Adonijah

(my Lord is Jehovah ).

1. The fourth son of David by Haggith, born at Hebron while his father was king of Judah. ( 2 Samuel 3:4 ) (B.C. about 1050.) After the death of his three brothers, Amnon, Chileab and Absalom, he became eldest son; and when his fathers strength was visibly declining, put forward his pretensions to the crown. Adonijahs cause was espoused by Abiathar and by Joab the famous commander of Davids army. [JOAB] His name and influence secured a large number of followers among the captains of the royal army belonging to the tribe of Judah, comp. ( 1 Kings 1:5 ) and these, together with all the princes except Solomon, were entertained by Adonijah at the great sacrificial feast held "by the stone Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel." [EN-ROGEL] Apprised of these proceedings, David immediately caused Solomon to be proclaimed king, ( 1 Kings 1:33 1 Kings 1:34 ) at Gihon. [GIHON] This decisive measure struck terror into the opposite party, and Adonijah fled to the sanctuary, but was pardoned by Solomon on condition that he should "show himself a worthy man." ( 1 Kings 1:52 ) The death of David quickly followed on these events; and Adonijah begged Bath-sheba to procure Solomons consent to his marriage with Abishag, who had been the wife of David in his old age. ( 1 Kings 1:3 ) This was regarded as equivalent to a fresh attempt on the throne [ABSALOM; ABNER]; and therefore Solomon ordered him to be put to death by Benaiah. ( 1 Kings 2:25 )
2. A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat. ( 2 Chronicles 17:8 )
3. The same as Adonikam. ( Nehemiah 10:16 ) [ADONIKAM]