And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.
Solomon said, 'If he proves himself to be an honorable man, not a single hair on his head will be harmed. But if he does anything evil, he will die.'
Solomon is offering mercy to someone (his brother Adonijah) with a clear condition: behave honorably and live safely, but choose wickedness and face death.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 1 Kings, King David is on his deathbed, and his son Adonijah attempts to seize the throne, but David designates Solomon as his rightful successor. After Solomon is anointed as king, Adonijah seeks refuge and mercy from him amid the political turmoil. This verse reflects the ancient Near Eastern customs of conditional mercy and justice, where a ruler like Solomon could spare a rival's life based on future behavior.
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