Adonijah was the fourth son of King David, born to Haggith according to 2 Samuel 3:4). Following the death of his older brothers Amnon and Absalom, he must have considered himself next in the line of succession. Another son older than him, Kileab (or Chileab, also called Daniel), must have died young. He is mentioned in the lists of David's sons found in 1 Chronicles 3:1 and 2 Samuel 3:3, but does not appear elsewhere in the Biblical text.