Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Kings 1:5-10

"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. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men that belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he called all his brethren, the king`s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king`s servants: but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not." — 1 Kings 1:5-10 (ASV)

Indulgent parents are often chastised by disobedient children, who are anxious to possess their estates. No worldly wisdom, nor experience, nor sacredness of character, can ensure that those who remain under the power of self-love will continue in any former course. But we may well wonder by what devices Joab and Abiathar could be drawn aside.