Topic: Persons Of The Bible -- Adonijah

The name Adonijah means "my lord is YAHWEH" or “my Lord is Jehovah” in Hebrew.

Adonijah was 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 father's strength was visibly declining, put forward his pretensions to the crown. Adonijah's cause was espoused by Abiathar and by Joab the famous commander of David's army. 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 1:33,34) 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 Solomon's 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)

A person named Adonijah was (2.) a Levite sent with the princes to teach the book of the law to the inhabitants of Judah (2 Chr. 17:8).

A person named Adonijah was (3.) one of the "chiefs of the people" after the Captivity (Neh. 10:16).

Adapted from Easton’s Bible Dictionary.

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