Bible Strands
1 Kings 1:19
And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Bathsheba speaks to King David, reporting Adonijah’s coronation feast at a moment when David remains unaware of the political shift. She addresses him directly to demand intervention before the succession is finalized.
The words — The text highlights וַ֠/יִּזְבַּח (Va/i.yiz.bach), meaning "and he has sacrificed," to record the public ritual scale of the claim. It also notes לָ/רֹב֒ (la./Ro), translated as "to abundance," which quantifies the oxen, fattened calves, and sheep offered.
The thread — The identical sacrificial details and guest list appear in 1 Kings 1:25, where Nathan reinforces Bathsheba’s report. The political alliance between Adonijah, Joab, and Abiathar is previously documented in 1 Kings 1:7, establishing the network behind this feast.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to recognize how public religious acts can be deployed to manufacture political succession. It demands acknowledgment that institutional silence enables a faction to declare victory before the designated heir is acknowledged.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 1:7 So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.
- 1 Kings 1:25 For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’