1 Kings 1:5

5 And Adonijah, the son of Haggith, was raised up, and said, I shall reign. And he made to him a chariot, and knights, and fifty men, that ran before him (And he got himself a chariot, and horsemen/and horses, and fifty men who ran before 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 Therefore they sought a young waxing virgin, fair in all the coasts of Israel; and they found Abishag of Shunem, and they brought her to the king. (And so they searched for a young, beautiful virgin in all the coasts of Israel; and they found Abishag of Shunem, and they brought her to the king.)

4 And the damsel was full fair, and she slept with the king, and ministered to him; forsooth the king knew not her fleshly. (And the young woman was very beautiful, and she slept with the king, and ministered to him; but the king did not know her fleshly.)

5 And Adonijah, the son of Haggith, was raised up, and said, I shall reign. And he made to him a chariot, and knights, and fifty men, that ran before him (And he got himself a chariot, and horsemen/and horses, and fifty men who ran before him).

6 Neither David, his father, reproved him any time, nor said, Why hast thou done this? But also he was full fair, the second child after Absalom; (And David, his father, did not rebuke him at any time, nor said to him, Why hast thou done this? And he was very handsome, and the second child after Absalom;)

7 and his word was with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar, priest, that helped the parts of Adonijah. (and he talked with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar, the priest, and they supported Adonijah.)