Adonijah

Adonijah was the fourth son of David listed in 2 Samuel 3. Years later, with his father old, “Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king.” He gathered chariots, horsemen and fifty men to run before him. Scripture adds one sad remark: his father “had not displeased him at any time.” Nave’s also lists a different man of the same name, among the leaders named in Nehemiah 10:16, and a family called Adonikam. Start with 1 Kings 1 for the story of the would-be king.

6 verses

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 3:4

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

1 Kings

1 Kings 1:5

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

1 Kings 1:6

And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

Ezra

Ezra 2:13

The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 7:18

The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.

Nehemiah 10:16

Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

My Lord is Jehovah. (1.) The fourth son of David (2 Sam. 3:4). After the death of his elder brothers, Amnon and Absalom, he became heir-apparent to the throne. But Solomon, a younger brother, was preferred to him. Adonijah, however, when his father was dying, caused himself to be proclaimed king. But Nathan and Bathsheba induced David to give orders that Solomon should at once be proclaimed and admitted to the throne. Adonijah fled and took refuge at the altar, and received pardon for his conduct from Solomon on the condition that he showed himself “a worthy man” (1 Kings 1:5-53). He afterwards made a second attempt to gain the throne, but was seized and put to death (1 Kings 2:13-25).

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

(3.) One of the “chiefs of the people” after the Captivity (Neh. 10:16).

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(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 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. [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 1:33,34) 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)

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(2.) A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 17:8)

(3.) The same as Adonikam. (Nehemiah 10:16) [ADONIKAM, OR ADONIKAM]