1 Kings 1:5

5 At this time Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, puffed himself up saying, "I'm the next king!" He made quite a splash, with chariots and riders and fifty men to run ahead of him.

1 Kings 1:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 1:5

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself
This was his mother's name, ( 2 Samuel 3:4 ) ; his father David being old and infirm, and not like to live long, notable to oppose him; and he being the eldest son, and a comely person, was inspired with ambition to set up for king:

saying, I will be king;
though he knew that Solomon was appointed of God, and promised by David, and expected by the people to be king, yet he was resolved to set up himself for king, and try if he could not get himself to the throne; on this he was bent and determined:

and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before
him;
just as Absalom had done, when he had the same thing in view, to make him respectable among the people, see ( 2 Samuel 15:1 ) .

1 Kings 1:5 In-Context

3 So they searched the country of Israel for the most ravishing girl they could find; they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

4 The girl was stunningly beautiful; she stayed at his side and looked after the king, but the king did not have sex with her.

5 At this time Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, puffed himself up saying, "I'm the next king!" He made quite a splash, with chariots and riders and fifty men to run ahead of him.

6 His father had spoiled him rotten as a child, never once reprimanding him. Besides that, he was very good-looking and the next in line after Absalom.

7 Adonijah talked with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they threw their weight on his side.