Solomon sent the commander of the bodyguard, Benaiah, to execute the oaths that Solomon swore in the presence of his mother. Benaiah fulfilled the assignment. With this, Solomon accomplished the first part of assuring the stability of his throne.
At the conclusion of these verses, we may wonder why Adonijah proceeded in the way he did. Scripture does not inform us. Nevertheless, it is true that the Bible teaches that the wicked person who plans evil for others becomes the victim of that evil himself.
It is important for us to acknowledge that Adonijah is responsible for his own death. Solomon did not break his promise to him that Adonijah had nothing to fear if he showed himself a worthy man (1 Kings 1:51). His actions show that he was resentful of God’s providence, deceitful in the way he presented himself to Bathsheba, but foolish in his miscalculation concerning the results of his action. Adonijah did not know it, but his foolish action led to Solomon taking action against other enemies—Joab, Abiathar, and Shimei. The narrative moves to record these things next.
25 So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.