Bible Dictionaries
Adonijah

Holman Bible Dictionary

(adoh ni' jah) Personal name meaning, “Yah is Lord.” 1. The fourth son of David. His mother's name was Haggith (2 Samuel 3:4 ). In David's old age, Adonijah maneuvered to succeed his father on the throne of Israel, but his effort failed (1 Kings 1:5-50 ). After Solomon's accession to the throne, Adonijah gave renewed expression to his regal aspirations by asking for Abishag, David's nurse, as a wife. Solomon's response to this request was to have Adonijah put to death. (1 Kings 2:13-28 ). See 2 Chronicles 8:1 ). 3 . A leader of the Jews after the Exile who signed Nehemiah's covenant to obey God's law (Nehemiah 10:16 ).