1 Kings 1 · a question people ask
Why did Adonijah take hold of the horns of the altar?
The chapter says "Adonijah was afraid because of Solomon" (1:50), and gives his own words: "Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword" (1:51). It says no more about why he went to the altar. The law of Moses speaks of a man at the LORD's altar: "If a man schemes and comes presumptuously on his neighbor to kill him, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die" (Exodus 21:14). The altar had horns "of one piece with it" (Exodus 27:2) (tap horn). The chapter doesn't say which altar Adonijah went to. In the next chapter Joab does the same, and there the text says, "Joab fled to the LORD’s Tent, and held onto the horns of the altar" (2:28). Solomon's answer to Adonijah was, "If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of his shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die" (1:52).
The verses
“Adonijah was afraid because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and hung onto the horns of the altar. Solomon was told, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon; for, behold, he is hanging onto the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’” Solomon said, “If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of his shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.””
“If a man schemes and comes presumptuously on his neighbor to kill him, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.”
“You shall make its horns on its four corners. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with bronze.”
“This news came to Joab; for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he didn’t follow Absalom. Joab fled to the LORD’s Tent, and held onto the horns of the altar.”