1 Kings 1:51

51 Shlomo was told, "Here, Adoniyah is terrified of King Shlomo; he has grabbed hold of the horns of the altar and is saying, 'First let King Shlomo swear to me that he will not have his servant executed.'"

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 At this all Adoniyah's guests grew frightened; they got up, everyone going his own way.

50 Adoniyah too was afraid because of Shlomo; he got up, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

51 Shlomo was told, "Here, Adoniyah is terrified of King Shlomo; he has grabbed hold of the horns of the altar and is saying, 'First let King Shlomo swear to me that he will not have his servant executed.'"

52 Shlomo said, "If he will demonstrate that he is a worthy man, not a hair of his will fall to the earth. But if he is found making trouble, he will die."

53 So King Shlomo sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and prostrated himself before King Shlomo; and Shlomo said to him, 'Go on home.'"