1 Kings 1:9
ESV
Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent 's Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king 's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,
NIV
Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,
NASB
Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened steers by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants.
CSB
Adonijah sacrificed sheep, goats, cattle, and fattened cattle near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king,
NLT
Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers — the other sons of King David — and all the royal officials of Judah.
KJV
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:
NKJV
And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel; he also invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants.
What does 1 Kings 1:9 mean?
David's son Adonijah has decided to declare himself the new king of Israel. He slightly modifies the tactics used by his brother Absalom in an attempted coup many years prior (2 Samuel 15:10–12), Adonijah throws a massive feast for prominent people in the kingdom. He sacrifices the animals as part of a ritual asking for God's blessing on him in his new role.Adonijah holds this king-making event at a landmark called the Serpent's Stone. Also called the Stone of Zoheleth, this is near a spring called the En-rogel. This site is extremely close to David's palace in Jerusalem, at the border between Benjamin and Judah (Joshua 15:7). The location and the guests demonstrate Adonijah's assumptions. He thinks he has the support of Jerusalem and the two southernmost tribes of Israel. He's invited all of David's surviving sons, except for Solomon (1 Kings 1:10), and all the royal officials of the powerful tribe of Judah.
Adonijah's inclusion of his brothers is significant. In that time and place, a new king often killed all his rivals, including his family. Perhaps the last to do so in Israel was Herod the Great. By agreeing to attend the coronation, Adonijah's brothers are swearing allegiance to him and trying to protect their own lives. The fact that Adonijah doesn't invite Solomon strongly suggests he knows he's acting against David's will (1 Kings 1:8). The support of his brothers is therefore even more important.
The groups supporting Adonijah and Solomon are parallel. They both have a military commander, significant military figures, generals, and royal guards, a priest, and support from family. The biggest difference is that while the civil leaders of Judah support Adonijah, Solomon has Nathan, God's prophet. The tribal leaders may want Adonijah, but God personally told Nathan that He loved him (2 Samuel 12:24–25).
Although God has been working in the background, this is the first mention of Solomon since his birth (2 Samuel 12:24).
