1:5 Adonijah. Probably the oldest living son of David (2 Sam. 3:2–5; 13:28; 18:14). As such, he may have thought he would succeed his father. At this time, however, there was no custom or law dictating who would be David’s successor, other than his own decision (vv. 13, 17, 20, 30).

chariots and horsemen. Like Absalom before him (2 Sam. 15:1), Adonijah signals his ambitions and positions himself to take the throne.