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 to day 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 that 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 to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

52 And Solomon said , If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an 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.