The Meaning of 1 Kings 2:5 Explained

1 Kings 2:5

KJV: Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

YLT: And also, thou hast known that which he did to me -- Joab son of Zeruiah -- that which he did to two heads of the hosts of Israel, to Abner son of Ner, and to Amasa son of Jether -- that he slayeth them, and maketh the blood of war in peace, and putteth the blood of war in his girdle, that is on his loins, and in his sandals that are on his feet;

Darby: And thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and upon his sandals that were on his feet.

ASV: Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me, even what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Moreover thou knowest  also what Joab  the son  of Zeruiah  did  to me, [and] what he did  to the two  captains  of the hosts  of Israel,  unto Abner  the son  of Ner,  and unto Amasa  the son  of Jether,  whom he slew,  and shed  the blood  of war  in peace,  and put  the blood  of war  upon his girdle  that [was] about his loins,  and in his shoes  that [were] on his feet. 

What does 1 Kings 2:5 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 2:1-9 - New Responsibilities For The New King
1 Chronicles 28:1-21; 1 Chronicles 29:1-30 should be read as coming between this and the preceding chapter. It was with a ripe knowledge of life that David urged Solomon to keep God's charge, to walk in His ways and do His commandments, as the sure road to prosperity. The guiding-star of David's life- 2 Samuel 7:25 -shone over him in death. God never goes back on a word that he has once spoken. He continues His word-only we must walk before Him in obedience and faith, that it may have free course.
At first sight, we might suppose that the old king cherished bitter feelings against those named in this parting charge; but it should be remembered that he speaks here from a public, rather than a private, standpoint. He knew that these men constituted a grave peril to the peace and stability of the State; and indeed his fears were abundantly justified, for each of them was discovered in acts of treachery, on account of which, and not because of David's words, he suffered death. David held that the claims of gratitude were not less binding than those of justice; hence his warm recommendation of Barzillai. "Show thyself a man" was good advice to a youth called to rule in turbulent times.
1 Kings 2:1-46 - Breaking Three Commandments
From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been his-but he had a conscience! Above the persuasive tones of the monarch's offer sounded the voice of God: "The land shall not be sold for ever, for the land is mine." See Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
Ahab knew perfectly well that Jezebel could not give him the property of another except by foul means, but he took pains not to inquire. Though the direct orders for Naboth's death did not come from him, yet, by his silence, he was an accomplice and an accessory; and divine justice penetrates all such specious excuses. God holds us responsible for wrongs which we do not arrest, though we have the power. The crime was blacker because of the pretext of religion, as suggested by a fast. See also 2 Kings 9:26. The blood of murdered innocence cries to God, and his requital, though delayed, is inevitable. See Revelation 6:9-10. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 2

1  David, having given a charge to Solomon
3  of Reverence
5  of Joab
7  of Barzillai
8  of Shimei
10  Solomon succeeds
12  Adonijah, moving Bathsheba to ask unto Solomon for Abishag,
13  is put to death
26  Abiathar, having his life given him, is deprived of the priesthood
28  Joab fleeing to the horns of the altar, is there slain
35  Benaiah is put in Joab's room, and Zadfok in Abiathar's
36  Shimei, confined to Jerusalem, by occasion of going to Gath, is put to death

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 2:5 mean?

Moreover also you know - what did to me Joab son of Zeruiah [and] what he did to two the commanders of the armies of Israel to Abner of Ner and Amasa son of Jether and whom he killed and he shed the blood of war in peacetime and put the blood of war on his belt that [was] around his waist and on his sandals that [were] on his feet
וְגַ֣ם אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֡עְתָּ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁר־ עָ֨שָׂה לִ֜י יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־ צְרוּיָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֣ה לִשְׁנֵֽי־ שָׂרֵ֣י צִבְא֣וֹת יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל לְאַבְנֵ֨ר נֵ֜ר וְלַעֲמָשָׂ֤א בֶן־ יֶ֙תֶר֙ וַיַּ֣הַרְגֵ֔ם וַיָּ֥שֶׂם דְּמֵֽי־ מִלְחָמָ֖ה בְּשָׁלֹ֑ם וַיִּתֵּ֞ן דְּמֵ֣י מִלְחָמָ֗ה בַּחֲגֹֽרָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּמָתְנָ֔יו וּֽבְנַעֲל֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרַגְלָֽיו

וְגַ֣ם  Moreover  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
יָדַ֡עְתָּ  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֵת֩  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
לִ֜י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
יוֹאָ֣ב  Joab 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄואָב  
Sense: son of David’s sister Zeruiah and general of David’s army.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
צְרוּיָ֗ה  of  Zeruiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: צְרוּיָה  
Sense: sister of David and mother of the 3 leading heroes of David’s army—Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  [and]  what 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עָשָׂ֣ה  he  did 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לִשְׁנֵֽי־  to  two 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
שָׂרֵ֣י  the  commanders 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
צִבְא֣וֹת  of  the  armies 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
לְאַבְנֵ֨ר  to  Abner 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִינֵר 
Sense: Saul’s cousin and army captain, treacherously slain by Joab.
נֵ֜ר  of  Ner 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵר  
Sense: son of Jehiel, father of Kish, and grandfather of king Saul.
וְלַעֲמָשָׂ֤א  and  Amasa 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲמָשָׂא  
Sense: son of Ithra or Jether by Abigail the sister of David and general of the army of Absalom.
בֶן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יֶ֙תֶר֙  of  Jether 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יֶתֶר  
Sense: father-in-law of Moses.
וַיַּ֣הַרְגֵ֔ם  and  whom  he  killed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: הָרַג  
Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם  and  he  shed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
דְּמֵֽי־  the  blood 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
מִלְחָמָ֖ה  of  war 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
בְּשָׁלֹ֑ם  in  peacetime 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
וַיִּתֵּ֞ן  and  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
דְּמֵ֣י  the  blood 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
מִלְחָמָ֗ה  of  war 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
בַּחֲגֹֽרָתוֹ֙  on  his  belt 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֲגֹור 
Sense: girdle, belt.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that  [was] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בְּמָתְנָ֔יו  around  his  waist 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, mdc, third person masculine singular
Root: מָתְנַיִם  
Sense: loins, hips.
וּֽבְנַעֲל֖וֹ  and  on  his  sandals 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נַעַל  
Sense: sandal, shoe.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that  [were] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בְּרַגְלָֽיו  on  his  feet 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.