1 Kings 1 9

1 Kings 1:9 kjv

And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:

1 Kings 1:9 nkjv

And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel; he also invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants.

1 Kings 1:9 niv

Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,

1 Kings 1:9 esv

Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent's Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,

1 Kings 1:9 nlt

Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers ? the other sons of King David ? and all the royal officials of Judah.

1 Kings 1 verses

1 Kings 1 9 Meaning

1 Kings 1:9 describes Adonijah, another son of David, attempting to seize the kingship during his father's old age and weakness. He performed ritual sacrifices of numerous animals and held a feast at the stone of Zoheleth, near En Rogel, strategic locations just outside Jerusalem. He extended invitations to his brothers (excluding Solomon) and key officials and leaders from the tribe of Judah, aiming to secure their allegiance and legitimate his self-proclaimed succession to the throne without divine approval.

1 Kings 1 9 Context

1 Kings chapter 1 opens with King David, now very old and feeble, no longer able to stay warm even with extra covers. His failing health creates a power vacuum, making the question of succession urgent. Though God had chosen Solomon to succeed David (1 Chron 22:9-10, 1 Chron 28:5), this choice had not been publicly proclaimed or formally cemented. Seizing this opportunity, David's fourth son, Adonijah (born after Absalom and likely the eldest living son, making him a perceived natural heir), "exalted himself" (1 Kgs 1:5) and began to act as if he were already king. He gathered significant figures, including Joab (the army commander) and Abiathar (a leading priest), as allies. Verse 9 details Adonijah's attempt to formalize his bid for the throne through a public ritual and feast, inviting those he sought to bind to his cause, carefully excluding those loyal to Solomon and God's stated plan.

1 Kings 1 9 Word analysis

• Adonijah (אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ - ’Ăḏonîyāhū): Means "My Lord is Yahweh." Despite the theological meaning of his name, his actions here contradict its essence, as he moves ahead without waiting for or acknowledging Yahweh's actual choice for the kingship, attempting to seize it for himself.
• also sacrificed (זָבַח - zāḇaḥ): This verb means to slaughter an animal, typically for a ritual sacrifice or feast. In the context of ancient Near Eastern kingship, sacrifices were a common way to ratify covenants, seek divine favor, and consecrate a new ruler, lending a religious legitimacy to the act. Adonijah performs what appears to be a legitimate religious act to serve his illegitimate ambition.
• sheep, oxen, and fatlings (צֹאן֙ וּבָקָ֖ר וּמְרִיאִֽים - ṣōn ūḇāqār ūmərî’îm): These were typical animals used for sacrifice and feasting, signifying abundance, wealth, and a grand occasion. "Fatlings" refer to well-fed animals, indicating a lavish expenditure. The quantity implies a major celebration or inauguration, further underscoring Adonijah’s self-promotion as a ruler.
• by the stone of Zoheleth (אֶ֣בֶן הַזֹּחֶ֗לֶת - ’eḇen hazōḥeleṯ): "Zoheleth" likely means "serpent" or "slipping/crawling." This specific landmark outside Jerusalem suggests a well-known place. Its specific nature (a "stone") might indicate an ancient altar site or a natural rock outcrop, historically used for such gatherings. Choosing this location was strategic, outside the immediate city, perhaps for public assembly and feasting.
• which is beside En Rogel (אֵ֥צֶל עֵין־רֹגֵֽל - ’ēṣel ‘êyn-rōḡēl): "En Rogel" means "Fuller's Fountain" or "Spring of Rogel." It was a crucial and prominent water source located in the Kidron Valley, just southeast of Jerusalem. Its public and accessible nature further facilitated a large gathering for Adonijah's unauthorized coronation feast. This location contrasts sharply with Gihon, the spring within the City of David, where Solomon would later be legitimately anointed, underscoring Adonijah's attempt at an illegitimate, "outside" takeover.
• and invited (וַיִּקְרָ֛א - wayyiqrā’): "And he called/summoned." This signifies a deliberate act of seeking endorsement and allegiance. Invitations were a political act, not merely social, designed to gather and identify loyal supporters.
• all his brothers, the king’s sons: This crucial phrase highlights Adonijah’s strategy to consolidate royal family support while specifically excluding Solomon, the divinely appointed successor (1 Kgs 1:10), signaling an immediate internal family division and usurpation.
• and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants: "Men of Judah" refers to the prominent tribe from which David came, a vital support base for the monarchy. "The king's servants" indicates high-ranking royal officials and administrators. Inviting them demonstrates Adonijah's attempt to gain political and administrative legitimacy, drawing support from critical societal and governmental pillars necessary for stable rule.

1 Kings 1 9 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of Adonijah's choice of En Rogel with Solomon's anointing at Gihon (1 Kgs 1:33) carries significant symbolic weight. En Rogel was a publicly accessible spring often associated with the mundane life and commerce of the city's periphery. In contrast, Gihon was a spring within the fortified city, deeply connected to the City of David and thus embodying more legitimate and divinely-sanctioned authority for a sacred event like a king's anointing. Adonijah's "coronation" at En Rogel was therefore more of a public gathering to gain popular support for his self-appointed rule, while Solomon's anointing at Gihon was a sacred ceremony ordained by David, validated by God's established prophets and priests, and reflective of divine covenant. This distinction underscores the differing nature and source of their claims to the throne.

1 Kings 1 9 Commentary

1 Kings 1:9 depicts Adonijah's audacious, self-proclaimed bid for kingship, demonstrating human ambition striving to preempt divine appointment. By organizing a lavish feast with sacrifices at public, prominent locations (Zoheleth and En Rogel), he sought to create a pre-emptive inauguration, aiming to solidify his claim before any formal succession plan could be enacted. This elaborate display was a political maneuver designed to gain public and aristocratic support. His careful selection of invitees—including most royal brothers, Judean elders, and court officials—while deliberately excluding key loyalists like Zadok, Benaiah, and Nathan, as well as Solomon, reveals his conspiratorial nature and calculated move to circumvent God's revealed will. This narrative provides a poignant biblical example of the stark contrast between those who seize power for themselves and those chosen and appointed by God.