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.
Then Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself. Nothing is said as to the origin or rank of Haggith, so that it is probable she was not distinguished by family descent. Adonijah, though David's fourth son (2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Chronicles 3:2), was now the oldest alive; and personal attractions and manners (cf. 1 Samuel 9:2) not only recommended him to the leading men about court, but made him the favourite of his father, who, though seeing him assume an entourage becoming only the heir-presumptive to the throne (2 Samuel 15:1), said nothing, and his silence was considered by many, as well as by Adonijah, to be equivalent to an expression of consent. It was one of the characteristic weaknesses of David to be dotingly fond of, and culpably indulgent to, his children. To such an excess did David carry his paternal affection, as to be blind to their faults, and never dare rebuke their delinquencies.