How does Adonijah's behavior contrast with Solomon's later anointing as king?

◄ Adonijah vs. Solomon's anointing? ►

Setting the Scene: Two Very Different Coronations

David is old and frail. One son, Adonijah, decides to seize the throne on his own terms, while another son, Solomon, will be crowned according to God’s promise and David’s direction.

Adonijah’s Self-Appointed Celebration (1 Kings 1:5–10)

• Bold self-promotion: “Now Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, ‘I will be king’ ” (v. 5).

• Military show: chariots, horsemen, fifty runners (v. 5).

• Selective alliances: Joab the commander and Abiathar the priest join him (v. 7).

• Shuts out godly voices: Nathan, Zadok, Benaiah, and Solomon are not invited (v. 10).

• Location and sacrifice:

“So Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves by the stone of Zoheleth near En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers… but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon” (1 Kings 1:9–10).

• Motive: prideful grasping reminiscent of Absalom (cf. 2 Samuel 15:1–6); no seeking of the Lord.

Solomon’s God-Ordained Anointing (1 Kings 1:32–40)

• Initiated by King David, Israel’s rightful authority (vv. 32–35).

• Implemented by Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the commander—representing spiritual, prophetic, and military spheres (vv. 32–38).

• Public, lawful venue: Gihon spring inside Jerusalem’s walls (v. 38).

• Sacred ceremony:

“Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ ” (1 Kings 1:39).

• Universal rejoicing: “The earth shook with the sound of their celebration” (v. 40).

• Grounded in God’s promise (1 Chron 22:9-10) and the principle: “You shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses” (Deuteronomy 17:15).

Side-By-Side Contrast

• Source of authority

– Adonijah: self-appointed.

– Solomon: appointed by David under God’s directive.

• Spiritual endorsement

– Adonijah: lacks prophet or priestly sanction.

– Solomon: anointed by Zadok; affirmed by Nathan.

• Location

– Adonijah: En-rogel, outside main city gate—suggests secrecy.

– Solomon: Gihon, near the tabernacle articles—invites public witness.

• Motive

– Adonijah: ambition and image (cf. Proverbs 16:18).