1 Kings 1:49

49 Then Adonijah's guests were afraid, and they all got up and left, each going his own way.

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 What is more, the court officials went in to pay their respects to His Majesty King David and said, "May your God make Solomon even more famous than you, and may Solomon's reign be even more prosperous than yours.' Then King David bowed in worship on his bed

48 and prayed, "Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has today made one of my descendants succeed me as king, and has let me live to see it!' "

49 Then Adonijah's guests were afraid, and they all got up and left, each going his own way.

50 Adonijah, in great fear of Solomon, went to the Tent of the Lord's presence and took hold of the corners of the altar.

51 King Solomon was told that Adonijah was afraid of him and that he was holding on to the corners of the altar and had said, "First, I want King Solomon to swear to me that he will not have me put to death."