, "Go on home."

1 Kings 1 verses

1 Kings 1 53 Meaning

King David, exercising his sovereign authority, commanded Adonijah to be brought down from the altar where he sought refuge. Adonijah, in absolute submission and fear for his life, prostrated himself before David. In response, David granted him a conditional pardon, dismissing him to return to his home rather than executing or imprisoning him immediately. This act signifies David's clemency, coupled with a firm assertion of royal power over traditional sanctuary.

1 Kings 1 53 Context

1 Kings chapter 1 depicts the precarious transition of power from an aged King David. Adonijah, David's fourth and oldest surviving son, attempts to usurp the throne by holding a coronation feast, bypassing God's chosen successor, Solomon, and David's oath to Bathsheba. Upon learning of Adonijah's treachery, Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan alert David, who immediately proclaims Solomon king and has him publicly anointed. Adonijah's supporters desert him in fear, and Adonijah, realizing his life is in danger, flees to the sanctuary of the altar, clinging to its horns as a desperate plea for protection. Verse 53 describes David's direct response to Adonijah's act, bringing a momentary resolution to the succession crisis by showing mercy while asserting royal authority. Historically, seizing the altar horns was a common practice for those fearing death, often invoking temporary divine or legal protection, especially from an Avenger of Blood. This verse sets the stage for Adonijah's ultimate fate in chapter 2, revealing the conditional nature of David's pardon.

1 Kings 1 53 Word analysis

• "So King David" (וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד - vay-yishlach ha-melech Dawid):
  • King David: Emphasizes that the command comes from the legitimate sovereign, whose authority is fully recognized despite his old age. It asserts that he, not Adonijah, holds true power.
• "sent" (וַיִּשְׁלַח - vai-yishlach):
  • This active verb indicates a deliberate and authoritative command from the king, showing his continued decisive action in governing. It implies the dispatch of messengers or guards to execute the order.
• "and had him brought down" (וַיּוֹרִידֻהוּ - vai-yoriduhu):
  • A causative verb (Hifil conjugation) indicating that David caused others (his agents) to bring Adonijah down. It signifies David's control over the situation and over Adonijah, who is not voluntarily descending but is made to do so.
• "from the altar" (מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - me'al ha-mizbeakh):
  • Altar (מִזְבֵּחַ - mizbeakh): Specifically refers to the horns of the sacrificial altar, a place traditionally recognized in Israelite law (Exod 21:14) as a sanctuary from immediate death, but not for premeditated or capital crimes. This act demonstrates that royal authority can supersede even the sacred space in cases of treason against the anointed king.
• "And he came" (וַיָּבֹא - vai-yavo):
  • Refers to Adonijah's compliance with the king's command. His coming indicates his vulnerable position and his acknowledgement of David's authority.
• "and prostrated himself" (וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ - vai-yishtakhu):
  • Lit. "he bowed down low." This act of full physical prostration is a profound gesture of complete submission, homage, and deep respect, typically made before royalty or God. Here, it is an acknowledgment of his utter defeat and the supremacy of David's rule.
• "before King David" (לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד - la-melech Dawid):
  • Reinforces that Adonijah's submission is directly to the true king, confirming David's ongoing reign and authority.
• "and David said to him" (וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ דָּוִד - vay-yo'mer lo Dawid):
  • Indicates David's direct, verbal pronouncement, confirming his active role and authority in Adonijah's fate.
• "Go to your house" (לֵךְ לְבֵיתֶךָ - lekh le-veiteka):
  • A royal dismissal that is both merciful and admonitory. It signals that Adonijah is spared execution for now, but he is to retreat from public life, especially from any royal ambition or influence. It is a conditional release, implying a mandate for peace and good behavior (as explicitly stated in the preceding verse, 1 Kgs 1:52). It also signifies a temporary restoration to his private status, stripping him of any immediate claim to public or political power.

1 Kings 1 53 Bonus section

• The Altar as Sanctuary: The practice of clinging to the horns of the altar for safety (Exod 21:12-14) was for unintentional acts leading to death or debt. It offered a temporary pause, allowing for judgment by legal authority or a king, rather than providing absolute immunity, especially for crimes against the state or the monarch's direct succession.
• David's Mercy vs. Solomon's Justice: David's act of mercy towards Adonijah stands in contrast to Solomon's later, seemingly harsher, actions towards Adonijah and others (1 Kgs 2). David chose initial clemency to avoid immediate bloodshed during the tumultuous succession, asserting Solomon's claim without validating the immediate execution of a family member. Solomon, by contrast, establishes his kingdom more firmly by dealing decisively with any perceived threats, showing that while grace can be extended, true justice must ultimately be upheld, particularly when initial conditions for mercy are violated.
• The Significance of Prostration: In the ancient Near East, prostration before a monarch or a god was a definitive sign of fealty, obeisance, and humble submission. It physically communicates the prostrate one's absolute inferiority and willingness to submit to the will of the superior. Adonijah's act thus publicly nullified his prior claim to the throne and acknowledged David's supreme authority.

1 Kings 1 53 Commentary

1 Kings 1:53 records King David's decisive handling of Adonijah's usurpation attempt. By commanding Adonijah's removal from the altar's sanctuary, David powerfully asserted his legitimate authority, demonstrating that even sacred space would not shield outright treason against God's anointed. Adonijah's profound prostration signifies complete surrender and acknowledgment of David's kingship, a stark reversal of his earlier ambition. David's final directive, "Go to your house," embodies a remarkable act of royal clemency in a culture where usurpation often meant immediate execution. This pardon, however, was explicitly conditional, contingent on Adonijah proving himself "a worthy man" (1 Kgs 1:52), meaning a peaceful and obedient subject. This moment showcases a blend of kingly justice and mercy, avoiding bloodshed during a critical transition, yet implicitly carrying the warning of future consequences should Adonijah transgress again, as he indeed does in 1 Kings 2, ultimately leading to his demise under Solomon. It establishes the secure and undisputed reign of the true heir without immediate violence.