1 Kings 2:28-35

1 Kings 2:28-35

[28] Then tidings  came  to Joab:  had turned  after  Adonijah,  though he turned  not after  Absalom.  And Joab  fled  unto the tabernacle  of the LORD,  and caught hold  on the horns  of the altar.  [29] And it was told  king  Solomon  that Joab  was fled  unto the tabernacle  of the LORD;  and, behold, he is by  the altar.  Then Solomon  sent  Benaiah  the son  of Jehoiada,  saying,  fall  upon him. [30] And Benaiah  came  to the tabernacle  of the LORD,  and said  the king,  Come forth.  And he said,  Nay; but I will die  here. And Benaiah  the king  word  again,  saying,  Thus said  Joab,  and thus he answered  [31] And the king  said  unto him, Do  as he hath said,  and fall  upon him, and bury  him; that thou mayest take away  the innocent  blood,  which Joab  shed,  from me, and from the house  of my father.  [32] And the LORD  shall return  his blood  upon his own head,  who fell  upon two  more righteous  and better  than he, and slew  them with the sword,  my father  David  not knowing  thereof, to wit, Abner  the son  of Ner,  captain  of the host  of Israel,  and Amasa  the son  of Jether,  captain  of the host  of Judah.  [33] Their blood  shall therefore return  upon the head  of Joab,  and upon the head  of his seed  for ever:  but upon David,  and upon his seed,  and upon his house,  and upon his throne,  shall there be peace  for  ever  from the LORD.  [34] So Benaiah  the son  of Jehoiada  went up,  and fell  upon him, and slew  him: and he was buried  in his own house  in the wilderness.  [35] And the king  put  Benaiah  the son  of Jehoiada  in his room over the host:  and Zadok  the priest  did the king  put  in the room of Abiathar. 

What does 1 Kings 2:28-35 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Perhaps because Solomon had shown Adonijah mercy when he fled to the altar ( 1 Kings 1:50-52), Joab sought refuge from Solomon there too, for participating in Adonijah"s rebellion. Joab, however, was a murderer as well as a rebel. Consequently Solomon had him executed in obedience to the Mosaic Law ( Exodus 21:14). Manslayers, but not murderers, found sanctuary at the altar. David"s house shared the guilt for Joab"s murders as long as he remained alive ( 1 Kings 2:31). By executing Joab, Solomon cleared the way for God to bless him and his throne. God would punish Joab"s house but bless David"s house ( 1 Kings 2:33). Solomon honored Joab for his service to David by burying him in his own land in Judah ( 1 Kings 2:34; cf. 2 Samuel 2:32).