According to the customs of succession, Adonijah could well have been the heir
to the throne of David. Adonijah was the fourth son of David (see 2 Samuel 3:4).
Two of his older brothers, Amnon and Absalom, were already dead, and a third,
Chileab, is not mentioned in the text except for the account of his birth.
David’s old age and feeble condition (see 1 Kings 1:1–4) evidently convinced
Adonijah that it was time to show the people that he was the successor to the
throne. His actions were thus designed to convince the people of his right and to
create a base of popular support that would consolidate his position. He set up a
royal processional (see v. 5); sought the support of important people, including
Joab, the commander of the military, Abiathar, the high priest, the other princes of
the court, and David’s personal staff (see vv. 7, 9); and prepared a great feast (see
v. 9). He deliberately excluded those loyal to Solomon as the successor, including
Zadok, another important priest; Benaiah, one of the military commanders (perhaps
second in command to Joab); the “mighty men” (v. 8), who were probably David’s
personal body guards; and the prophet Nathan.