1 Kings 1:49

49 At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.

1 Kings 1:49 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 1:49

And all the guests that [were] with Adonijah [were] afraid,
&c.] Though many of them were military men, the general of the army, and the captains thereof, ( 1 Kings 1:19 1 Kings 1:25 ) ; yet they were struck with a panic, their courage failed them, they had no spirit left in them, their hearts became as weak as water; had they exerted themselves according to their character, betaken themselves to arms, and put themselves at the head of their troops in favour of Adonijah, it would have given Solomon and his friends a great deal of trouble; no doubt this panic was of God:

and rose up, and went every man his way;
or to his house, as the Arabic version; on hearing what Jonathan reported, they immediately rose up from table in great haste, and made the best of their way to their houses, that it might not be known that they had been with Adonijah.

1 Kings 1:49 In-Context

47 The 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,

48 saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”

49 At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.

50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

51 It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”