1 Kings 1:51

51 et nuntiaverunt Salomoni dicentes ecce Adonias timens regem Salomonem tenuit cornu altaris dicens iuret mihi hodie rex Salomon quod non interficiat servum suum gladio

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 territi sunt ergo et surrexerunt omnes qui invitati fuerant ab Adonia et ivit unusquisque in viam suam

50 Adonias autem timens Salomonem surrexit et abiit tenuitque cornu altaris

51 et nuntiaverunt Salomoni dicentes ecce Adonias timens regem Salomonem tenuit cornu altaris dicens iuret mihi hodie rex Salomon quod non interficiat servum suum gladio

52 dixitque Salomon si fuerit vir bonus non cadet ne unus quidem capillus eius in terram sin autem malum inventum fuerit in eo morietur

53 misit ergo rex Salomon et eduxit eum ab altari et ingressus adoravit regem Salomonem dixitque ei Salomon vade in domum tuam