1 Kings 1:7 Meaning: Why Joab and Abiathar Joined Adonijah
He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him.
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
And his words are with Joab son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, and they help after Adonijah;
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they helped Adonijah and followed [him].
Meaning in one sentence
What drove David's general and priest to back Adonijah? This verse reveals the dangerous mix of ambition, grievance, and misplaced loyalty.
Context
David is old and weak, confined to his bed. Adonijah, his fourth son, decides the time is right to seize the throne. He makes a show of power, chariots, horsemen, runners, just as his brother Absalom had done years before. But he knows he cannot do it alone. To succeed, he needs the backing of the army and the priesthood. So he approaches two towering figures: Joab, David's long-serving general, and Abiathar, the priest who had shared David's exile and hardship. This verse records their response. They listened. They agreed. They threw their weight behind his plan.
Key Words
The Hebrew behind “conferred” is literally “his words were with” Joab and Abiathar. This is more than a casual chat. It suggests a serious negotiation, Adonijah laid out his case and sought their allegiance. The word “helped” comes from a root meaning to support or succor. But notice the phrasing in many translations: “they helped after Adonijah.” The little word “after” (achar) carries the sense of following someone as a leader. These are not neutral assistants; they are aligning themselves with Adonijah’s cause, choosing to follow where he leads. In a kingdom where God had already made clear His choice (Solomon), this support carries heavy weight. Words were exchanged, commitments were made. The verse captures a turning point where loyalty shifts from the dying king to the rising contender.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have long puzzled over why Joab and Abiathar made this choice. Some Reformed commentators, like Matthew Henry, see it as pure ambition: “They helped him, and so strengthened his party.” Others point to hidden resentments. Barnes suggests Joab feared Solomon would be a “man of rest” and preferred the more aggressive Adonijah. Abiathar may have grown jealous of Zadok, the other priest, and hoped to secure his position. Cambridge Bible notes that both men, for different reasons, Joab’s sense of insecurity, Abiathar’s fear of being supplanted, chose to back the man who would owe them everything. Across traditions, readers agree that the defection was not sudden, but rooted in real human weakness: fear of losing status, unease with change, and the lure of a fresh start under a new ruler.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to see Joab and Abiathar as simply treacherous men who abandoned their king without cause. In fact, their defection is more complex. Joab had killed David’s son Absalom against orders, straining the relationship. Abiathar saw the priesthood slipping to Zadok. Their support of Adonijah was not blind betrayal; it was a calculated move born from real grievances and personal ambition. This matters because it challenges us to examine our own motives when we choose sides.
Living This Out
Every week we make small choices about whose plans we support. This verse invites you to look beneath the surface. When you back a project at work, a church ministry, or even a friend’s decision, what is really swaying you? Is it the merit of the plan, or your own fear of being left out? A grudge you carry? An ambition you haven’t admitted? Adonijah’s story sets a calm but honest question before you: Are you following because God is in it, or because it feels like a smart move for you? Take one relationship or commitment this week and quietly check what is truly behind your loyalty.
Main takeaway: Even faithful people can be drawn into supporting a plan that God never intended.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Adonijah wanted to be king, so he asked some important men to help him. But God had already said Solomon would be king. We should always listen to what God wants, not just what we want.
For ages 9, 12
Joab was the top general in David’s army. Abiathar was a priest who had been with David for years. They knew David had promised the throne to Solomon. Yet they joined Adonijah’s plan because they thought they could gain something for themselves. It’s a warning that even wise and experienced people can make wrong choices when they follow their own ambition instead of God’s promise. Pay attention to what God has already said in his Word, it will keep you from going down the wrong path.
Questions People Ask
What did Joab and Abiathar do wrong in 1 Kings 1:7?
They used their positions of power to support Adonijah's attempt to make himself king, even though God had chosen Solomon. They knew David's promise to Bathsheba. Their support was a direct challenge to God's plan, motivated by personal ambition and resentment.
Did Adonijah have a right to the throne?
As the eldest surviving son, Adonijah likely felt he had a natural right. But God had chosen Solomon to be David's successor, a decision known to the royal household. In Israel, the king was chosen by God, not merely by human inheritance. Adonijah bypassed God's choice.
Why did Abiathar, the priest, turn against David?
Commentators suggest Abiathar may have been jealous of Zadok, the other high priest, who was increasingly favored. By backing Adonijah, he hoped to secure his position and possibly become the sole high priest. His defection was surprising given his long, close history with David.
What can we learn from the defection of Joab and Abiathar?
This verse warns us that even long-time faithful servants can be swayed by personal grievances, fear of losing status, or ambition. It invites us to examine our own motives when we support a new initiative or leader, to ensure we are following God's will, not our own interests.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study