After the death of his older brothers Amnon and Absalom, Adonijah considered himself the successor to the throne. He acquired chariots and a large entourage, but the king was uninformed because he was “stricken with years” and his health did not help him. David was also in another city, so Adonijah consulted and obtained the support of both the army commander Joab and the influential priest Abiathar. However, the priest Zadok, Benaiah, head of the king’s bodyguard, Nathan, the court prophet, and others did not side with Adonijah.

In anticipation of her father’s impending death, Adonijah invited her brother princes and court officials to a solemn sacrifice to announce her claim to the throne, but she did not invite Solomon or any of his supporters.

Assuming that Adonijah would soon move to eliminate any rival or opposition, Nathan warned Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and advised her to remind the king of an earlier promise to make Solomon his successor (1Chronicles 29 and 2Samuel 15).

However, Adonijah was supplanted by Solomon through the influence of Bathsheba and the diplomacy of the prophet Nathan. They induced David to give orders that Solomon be immediately proclaimed and admitted to the throne, which David agreed to.

Upon receiving the news that Solomon had been crowned king, Adonijah’s supporters quickly fled, while Adonijah took refuge on the altar. She later received forgiveness from Solomon for her conduct, on the condition that she prove herself a worthy man (1 Kings 1, 5-53). Later, Adonijah asked to marry Abishag of Shunem, who served his father David on his deathbed. Solomon, however, interpreting the request as a second attempt to win the throne, denied permission for such an engagement, even though Bathsheba now pleaded on Adonijah’s behalf. Adonijah was therefore put to death (1 Kings 2, 13-25).