1 Kings 1:8

8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah.

1 Kings 1:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 1:8

But Zadok the priest
Who bid fair to be the high priest on Solomon's coming to the throne as he was:

and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada;
who was near David's person, and over his bodyguards, the Cherethites and Pelethites:

and Nathan the prophet;
a very great intimate of David's, and his seer, whom he consulted on all occasions:

and Shimei;
who, according to Abarbinel, was Shimei the son of Gera, who had cursed David, and was afraid of entering into the conspiracy, lest he should be involved in trouble again: though some think this may be that Shimei, one of Solomon's twelve officers, as after constituted, ( 1 Kings 4:18 ) ;

and Rei;
whom the same writer takes to be Hushai the Archite, David's friend:

and the mighty men which [belonged] to David;
that were about his person, his guards, the Cherethites and Pelethites:

were not with Adonijah;
they did not join him, and indeed were not invited by him.

1 Kings 1:8 In-Context

6 Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.

7 Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king.

8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah.

9 Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers—the other sons of King David—and all the royal officials of Judah.

10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the king’s bodyguard or his brother Solomon.