1 Kings 1:50
in 1 Kings 1But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
KJV
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
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This verse in 1 Kings 1
Commentary
5 notes on this verseAdonijah feared - He knew he had usurped the kingdom, and had not his father’s consent; and, as he finds now that Solomon is appointed by David, he knows well that the people will immediately respect that appointment, and that his case is hopeless; he therefore took sanctuary, and, fleeing to the tabernacle, laid hold on one of the horns of the altar, as if appealing to the protection of God against the violence of men. The altar was a privileged place, and it was deemed sacrilege to molest a man who had taken refuge there. See 1Ki 2:28.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon,....
David, as recorded in the foregoing chapter, had, by the great mercy of God, escaped the sword of the destroying angel. But our deliverances from or through diseases and dangers are but reprieves; if the candle be not blown out, it will burn out of itself. We have David here sinking under the infirmities of old age, and brought by them to the gates of the grave.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The horns or projections at the four corners of the altar, to which the sacrifices were bound, and which were tipped with the blood of the victim, were symbols of grace and salvation to the sinner. Hence the altar was regarded as a sanctuary (Ex 21:14), but not to murderers, rebels, or deliberate perpetrators.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
On the “horns” of the altar, see Exo 27:2 note. The altar to which Adonijah fled was probably in the “tabernacle” already referred to 1Ki 1:39.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ | vaadoniyahu | and Adonijah | H138 → | 26 times |
| יָרֵ֖א | yare' | he was afraid | H3372 → | 315 times |
| מִפְּנֵ֣י | mipenei | of <the face of> | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה | shelomoh | Solomon | H8010 → | 291 times |
| וַיָּ֣קָם | vaiyakom | and he arose | H6965 → | 628 times |
| וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ | vaiyelekh | and he went | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| וַֽיַּחֲזֵ֖ק | vaiyachazek | and he took hold | H2388 → | 291 times |
| בְּקַרְנ֥וֹת | bekarnot | on [the] horns of | H7161 → | 76 times |
| הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ | hamizbeach | the altar | H4196 → | 401 times |
וַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּand Adonijah
vaadoniyahuH138 →26 times
יָרֵ֖אhe was afraid
yare'H3372 →315 times
מִפְּנֵ֣יof <the face of>
mipeneiH6440 →2123 times
שְׁלֹמֹ֑הSolomon
shelomohH8010 →291 times
וַיָּ֣קָםand he arose
vaiyakomH6965 →628 times
וַיֵּ֔לֶךְand he went
vaiyelekhH1980 →1546 times
וַֽיַּחֲזֵ֖קand he took hold
vaiyachazekH2388 →291 times
בְּקַרְנ֥וֹתon [the] horns of
bekarnotH7161 →76 times
הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃the altar
hamizbeachH4196 →401 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 118:27The LORD is God; He has made His light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
it leads to
- Psalms 18:28
For You, O LORD, light my lamp; my God lights up my darkness.
- John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Esther 8:16
For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor.
- Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
- Psalms 18:28
Through
Exodus 27:2Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze.
it leads to
- Psalms 118:27
The LORD is God; He has made His light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
- Psalms 118:27
Through
Exodus 21:14But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 2:28–34
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.
- 1 Kings 2:28–34
Through
1 Kings 2:28When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 1:7
So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.
- 1 Kings 1:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
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About 1 Kings
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.