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Bible Dictionaries
Adonijah
Smith's Bible Dictionary
or Adoni'jah. (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 the 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. See Joab.
His name and influence secured a large number of followers among the captains of the royal army belonging to the tribe of Judah, compare 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." See En-Rogel.
Apprised of these proceedings, David immediately caused Solomon to be proclaimed king, 1 Kings 1:33-34, at Gihon. See 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; see 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. See Adonikam.
These files are public domain.
Smith, William, Dr. Entry for 'Adonijah'. Smith's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/sbd/a/adonijah.html. 1901.
