1 Kings 2 29

1 Kings 2:29 kjv

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, Go, fall upon him.

1 Kings 2:29 nkjv

And King Solomon was told, "Joab has fled to the tabernacle of the LORD; there he is, by the altar." Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, strike him down."

1 Kings 2:29 niv

King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, "Go, strike him down!"

1 Kings 2:29 esv

And when it was told King Solomon, "Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD, and behold, he is beside the altar," Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, strike him down."

1 Kings 2:29 nlt

When this was reported to King Solomon, he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him.

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 29 Meaning

King Solomon was informed that Joab, fearful for his life, had sought refuge by clinging to the horns of the altar within the Lord's tabernacle. In response, Solomon immediately dispatched Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, with the command to execute Joab there. This act demonstrates Solomon's swift and unwavering establishment of his reign, fulfilling David's earlier directives, and ensuring justice for Joab's past deeds, thereby showing that the altar was not a sanctuary for intentional murder.

1 Kings 2 29 Context

This verse is a pivotal moment in 1 Kings Chapter 2, where King Solomon is actively consolidating his power and fulfilling the final directives given to him by his father, King David (1 Ki 2:1-9). David had explicitly charged Solomon to bring Joab, along with Shimei, to justice for their past misdeeds and disloyalty, stating that Joab’s "gray head" should not "go down to Sheol in peace."

Historically, places of worship, including altars, were often viewed as places of refuge and sanctuary, where one might appeal to divine protection from human vengeance. This practice is evident in the account of Adonijah, who similarly fled to the altar earlier in Solomon's reign and was initially spared (1 Ki 1:50). However, Israel's Mosaic Law, particularly Exodus 21:14, made a clear distinction: while accidental offenders might find sanctuary, one who willfully murdered was to be taken from the altar and put to death. Joab’s past was replete with intentional murders—namely, the treacherous killings of Abner (2 Sam 3:27) and Amasa (2 Sam 20:10)—which constituted capital crimes under this law. Joab's flight to the altar, therefore, signifies his desperate fear and tacit admission of guilt, stemming from his recent support for Adonijah's failed coup attempt against Solomon, combined with the underlying fear of retribution for his long-standing bloodguilt. Solomon’s swift and unyielding response solidifies his authority and cleanses the kingdom of long-standing bloodguilt that afflicted David's house.

1 Kings 2 29 Word analysis

• And it was told King Solomon (וַיֻּגַּד לַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה):
  • This phrase emphasizes the prompt and official nature of the information reaching the highest authority. Solomon is immediately apprised of Joab's actions.
• Joab (יוֹאָב, Yo'av):
  • Significance: David's veteran commander-in-chief, known for his military prowess but also his ruthless, self-serving actions and calculated murders. His lineage connects him to David’s family (son of Zeruiah, David’s sister), making his insubordination and prior bloodguilt especially problematic for the stability of the new monarchy. His actions repeatedly troubled David's reign.
• had fled (וַיָּנָס, vay-yānas):
  • Conveys urgency, fear, and desperation. Joab knew the severity of his situation, particularly after supporting Adonijah’s failed claim to the throne and Solomon's execution of Adonijah and banishment of Abiathar.
• to the tent of the Lord (אֹהֶל יְהוָה, ’ōhel YHWH):
  • Refers to the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary of God's presence, not yet the permanent Temple. This place symbolized divine holiness and justice, the very location where divine law was kept and applied. Seeking asylum here meant appealing directly to God's jurisdiction and the sacredness of His presence.
• and behold, he was holding on to the horns of the altar (וְהִנֵּה ה֞וּא אָחֻ֣ז בְּקַרְנֹ֣ו הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ, vəhinneh hūʾ ’āḥuz bəqarnōw hammizbēaḥ):
  • "behold" (וְהִנֵּה, ve-hineh): An interjection signaling something noteworthy or dramatic; highlighting the immediate and specific nature of Joab's action.
  • "holding on to" (אָחֻז, ’āḥuz): Implies a firm, desperate grasp, a literal clinging for protection.
  • "the horns of the altar" (קַרְנֹו הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, qarnōw hammizbēaḥ): The four prominent projections on each corner of the bronze altar for burnt offerings. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, and specifically in Israelite law (Exo 21:14), clinging to the altar horns was a universal sign of seeking sanctuary, typically for unintentional manslaughter or someone seeking clemency. The horns were often touched with the blood of sacrifices, making them particularly sacred and connected to atonement and God's presence. Joab's act signifies a desperate, but ultimately misplaced, appeal for sanctuary given his deliberate past actions.
• Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת־בְּנָיָהוּ בֶּן־יְהֹויָדָע):
  • Solomon's Authority: Highlights the new king's decisive and uncompromising nature.
  • Benaiah (בְּנָיָהוּ, Benayahu): A highly trusted and powerful figure, commander of the Kerethites and Pelethites (David's elite bodyguard), who later becomes commander of Israel's entire army (1 Ki 2:35). His selection underscores the gravity and certainty of the execution.
• saying, “Go, strike him down.” (לֵךְ פְּגַע־בּוֹ, lēḵ pəḡa‘-bō):
  • "strike him down": A euphemism for killing or execution. The command is direct and absolute, reflecting the absence of mercy for a deliberate murderer, according to divine law (Exo 21:14).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And it was told King Solomon that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord, and behold, he was holding on to the horns of the altar.": This full statement captures the immediate predicament facing Solomon. Joab’s strategic retreat to the most sacred, traditionally inviolable location highlights his knowledge of Solomon's intent and his desperation, yet simultaneously reveals his attempt to misuse a sacred provision for common criminals to escape justice for grievous sins.
• "Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.”": This represents Solomon’s firm, unhesitating decision, signaling a shift from David’s often passive and compromising rule. He applies the specific letter of the law regarding willful murder, prioritizing justice and the stability of his kingdom over traditional sanctuary customs when misused. The choice of Benaiah further reinforces the unwavering execution of royal will and divine judgment.

1 Kings 2 29 Bonus section

• The execution of Joab at the altar, although shocking to modern sensibilities, was entirely consistent with Israelite law concerning willful murderers. Exodus 21:14 is crucial here, explicitly stating: "If a man willfully attacks another to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die." This highlights the boundaries of sanctuary; it was never intended to protect those who shed innocent blood intentionally.
• This event contributes to the overarching theme of David’s charge to Solomon: to execute justice where David himself had often been unable or unwilling to. David’s reign, while blessed, was marred by various personal and political injustices. Solomon's swift, uncompromising actions—first with Adonijah, then Abiathar, and finally Joab—establish a clear message of a new, firm era where divine law and royal authority would be enforced without hesitation.
• The cleansing of the "blood on David's house" (referencing 1 Kings 2:33, a direct consequence of Joab's death) through these executions was vital. Unpunished bloodshed, particularly against righteous men like Abner, carried profound spiritual and societal consequences within the Israelite worldview. Solomon's actions ensured the blessing of the Lord upon his throne.
• While Adonijah initially sought sanctuary at the altar and was spared (1 Ki 1:50-53), Joab, unlike Adonijah (who had not committed prior capital offenses of murder), had a long history of bloodguilt. Adonijah was ultimately executed later due to his continued ambitions, but Joab’s immediate death despite seeking sanctuary underscores the gravity of his long-standing, unatoned crimes.

1 Kings 2 29 Commentary

1 Kings 2:29 marks a pivotal moment in the establishment of Solomon’s kingdom, showcasing his resolve and commitment to justice. Joab’s flight to the altar, a desperate attempt to gain sanctuary, reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice where altars served as places of refuge, a concept recognized even in Mosaic Law. However, God’s Law (Exodus 21:14) explicitly differentiates: unintentional manslayers could find protection, but a person guilty of premeditated murder, like Joab with his past assassinations of Abner and Amasa, forfeited this right. Solomon, advised by his father David and guided by divine wisdom, rightly understood this distinction. His command to Benaiah to execute Joab, even at the sacred altar, was not a sacrilege but an enforcement of God's justice.

This act purified the kingdom from the persistent bloodguilt associated with David’s house (due to Joab’s unpunished murders and his recent rebellion supporting Adonijah). By ensuring Joab's death, Solomon secured his throne and upheld righteousness, preventing the misuse of sacred spaces to shield those who flagrantly violated divine statutes. It also served as a clear warning to potential challengers and demonstrated Solomon’s uncompromising rule, signifying the stability and divine legitimacy of his nascent kingdom. The Lord's house, even in its holy function as a place of refuge, could not be turned into a hideout for willful murderers.