1 Kings 1:52

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

⁴¹Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the trumpet. "Why is the city in such a loud uproar?" asked Joab. ⁴²As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. "Come in," said Adonijah, "for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news." ⁴³"Not at all," Jonathan replied. "Our lord King David has made Solomon king. ⁴⁴And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king's mule. ⁴⁵Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear. ⁴⁶Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. ⁴⁷The king's servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, 'May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.' And the king has bowed in worship on his bed, ⁴⁸saying, 'May the LORD God of Israel be praised! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.'" ⁴⁹At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered. ⁵⁰But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

there shall: 1 Samuel 14:45, 2 Samuel 14:11, Matthew 10:30, Luke 21:18, Acts 27:34

wickedness: 1 Kings 2:21-25, Job 15:22, Proverbs 13:6, Proverbs 21:12

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 2:24 - put

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Solomon said, if he will show himself a worthy man,.... Will behave himself well as a good subject, and be careful not to offend for the future, or appear to be one that fears sin, as the Targum; particularly the crimes of sedition, rebellion, and treason:

there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth; not the least harm should be done him:

but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die; that is, if any crime worthy of death be committed by him, or any overt act of treason, and the like, he should surely be put to death, and find no mercy, notwithstanding the present general pardon. This was very wisely done by Solomon, to begin his reign without shedding blood even of delinquents; and especially of his brother, and his elder brother too; and by granting his life for the future on his good behaviour.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

There shalt not an hair ... - This was a proverbial expression, meaning “he shall suffer no hurt at all.” Solomon’s clemency in pardoning Adonijah is very remarkable. In the East not only are pretenders almost always punished with death, but it has often been the custom for each king upon his accession to put to death all his brothers as mere possible pretenders.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 1:52. If he will show himself a worthy man — If, from henceforth, he behave well, show himself to be contented, and not endeavour to make partisans, or stir up insurrections among the people, he shall be safe; but if wickedness be found in him - if he act at all contrary to this - he shall die; his blood shall be upon him.