1Ki 1:50 | KingComments | STEP | Adonijah and his company flee away. They don’t think about resisting. The guests of Adonijah go as fast and as far away as possible, away from Adonijah. What first seemed to be a guarantee of benefit has become a life-threatening place. Now to be found in the company of Adonijah equals suicide. Adonijah himself flees to the altar. It is not mentioned where it is. There he seeks protection by seizing the horns of the altar ( ). The horns symbolize power and strength. Seizing the horns of the altar means seeking protection in a place of salvation and life. By seizing the horns, the criminal places himself under the saving and helping grace of God, Who extinguishes sin and thereby takes away punishment. For the first time and four times in these verses, there is talk of “King Solomon”. Solomon, as king , judges Adonijah and has him brought to him. Adonijah acknowledges him forced as king. We voluntarily acknowledge the Lord Jesus as Lord. Solomon not only gives him his life, but also his possessions. He is free to go to his house. Solomon also attaches a condition to it. Adonijah will stay alive as long as he does nothing that embarrasses the trust he gets. As soon as he does something wrong, he will be killed. In his first act in government, Solomon shows mercy and demands justice. So it will be when the Lord Jesus reigns ( ).

‏ 1 Kings 1:50

Solomon Spares Adonijah

Adonijah and his company flee away. They don’t think about resisting. The guests of Adonijah go as fast and as far away as possible, away from Adonijah. What first seemed to be a guarantee of benefit has become a life-threatening place. Now to be found in the company of Adonijah equals suicide.

Adonijah himself flees to the altar. It is not mentioned where it is. There he seeks protection by seizing the horns of the altar (Exo 21:13-14). The horns symbolize power and strength. Seizing the horns of the altar means seeking protection in a place of salvation and life. By seizing the horns, the criminal places himself under the saving and helping grace of God, Who extinguishes sin and thereby takes away punishment.

For the first time and four times in these verses, there is talk of “King Solomon”. Solomon, as king, judges Adonijah and has him brought to him. Adonijah acknowledges him forced as king. We voluntarily acknowledge the Lord Jesus as Lord.

Solomon not only gives him his life, but also his possessions. He is free to go to his house. Solomon also attaches a condition to it. Adonijah will stay alive as long as he does nothing that embarrasses the trust he gets. As soon as he does something wrong, he will be killed. In his first act in government, Solomon shows mercy and demands justice. So it will be when the Lord Jesus reigns (Psa 101:8).