1 Kings 2 32

1 Kings 2:32 kjv

And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men 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.

1 Kings 2:32 nkjv

So the LORD will return his blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword? Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah?though my father David did not know it.

1 Kings 2:32 niv

The LORD will repay him for the blood he shed, because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them?Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army?were better men and more upright than he.

1 Kings 2:32 esv

The LORD will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.

1 Kings 2:32 nlt

The LORD will repay him for the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he. For my father knew nothing about the deaths of Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and of Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 32 Meaning

1 Kings 2:32 declares that the responsibility for the shedding of innocent blood will fall upon Joab himself, as the Lord will exact justice for his treacherous murders. It specifically condemns Joab for attacking and killing Abner, son of Ner, and Amasa, son of Jether—two men who were more righteous and morally superior to him. The verse explicitly states that King David, Solomon's father, was entirely unaware of Joab's perfidious actions in these slayings, thereby confirming Joab's sole culpability for the grave injustices. This pronouncement establishes the divine retribution due to Joab for his past, unpunished atrocities, which ultimately contributed to his execution.

1 Kings 2 32 Context

1 Kings 2:32 is part of King Solomon's decisive actions to solidify his newly inherited throne and purify the kingdom, immediately following his father David's death. David, on his deathbed, specifically charged Solomon to deal with Joab, highlighting his past egregious acts, including the murders of Abner and Amasa (1 Ki 2:5-6). Joab, a seasoned military commander under David, had become a destabilizing force due to his ruthlessness and insubordination, culminating in his support of Adonijah's attempted usurpation of the throne (1 Ki 1:7). Solomon's pronouncement against Joab and subsequent execution (1 Ki 2:33-34) demonstrate his authority and commitment to establishing a kingdom founded on righteousness and justice, rather than arbitrary power. By dealing with Joab, Solomon not only removes a dangerous political adversary but also settles a long-standing issue of bloodguilt that lingered over David's house. This action helps to legitimize Solomon's reign as one of order and divine approval, in contrast to the unresolved conflicts and injustices of the preceding period.

1 Kings 2 32 Word analysis

• The LORD will bring his blood upon his own head (יְהוָ֣ה יָשִׁב֩ דָּמ֨וֹ עַל־רֹאשׁ֖וֹ, Yahweh yashiv damo al-roshto): This is a strong idiomatic expression, emphasizing divine retribution and ultimate culpability. "His blood" (דָּמ֨וֹ, damo) refers to the life and innocent blood that Joab shed. "Upon his own head" signifies that the consequences, the "bloodguilt," are entirely on Joab. It signifies God’s active role in ensuring that the injustice of murder is met with the shedding of the murderer's own blood or incurring personal judgment. This divine pronouncement underlines the principle that severe moral wrongs are not forgotten but will be addressed by God's justice.
• because he fell upon (אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּגַע֩ בִּשְׁנֵ֨י, asher paga bishne): The verb "fell upon" implies a violent, often sudden, and aggressive assault, typically unexpected and predatory. It avoids the language of fair combat or self-defense, highlighting Joab’s deliberate and treacherous intent in the killings of Abner and Amasa.
• two men more righteous (צַדִּקִים֙, tsaddiqim) and better (טוֹבִ֔ים, tovim) than he: The words "righteous" and "better" highlight the moral disparity between Joab and his victims. Tsaddiqim denotes moral integrity, uprightness, or being in the right, particularly in a legal or ethical sense, implying their innocence concerning any wrongdoing that would justify their murder. Tovim means good, excellent, or favorable, further contrasting their positive character or intent with Joab's malice. This is a qualitative judgment, underscoring Joab’s depravity in preying on those who were morally superior or unjustly murdered.
• and killed them with the sword: This phrase is direct and unambiguous, specifying the violent instrument and method of death, emphasizing the brutality of Joab's actions.
• though my father David did not know of it: This critical phrase exonerates King David from any complicity or approval in these heinous acts. It clarifies that Joab acted independently, fueled by personal motives (revenge, political expediency, consolidating power) rather than state orders or royal assent. This absolves the kingship of responsibility for Joab’s grave misdeeds, allowing Solomon to address the issue squarely as Joab’s personal crime without implicitly blaming David.
• Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether: These names are specifically given to identify Joab's high-profile victims. Abner was Saul's former commander, crucial in the transition of kingdom allegiance to David. Amasa was David's cousin and a commander of David’s own army whom David had promised to honor. Their prominence makes Joab’s treacherous assassinations all the more shocking and impactful, given their military and political significance to Israel. Both were slain by Joab in cold blood under pretexts of peace or loyalty.

1 Kings 2 32 Bonus section

The repeated identification of Joab's victims, Abner and Amasa, is significant. Both were powerful military figures, related to or close to the royal family, whose deaths deeply affected the stability of David's kingdom and created scandal. Abner's murder was motivated by Joab's personal vendetta for Asahel, even though Abner was actively seeking to unite all Israel under David. Amasa's murder was a cold-blooded removal of a potential rival to Joab's command, done through a feigned embrace and kiss—an ultimate act of treachery. David mourned these men and pronounced curses on Joab's house, but politically could not bring himself to act against such a powerful commander at the time. Solomon's action thus represents the long-awaited fulfillment of these unaddressed grievances and curses, cleansing the throne and the land of Joab's enduring shadow. This act firmly established Solomon's absolute authority and demonstrated that even the most powerful individuals within the kingdom were subject to the divine moral law and royal justice.

1 Kings 2 32 Commentary

1 Kings 2:32 is a profound statement of divine justice, delivered through the authority of King Solomon, addressing long-standing bloodguilt. It demonstrates that shedding innocent blood is a sin of monumental proportions in the eyes of the Lord, demanding restitution that even the passage of time or a king's perceived leniency cannot avert. Joab, a man of significant power and ruthless ambition, thought himself beyond accountability, but God’s justice is inexorable. The "blood upon his own head" idiom powerfully conveys that his wicked deeds have come full circle, resulting in his deserved judgment. Solomon's action, in fulfilling David’s charge, solidifies his reign by rooting out unrighteousness and asserting the supremacy of divine law over human caprice. This is not mere political execution but a righteous purging necessary for the stability and integrity of the kingdom. It underlines a core biblical truth: ultimately, no sin, especially murder, goes unaddressed by God, and individuals are accountable for their actions, particularly when they involve shedding innocent blood.