Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
Ver. 5. Exalted himself, saying, I will be king.] This was another of David's darlings. Him and Absalom, David had honoured, as Eli had done his two wicked sons, above the Lord; 1Sa 2:29 therefore they proved a singular cross to him.
I will be king.] Though David had declared Solomon to be designed king by God himself, 1Ch 22:9-10 and Adonijah knew it to be so, and therefore called not Solomon and his party to his feast. 1Ki 1:19 Vain men, whilst, like proud and yet brittle clay, they will be knocking their sides against the solid and eternal decree of God, break themselves in pieces.
And he prepared him chariots.] Absalom-like; ambition rideth without reins. David should have now looked upon him as another Absalom, and suppressed him. But he either knew not, or suspected not this pomp, and those preparations of his.