Melachim Alef 1:51

51 And it was told Sh’lomo, saying, Hinei, Adoniyah feareth HaMelech Sh’lomo; for, hinei, he hath caught hold of the karnayim of the Mizbe’ach, saying, Let Melech Sh’lomo swear a shevua (oath) unto me today that he will not slay his eved with the cherev.

Melachim Alef 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.

Melachim Alef 1:51 In-Context

49 And kol hakeruvim (all the invited ones) that were with Adoniyah were terrified, and rose up, and went every ish his own derech [see Isa 53:6].

50 And Adoniyah feared because of Sh’lomo, and arose, and went, and caught hold of the karnayim of the Mizbe’ach.

51 And it was told Sh’lomo, saying, Hinei, Adoniyah feareth HaMelech Sh’lomo; for, hinei, he hath caught hold of the karnayim of the Mizbe’ach, saying, Let Melech Sh’lomo swear a shevua (oath) unto me today that he will not slay his eved with the cherev.

52 And Sh’lomo said, If he will show himself a ben chayil (a son of worthiness), there shall not a hair of him fall to ha’aretz; but if ra’ah (wickedness) shall be found in him, he shall die [Ro 6:23].

53 So HaMelech Sh’lomo sent, and they brought him down from the Mizbe’ach. And he came and bowed himself to Melech Sh’lomo; and Sh’lomo said unto him, Go to thine bais.