May 17 2025
1 Kings 1:5
“[5] Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.”
Today’s continuation of 1 Kings continuation. Yesterday, we read in 1 Kings 1:1-4, describing the context and timeline which is King David in his old age.
The following paragraph in 1 Kings 1:5 -10, shines the light onto a person – Adonijah.
Who is Adonijah?
1 King 1:5, states Adonijah is the son of Haggith.
Who is Haggith?
I found a genealogy of David in 1 Chronicles 3
From there found out Adonijah is the 4th son of David.
Haggith is one of David’s many wives.
My first thought was, why does David, a man after God’s own heart has so many wives? What does God say about polygamy at David’s time?
Then I found in Deuteronomy 17, written way before David was born, that scriptures had already foresaw that one day Israel will have kings and had the law covering how God’s king should behave.
Deuteronomy 17
Rules for God’s king among his people:
– not a foreigner who is not God’s people (Deut 17:15)
– must not acquire many horses for him self (Deut 17:16) – why?
Verse 16 says “it will cause people of God to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses”. A king is a role model that sets and example for God’s people
– shall not acquire many wives for himself (v17), why? V17 says “lest his heart turn away”
– verse 17 also states God’s king shall not acquire for himself excessive gold or silver.
This is the standard of God’s king. So as we read from God’s first king – Saul, to David, to Solomon, and to the many we will discover in 1 Kings and 2 Kings (until their exile to Babylon), we will be able to see which Kings really held fast to God’s commands.
This showed to me the distractions in this world is not a new thing. It happened way before in ancient days. As we read from God’ delivering his people from slavery in Egypt in Exodus to 1 and 2 Kings to the rest of the old testament.
We will notice how many of God’s people went their own way not teaching or discipline their children in God’s word – Kings, not knowing scripture, going their own way.
I used to think Deuteronomy and Leviticus were these boring books of laws – to skip over.
However, recently realized they are important books to understand because after the law was given – we are able to see the rest of old testament from God’s perspective. Who read and kept the law.
So now we as we read Deuteronomy 17 – we discover God’s standards for kings.
We can already tell in 1 Kings 5, where Adonijah’s is. This man we learn is son of David. But his heart is not with God for he is/has been eyeing the throne. And prepared for himself chariots and horsemen.
Deuteronomy 17 is also interesting because it contrasts how the world defines how rich and powerful should behave and live.
- Horses: represent military strength and dependence on human power, not just wealth or status
- Returning to Egypt for horses: symbolizes going back to worldly systems for security instead of trusting God
- Many wives: points to alliances and influences that turn the heart away from God
- Silver and gold: represent accumulated wealth and self-exaltation
In Deuteronomy 17, “horses” represent military power and reliance on human strength, while wealth and status are addressed separately through silver and gold. The command is about rejecting dependence on power, wealth, and alliances, and instead living under God’s authority.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” -Psalm 20:7
Isaiah 31:1-3
1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help
and rely on horses,
who trust in chariots because they are many
and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel
or consult the Lord!
2 And yet he is wise and brings disaster;
he does not call back his words,
but will arise against the house of the evildoers
and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.
3 The Egyptians are man, and not God,
and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out his hand,
the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall,
and they will all perish together.
