Adonijah

Adonijah (meaning my Lord is Jehovah) was the fourth son of David, born of Haggith at Hebron, and the heir apparent following the deaths of Amnon, Chileab, and Absalom. As David lay aged and weak, Adonijah — described as very handsome and never checked by his father — assembled a following of Joab and Abiathar the priest and proclaimed himself king at En-rogel without David's knowledge. The countermove by Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan, and the priest Zadok brought the matter to David, who immediately authorized the anointing of Solomon at Gihon.

When news of Solomon's accession reached the feast at En-rogel, Adonijah's coalition dissolved. He sought sanctuary at the altar, and Solomon initially spared his life on condition of good behavior. Adonijah's subsequent request — made through Bathsheba — for Abishag the Shunammite as wife was interpreted by Solomon as a renewed claim to the throne, and Solomon had him executed. The account is paradigmatic of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the dynamics of succession in the Davidic court.