And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah {e} helped him.

(e) They took his part and followed him.

Wesley's Notes

1:7 They helped - Either because they thought the right of the crown was his: or to secure and advance their own interest. It seems God left them to themselves, to correct them for former miscarriages, with a rod of their own making.

King James Translators' Notes

he...: Heb. his words were with

following...: Heb. helped after Adonijah

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. he conferred with Joab-The anxiety of Adonijah to secure the influence of a leader so bold, enterprising, and popular with the army was natural, and the accession of the hoary commander is easily accounted for from his recent grudge at the king (see on [283]2Sa 19:13).

and with Abiathar the priest-His influence was as great over the priests and Levites-a powerful body in the kingdom-as that of Joab over the troops. It might be that both of them thought the crown belonged to Adonijah by right of primogeniture, from his mature age and the general expectations of the people (1Ki 2:15).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:5-10 Indulgent parents are often chastised with disobedient children, who are anxious to possess their estates. No worldly wisdom, nor experience, nor sacredness of character, can insure the continuance in any former course of those who remain under the power of self-love. But we may well wonder by what arts Joab and Abiathar could be drawn aside.