Adonijah’s Bid for Power

⁵ Adonijah son of Haggith^(A) kept exalting himself, saying, “I will be king!” He prepared chariots, cavalry, and 50 men to run ahead of him.^[a](B)

⁷ He conspired^[a] with Joab son of Zeruiah^(A) and with Abiathar the priest.^(B) They supported^(C) Adonijah, ⁸ but Zadok the priest,^(D) Benaiah son of Jehoiada,^(E) Nathan the prophet,^(F) Shimei,^(G) Rei, and David’s warriors^(H) did not side with Adonijah.

⁹ Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel.^(I) He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king,^{(J) 10} but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the warriors, or his brother Solomon.^(K)