Someone told Solomon, “Adonijah is afraid of you and is holding on to the corners of the altar. He wants you to promise that you won't kill him.”
Adonijah himself was afraid of what Solomon might do to him, so he ran to the sacred tent and grabbed hold of the corners of the altar for protection.
Solomon answered, “If Adonijah doesn't cause any trouble, I won't hurt him. But if he does, I'll have him killed.”