King Solomon answered his mother, “And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah.”
Solomon's throne was not won by the sword like David's but settled at once; and when Adonijah could not rest easy under mercy, he ruined himself by his own restless ambition. Some men know not when they are well treated and so treasure up judgment for themselves by presuming on God's patience.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Kings 2:12-25
Then King Solomon sware by the Lord,.... To prevent his mother pressing him to have her petition granted: saying, God do so to me, and more also; lay such and such evils upon me, and more than I care to express: if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life; to his own prejudice, and even to the loss of his life; in...
why dost thou ask Abishag . . . ask for him the kingdom also--(See on Sa2 16:5; also see on Sa2 12:8). Solomon's indignation was roused; he in a moment penetrated the artful scheme, and from his associating the names of Abiathar and Joab, he seems to have suspected or known that those deep schemers had been the prompters of Adonijah.