But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
Adonijah held a gathering and feast to establish himself as king and press his claim to the throne, while deliberately leaving out Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David's mighty men, and Solomon his brother. Their absence from the gathering marked them as outside his conspiracy, as faithful supporters who had not joined his movement. Because they stood apart from it, they remained free to act to frustrate his claim, and Nathan with the other faithful supporters helped prevent the conspiracy from succeeding. Solomon, whom Adonijah excluded, was the divinely appointed successor to the throne.
Adonijah held a gathering and feast to establish himself as king and press his claim to the throne, while deliberately leaving out Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David's mighty men, and Solomon his brother. Their absence from the gathering marked them as outside his conspiracy, as faithful supporters who had not joined his movement. Because they stood apart from it, they remained free to act to frustrate his claim, and Nathan with the other faithful supporters helped prevent the conspiracy from succeeding. Solomon, whom Adonijah excluded, was the divinely appointed successor to the throne.