1 Kings 2 30

1 Kings 2:30 kjv

And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

1 Kings 2:30 nkjv

So Benaiah went to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said to him, "Thus says the king, 'Come out!' " And he said, "No, but I will die here." And Benaiah brought back word to the king, saying, "Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me."

1 Kings 2:30 niv

So Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, "The king says, 'Come out!'?" But he answered, "No, I will die here." Benaiah reported to the king, "This is how Joab answered me."

1 Kings 2:30 esv

So Benaiah came to the tent of the LORD and said to him, "The king commands, 'Come out.'" But he said, "No, I will die here." Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, "Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me."

1 Kings 2:30 nlt

Benaiah went to the sacred tent of the LORD and said to Joab, "The king orders you to come out!" But Joab answered, "No, I will die here." So Benaiah returned to the king and told him what Joab had said.

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 30 Meaning

This verse describes Joab's desperate action of fleeing for refuge to the sacred Tent of the Lord and grasping the horns of the altar. Having served as David's chief military commander but also committing grave injustices and murders, Joab feared Solomon's swift and firm judgment. His act of seeking asylum at the altar was a traditional, ancient custom, but its efficacy was limited by divine law regarding premeditated sin. This action set the stage for Solomon's decisive response concerning the past bloodshed that had plagued David's kingdom.

1 Kings 2 30 Context

Chapter 2 of 1 Kings narrates King David's final instructions to Solomon and Solomon's subsequent consolidation of his kingdom. After David's death, Solomon methodically deals with potential threats to his reign and fulfills his father's charge to execute justice upon certain individuals. Adonijah, a half-brother who had attempted to usurp the throne, was previously granted clemency by Solomon (1 Kgs 1:50-53) after he also clung to the altar. However, Adonijah's subsequent request for Abishag was interpreted by Solomon as another attempt at the throne, leading to Adonijah's execution (1 Kgs 2:13-25). Abiathar, the priest who supported Adonijah, was dismissed from his duties but spared his life (1 Kgs 2:26-27). This verse immediately follows Solomon's dealing with Abiathar. Joab, knowing his own deep culpability in multiple premeditated murders (Abner, Amasa), and realizing Solomon's firm resolve for justice, feared for his life and sought traditional sanctuary at the tabernacle's altar. His action signals his desperate acknowledgment of the impending judgment.

1 Kings 2 30 Word analysis

• And Joab fled (וַיָּנָס יוֹאָב - va-ya'nas Yo'av):

  • na'nas (נוּס): Hebrew for "to flee," often used in the context of escaping danger, seeking refuge, or being driven away. Here, it denotes Joab's desperate attempt to avoid punishment. His flight acknowledges his guilt and the serious threat to his life.
  • Joab: A prominent and complex figure. He was fiercely loyal to David, serving as his indispensable general for decades. However, his character was marked by ruthlessness, ambition, and a willingness to commit cold-blooded murder, notably against Abner (2 Sam 3) and Amasa (2 Sam 20), to maintain his position or out of personal vengeance. These acts are the very reason he now seeks refuge.

• to the tent of the Lord (אֶל אֹהֶל יְהוָה - el ohel YHWH):

  • ohel YHWH (אָהֶל יְהוָה): "Tent of the Lord" refers to the Tabernacle (or Tent of Meeting), the sacred dwelling place of God before the construction of Solomon's Temple. At this time, the Tabernacle was located at Gibeon (1 Kgs 3:4). Fleeing here implies seeking divine protection within sacred precincts.
  • Significance: This place was where God's presence dwelt, sacrifices were offered, and justice was sometimes administered. It was a place of spiritual authority and ceremonial purity, often considered a safe haven.

• and took hold (וַיַּחֲזֵק - va-ya'chazek):

  • chazak (חָזַק): Hebrew for "to grasp," "to hold firmly," "to strengthen." It implies a resolute, desperate grip, an appeal for life-preserving security.

• of the horns of the altar (בְּקַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - be-karnot ha-mizbe'ach):

  • karnot ha-mizbe'ach (קַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ): The "horns of the altar" were projections at the four corners of the altar for burnt offerings. Blood of sacrifices was applied to them (Lev 4:7), signifying atonement.
  • Cultural/Historical Context: Gripping these horns was a well-established custom for a person accused of a capital crime to appeal for sanctuary and mercy, placing themselves under divine protection. Adonijah had done this previously (1 Kgs 1:50-51). However, Mosaic Law specifically denied refuge at the altar for premeditated murder (Exod 21:14). Joab's plea was an attempt to utilize this tradition, but his past actions explicitly disqualified him from this protection under God's law.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar": This phrase paints a vivid picture of Joab's urgent flight and desperate appeal. It underscores the concept of sanctuary and its limits under divine law. The parallel to Adonijah's previous act highlights a pattern of individuals seeking divine refuge from earthly judgment, but this case, in contrast to Adonijah's initial reprieve, directly confronts the legal boundaries of that refuge due to Joab's grievous bloodguilt. It is a moment of divine law confronting human custom, ultimately reaffirming God's absolute justice.

1 Kings 2 30 Bonus section

The event described here occurred at the Tabernacle located at Gibeon, rather than the future Temple in Jerusalem. This Tabernacle was the central place of worship for Israel during much of the pre-Temple era. Joab's appeal highlights the ongoing tension in ancient societies between the king's judicial authority and the perceived right of sanctuary at religious sites. For the Hebrew people, divine law ultimately took precedence, asserting that God's justice would not be mocked, even by someone attempting to hide within His most sacred spaces for premeditated crimes. It also showcases Solomon's transition from a somewhat vulnerable heir to a decisive monarch establishing order and fulfilling David's charge to deal with those who brought bloodshed into Israel.

1 Kings 2 30 Commentary

1 Kings 2:30 reveals Joab's last resort to escape the justice he knew was coming from King Solomon. As a military strongman with a history of executing others ruthlessly (like Abner and Amasa), he now finds himself in a similar position to those he eliminated. His flight to the Tabernacle and grasping of the altar horns was a traditional gesture for asylum, relying on a common understanding of sacred spaces offering protection. However, Joab's numerous deliberate and unprovoked murders fell squarely under the Mosaic Law which explicitly stated that such a person, even if clinging to God's altar, was to be put to death (Exod 21:14). This demonstrates that God's justice is not circumvented by mere ritualistic appeals. Solomon, operating within the framework of divine law as passed down from his father David, could not grant sanctuary in this instance, asserting God's sovereignty over intentional wickedness. This act closes a chapter of unresolved bloodguilt from David's reign, marking a clear delineation of Solomon's kingdom built on adherence to divine statutes, signifying both divine justice and the establishment of stable, righteous rule.