1 Kings 1:51

51 And it was told Solomon, saying, "Behold, Adonijah feareth King Solomon; for lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, `Let King Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.'"

1 Kings 1:51 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 1:51

And it was told Solomon
By some of his courtiers:

saying, behold, Adonijah feareth King Solomon;
lest he should take away his life:

for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar;
which was the last resort of the guilty when they despaired of mercy otherwise:

saying, let King Solomon swear unto me this day that he will not slay
his servant with the sword;
he owns Solomon to be king, and himself his subject and servant; this no doubt he did to conciliate his favour, nor did he think his life safe, unless Solomon promised with an oath, that he would not take it away.

1 Kings 1:51 In-Context

49 And all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up and went every man his way.

50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose and went and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

51 And it was told Solomon, saying, "Behold, Adonijah feareth King Solomon; for lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, `Let King Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.'"

52 And Solomon said, "If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die."

53 So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to King Solomon; and Solomon said unto him, "Go to thine house."