Contrast the fate of those who rebelled and those who remained loyal to David, God’s appointed leader. Adonijah, the leader of the conspiracy, met a violent death (2:25). Those who rebel against God’s leaders rebel against God.
| Joined Adonijah | Remained with David |
| Joab (1:7) Brilliant military general and commander of David’s army. He continually demonstrated his belief that cold-blooded murder was as acceptable as a fairly fought battle. Solomon later had him executed. | Zadok (1:8) The other high priest under David. His loyalty gave him the privilege of crowning Solomon. He became the sole high priest under King Solomon. |
| Abiathar (1:7) One of two high priests under David. He was a son of Ahimelech who had helped David, and David promised to protect him. Abiathar repaid David with treachery. Solomon later had him banished, fulfilling the prophecy that Eli’s priestly line would end (1 Samuel 2:31). | Benaiah (1:8) Distinguished himself as a great warrior. Commanded a division of David’s army—over 24,000 men. One of the Thirty, he was also placed in charge of David’s bodyguard. Solomon later made him chief commander of the army. |
| Jonathan (1:42) Abiathar’s son. He helped David stop Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 17:17-22) but supported this rebellion by another of David’s sons. | Nathan (1:8) God’s prominent prophet during David’s reign. The Bible says he wrote a history of David and Solomon. |
| Charioteers (1:5) Hired by Adonijah, apparently more loyal to money than to their king. | Shimei (1:8) This man was probably the Shimei who was rewarded by Solomon and appointed district governor in Benjamin (4:18). (He was not the same person who cursed David at Bahurim and brought on his own death under Solomon.) |
| 50 Runners (1:5) Recruited to give Adonijah a “royal” appearance. | Rei (1:8) Only mentioned here. Possibly he was an army officer. The word means “and his friends.” |
| David’s Bodyguard (1:8, 10) David’s army was highly organized with several different divisions of troops. It is enough to know that many of his leaders remained true to their king. |