Bible Strands
1 Kings 1:51
It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — An unnamed messenger reports to Solomon that Adonijah has fled to the altar in terror of the king. The report arrives immediately after Adonijah grasps the altar horns and demands a protective oath before facing judgment.
The words — The Hebrew יָרֵא (ya.Re') translates literally as "he fears" and describes Adonijah's terror at Solomon's potential retaliation. The verb וַ/יֻּגַּ֤ד (va/i.yu.Gad) means "it was told," indicating the information reached Solomon through a third party rather than direct confession.
The thread — The motif of fleeing to the altar for sanctuary appears in Exodus 21:14 and 1 Kings 2:28, where grasping the horns functions as a claim for divine protection. The demand for a sworn oath before execution parallels covenantal legal procedures found in Genesis 24:3 and Numbers 30:2.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that political survival often hinges on procedural guarantees rather than mere appeals for mercy. It demands an assessment of whether Adonijah's fear is genuine repentance or strategic self-preservation before any judgment is rendered.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.