1 Kings 2:31 kjv
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.
1 Kings 2:31 nkjv
Then the king said to him, "Do as he has said, and strike him down and bury him, that you may take away from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed.
1 Kings 2:31 niv
Then the king commanded Benaiah, "Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed.
1 Kings 2:31 esv
The king replied to him, "Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause.
1 Kings 2:31 nlt
"Do as he said," the king replied. "Kill him there beside the altar and bury him. This will remove the guilt of Joab's senseless murders from me and from my father's family.
1 Kings 2 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 3:27-30 | ...Joab struck Abner...for the blood of Asahel his brother. | Joab's murder of Abner. |
| 2 Sam 20:8-10 | ...Joab stabbed him in the stomach... | Joab's murder of Amasa. |
| 1 Kgs 2:5-6 | ...what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me...deal with him according to your wisdom... | David's charge to Solomon regarding Joab. |
| 1 Kgs 2:46 | So the king commanded Benaiah...and he struck him down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. | The outcome of Solomon's actions. |
| Num 35:33-34 | You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. | Blood defiles the land, requires vengeance. |
| Deut 19:10 | ...lest innocent blood be shed in your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, and so guilt come upon you. | The warning against bloodguilt on the land/people. |
| Deut 21:8-9 | O Lord, forgive your people Israel, whom you have redeemed... So the guilt of innocent blood shall be removed from among you. | Ritual for removing bloodguilt if murderer is unknown. |
| Gen 9:5-6 | Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed... | Divine law concerning bloodshed. |
| Prov 6:16-17 | There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood... | God's abhorrence for innocent bloodshed. |
| Isa 1:15 | When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. | Impact of unrighteousness/bloodguilt on divine relationship. |
| Joel 3:21 | I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged... | God's ultimate justice. |
| Ps 9:12 | For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. | God as the avenger of blood. |
| Ezek 36:18 | So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land... | Consequence of defiling the land with blood. |
| Exo 21:14 | But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die. | Altar offers no sanctuary for intentional murder. |
| 1 Kgs 1:50-53 | ...Adonijah feared Solomon...grasped the horns of the altar. | Adonijah granted mercy at the altar. Joab not. |
| Prov 20:26 | A wise king winnows out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them. | Role of a king in executing justice. |
| Rom 13:4 | For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain... | Civil authority executes divine justice. |
| Ps 72:1-2 | Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness... | Prayer for a king to rule righteously. |
| Jer 2:34 | Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor... | Prophetic denunciation of national bloodguilt. |
| 2 Sam 7:13-14 | He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son... | Davidic covenant, dynasty's stability contingent on righteousness. |
| Acts 21:28 | ...this is the man who is teaching everywhere against our people and our law and this place...brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place. | Concept of defilement requiring cleansing. |
1 Kings 2 verses
1 Kings 2 31 Meaning
King Solomon commanded Benaiah to execute Joab, emphasizing the necessity of his death and proper burial. The explicit reason given by Solomon was to cleanse himself and the Davidic dynasty from the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab had previously shed. This act was seen as an essential step for establishing the new reign with divine favor and securing the peace and legitimacy of the throne by removing a source of defilement.
1 Kings 2 31 Context
This verse occurs during Solomon's consolidation of power at the beginning of his reign, immediately following his father David's death and his assumption of the throne. David had, on his deathbed, specifically instructed Solomon to deal with Joab, highlighting his past betrayal and the unjustified killings of Abner and Amasa (1 Kgs 2:5-6). Joab, fearing Solomon's response after Adonijah's rebellion (which Joab supported), had fled to the Tent of the Lord and clung to the horns of the altar, seeking sanctuary. Solomon's command for his execution, despite Joab's appeal to sanctuary, signifies that intentional, pre-meditated murder was not pardonable even by appealing to the altar, according to Mosaic Law (Exo 21:14). This act, along with the subsequent executions of Adonijah and Shimei, signifies Solomon's decisive actions to establish his kingdom securely and purely, according to God's standards of justice.
1 Kings 2 31 Word analysis
- Then the king said to Benaiah:
- King: Refers to Solomon. He is the legitimate ruler, newly ascended to the throne, asserting his authority. This is a critical moment for him to establish the rule of law.
- Benaiah: Commander of Solomon's army, directly loyal to the new king. His swift and obedient action underscores Solomon's control and the shift in power dynamics from Joab.
- "Do as he has said; strike him down and bury him,
- Do as he has said: A direct and immediate command, brooking no hesitation or negotiation with Joab, even at the altar. It echoes Benaiah's previous loyalty and adherence to Solomon's word.
- strike him down: To execute, signifying divine justice. This act brings a finality to Joab's life, but also to the lingering issues from David's reign.
- and bury him: Though executed for capital crime, a proper burial was significant in ancient Israelite culture, showing a degree of decorum and preventing the disgrace of leaving the body exposed, although this does not negate the judgment against him.
- and so remove from me and from my father's house
- remove: Hebrew hēsīr (הֵסִיר), meaning "to take away, get rid of." This implies an act of purging or cleansing. It's not just a physical removal of Joab, but a legal and spiritual purification.
- from me: Solomon directly acknowledges his personal responsibility as king to ensure justice and prevent the contamination of his own person and reign.
- and from my father's house: This phrase refers to the entire Davidic dynasty, his family line, and by extension, the kingdom of Israel which his house governs. Unpunished bloodguilt could incur divine wrath upon the king, his descendants, and the nation (Num 35:33-34). Solomon acts not merely out of personal revenge but for the stability and integrity of the entire house and kingdom.
- the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed."
- guilt of the innocent blood: Hebrew dam naqi (דם נקי), literally "blood of clean (or innocent)." This is a profoundly significant theological and legal concept. It refers to blood shed without justification or lawful authority, such as in cases of unprovoked murder. Such bloodshed defiles the land and demands justice; if unpunished, the guilt adheres to the community or the reigning authority, inviting God's judgment (Deut 19:10, 21:8-9).
- Joab shed: Explicitly names the perpetrator and his heinous acts (referring specifically to the murders of Abner and Amasa), making it clear this execution is a rectification of past injustices rather than a new crime.
Words-group analysis:
- "remove from me and from my father's house the guilt of the innocent blood": This clause highlights the crucial motivation behind Solomon's command. It's an act of national cleansing and dynastic purification. By executing Joab, Solomon aims to expiate the defilement and consequences of Joab's murders, which had been carried by David's reign. This reflects the understanding that unresolved injustices, especially bloodshed, could jeopardize the divine favor upon the king and his lineage, impacting the covenant promises.
1 Kings 2 31 Bonus section
The act of bringing Joab out from the altar, even where he sought refuge, reinforces the Mosaic Law that sanctuary does not apply to premeditated murder (Exo 21:14). Unlike Adonijah, who was granted temporary reprieve when he clung to the altar's horns because his transgression was primarily political usurpation, Joab's crime involved defiling bloodshed, which was non-expiable except by the life of the perpetrator himself, making the altar no safe haven for him. Solomon’s immediate action against Joab reflects a critical element of biblical kingship: the king's responsibility to act as God’s agent of justice on earth, removing evil to ensure the land and people remained pure before the Lord, securing the ongoing blessings of the Davidic covenant. This act solidified Solomon's wisdom and authority in a way that resonated deeply with the covenant expectations placed upon Israel's king.
1 Kings 2 31 Commentary
Solomon's command to execute Joab, even when Joab sought refuge at the altar, signifies the absolute nature of God's law regarding innocent bloodshed and Solomon's determination to establish his reign on a foundation of divine justice. This was not a personal vendetta but a fulfillment of God's mandate, reinforced by David's dying wishes (1 Kgs 2:5-6). Unpunished innocent blood was seen as a defilement of the land and could bring communal guilt upon the king and his dynasty. By enforcing this strict justice against Joab, who had deliberately and unlawfully killed Abner and Amasa, Solomon actively purges this defilement. This crucial act not only consolidates his political power by eliminating a formidable, independent figure, but more significantly, it purifies the "house of David" and consecrates Solomon's nascent kingdom, inviting God's blessing and ensuring stability rooted in righteousness. It establishes Solomon as a king who upholds divine law and justice.