1 Kings 1:7 kjv
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
1 Kings 1:7 nkjv
Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah.
1 Kings 1:7 niv
Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support.
1 Kings 1:7 esv
He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him.
1 Kings 1:7 nlt
Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king.
1 Kings 1 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 1:5 | Adonijah… exalted himself, saying, "I will be king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen... | Adonijah's ambition and self-exaltation. |
| 1 Kgs 1:8 | But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and David's mighty men were not with Adonijah. | Contrasting loyalty of other key figures to God's plan. |
| 1 Kgs 2:22-25 | ...So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, who struck him down, and he died. | Adonijah's ultimate fate for continued ambition. |
| 1 Kgs 2:26-27 | And to Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth...for you were afflicted in all that my father was afflicted." ...So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the LORD... | Abiathar's removal from priesthood fulfilling prophecy. |
| 1 Kgs 2:28-34 | ...Joab...caught hold of the horns of the altar. ...Benaiah the son of Jehoiada struck him down... | Joab's judgment and execution. |
| 2 Sam 3:3-4 | The second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; | Adonijah was David's fourth eldest, next in line by natural birth. |
| 2 Sam 8:16 | And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; | Joab's prominent, established position as army commander. |
| 2 Sam 20:23 | Joab was over all the army of Israel... | Reiteration of Joab's command. |
| 1 Sam 22:20-23 | But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. ...And Abiathar stayed with David wherever he went. | Abiathar's long history of loyalty and service to David. |
| 2 Sam 15:24-29 | And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok also came with all the Levites... Abiathar went back into the city. | Abiathar's role with Zadok and the ark during Absalom's rebellion. |
| Deut 17:15 | ...you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose... | God's prerogative to choose the king, not human selection. |
| 1 Sam 16:1 | The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse... | God chooses kings by divine appointment, not mere birthright. |
| 1 Chr 22:9-10 | Behold, a son shall be born to you...His name shall be Solomon...I will establish his throne forever." | God's prophetic promise concerning Solomon's reign, unknown to Adonijah. |
| Ps 2:1-2 | Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed... | Echoes the futile nature of human rebellion against God's chosen king. |
| Prov 21:30 | No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD. | No human plan can succeed if it opposes God's will. |
| Rom 13:1-2 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists... | God institutes authority; rebellion against it is against God. |
| Titus 3:1 | Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities... | Christian injunction for believers to submit to ruling authorities. |
| Isa 14:12-15 | How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! ...You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high...' | Illustrates the pattern of self-exaltation leading to downfall, similar to Adonijah. |
| Jas 4:6 | ...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. | Principle of divine opposition to those who exalt themselves. |
| 1 Sam 2:31-35 | Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house... | Prophecy against the house of Eli, impacting Abiathar's priesthood. |
1 Kings 1 verses
1 Kings 1 7 Meaning
This verse describes Adonijah's strategic consultation and securing of vital support for his claim to the throne. He enlisted Joab, the influential commander of David's army, and Abiathar, a leading high priest. Their joining forces with Adonijah solidified his position and added significant military and religious legitimacy to his unauthorized bid for kingship. It highlights the formation of a powerful conspiracy within David's court, challenging God's intended successor.
1 Kings 1 7 Context
1 Kings chapter 1 opens with King David, now very old and frail, leading to an uncertain political situation regarding succession. Adonijah, David's fourth and oldest surviving son, seizes the opportunity to declare himself king, effectively staging a coup while his father is incapacitated (1 Kgs 1:5-6). This verse describes his strategic move to secure support from the most influential figures in David's court. Joab represented the military power and control over the army, while Abiathar provided religious legitimacy as one of the two chief priests and guardian of the ephod, often consulted for divine guidance. Their allegiance indicates a well-planned attempt to ensure Adonijah's claim would be seen as authoritative by both the military and religious establishment, in opposition to David's unspoken choice, Solomon.
1 Kings 1 7 Word analysis
- And he conferred (וַיְדַבֵּר / vay'dabber): From the root דָּבַר (davar), meaning "to speak, confer, consult." This is more than a casual conversation; it signifies a deliberate act of seeking counsel and forming an alliance. It indicates Adonijah's proactive and strategic effort to secure high-level backing for his usurpation.
- with Joab the son of Zeruiah:
- Joab (יוֹאָב / Yo'av): David's nephew and his formidable, though often ruthless and independent, commander of the entire army of Israel. His long-standing military authority (2 Sam 8:16) made him indispensable to any claim for the throne. Joab's pragmatism and loyalty to David were often balanced by his own interests and a willingness to act decisively, even violently, to secure outcomes. His backing gave Adonijah immense military weight.
- son of Zeruiah: This lineage highlights his direct familial connection to David (Zeruiah was David's sister), cementing his established, powerful position within the royal household.
- and with Abiathar the priest:
- Abiathar (אֶבְיָתָר / 'Evyatar): A High Priest (alongside Zadok) and a long-time companion of David since the days of Saul (1 Sam 22:20). Priests held significant spiritual and political authority, participating in the anointing and legitimizing of kings. Abiathar's involvement implied a divine or religious endorsement for Adonijah's claim. He belonged to the priestly house of Eli, whose downfall was prophesied (1 Sam 2:30-36), making his choice to support Adonijah significant in terms of the unfolding divine plan.
- and they, following Adonijah, helped Adonijah (וַיַּעַזְרֻ֙הוּ֙):
- "They...helped" (from עָזַר / azar, meaning "to help, support"). This conveys active assistance and full commitment.
- The Hebrew phrasing (וַיַּעַזְרֻ֙הוּ֙ after describing their participation) is compact but carries the force that they were with him and provided help to him. This is more than passive support; it indicates their active participation in advancing his agenda. It means they committed their power and influence to his cause, forming a clear alliance. This phrase explicitly confirms their active involvement in the conspiracy, solidifying Adonijah's power base in both military and religious sectors.
1 Kings 1 7 Bonus section
The support of Joab and Abiathar for Adonijah suggests a faction within David's court that valued established seniority and earthly power structures over potential divine decree. Joab, ever the opportunist, had shown a pattern of ruthless loyalty and independence throughout David's reign, making him a predictable ally for a strong, decisive claimant. Abiathar's involvement is more intriguing, as it places him against his fellow high priest, Zadok. This perhaps points to existing priestly rivalries or differing interpretations of who held ultimate authority in matters of succession—divine prophecy through a prophet like Nathan, or established high-priestly endorsement. Their misjudgment led to severe consequences for both men, highlighting the peril of opposing God's chosen will, regardless of human reason or established power.
1 Kings 1 7 Commentary
1 Kings 1:7 is pivotal in the succession narrative, revealing Adonijah's deliberate and calculated move to seize the throne. His immediate consultation with Joab and Abiathar signifies a strategic masterstroke designed to provide the two essential pillars of kingship in ancient Israel: military might and religious sanction. Joab's alignment provided the necessary martial force to back Adonijah's claim and enforce his authority, leveraging his vast experience and control over David's veterans. Abiathar's support offered religious legitimacy, crucial for the anointing and recognition of a king, presenting Adonijah as a divinely acceptable choice.
This verse sets up the stark contrast between human ambition and divine appointment. While Adonijah gathered the most powerful worldly figures, those faithful to God's previously expressed will regarding Solomon (such as Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah, mentioned in the very next verse, 1 Kgs 1:8) stood apart. The motivations of Joab and Abiathar, after long years of loyal service to David, likely stemmed from pragmatism, a desire for continued influence, or perhaps a belief that Adonijah, as the eldest surviving son, was the legitimate, albeit humanly-chosen, successor. Abiathar's fall also represents a step towards the fulfillment of the curse against the house of Eli (1 Sam 2:31-36). The strategic formation of this alliance ultimately highlights the futility of human scheming when it runs counter to God's sovereign plan for His anointed.