1 Kings 2 5

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.

1 Kings 2:5 nkjv

"Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether, 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.

1 Kings 2:5 niv

"Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me?what he did to the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.

1 Kings 2:5 esv

"Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet.

1 Kings 2:5 nlt

"And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood.

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 5 Meaning

David, nearing his death, instructs his son Solomon concerning Joab, David's seasoned but ruthlessly disobedient commander. David reminds Solomon of Joab's treacherous and cold-blooded murders of Abner and Amasa, two military commanders. These killings, perpetrated in times of peace under false pretenses of reconciliation, were not legitimate acts of vengeance but rather shedding of innocent blood. This unjust bloodshed, described as clinging to Joab like a stain on his garments, brought profound guilt and defilement that David, due to Joab's power and influence, could not address during his reign. David therefore tasks Solomon with executing the necessary justice to purify his new kingdom and secure his throne by removing a figure who consistently disregarded royal authority and divine law.

1 Kings 2 5 Context

1 Kings 2:5 is part of David's final charge to his son and successor, Solomon, on his deathbed. David's instructions are comprehensive, covering spiritual admonition (walking in God's ways) and practical political advice for securing and maintaining his kingdom. This verse, specifically addressing Joab, follows closely after David's charge concerning Shimei, highlighting pressing matters of unfinished business.

Historically, Joab had served as David's loyal but often brutal and politically audacious army commander for decades. His actions against Abner (2 Sam 3:27), commander of Saul's army, occurred during the consolidation of David's rule when Abner was actually negotiating peace and allegiance to David. Joab killed Abner to avenge his brother Asahel, whom Abner had killed in self-defense in battle (2 Sam 2:23). Similarly, Joab murdered Amasa (2 Sam 20:8-10), David's cousin and then commander of the Israelite army after Absalom's rebellion, again by treacherous means under the pretense of a greeting. David was politically constrained from immediately punishing Joab due to Joab's military power and influence (2 Sam 3:39). Thus, this deathbed command serves to transfer the responsibility of establishing comprehensive justice and purifying the royal house and the nation from persistent bloodguilt, solidifying Solomon's newly established reign.

1 Kings 2 5 Word analysis

• Word-by-word analysis:

  • Moreover (Heb. Gam - גַּם): Functions as a continuation and intensification of David's preceding counsel. It connects the spiritual charge of walking in God's ways with the practical imperative of righteous governance, implying that dealing with Joab is not merely a personal vendetta but a necessary act of kingly duty for the nation's spiritual purity and political stability.
  • Joab the son of Zeruiah: Joab was David's nephew, commander of his army for many years. This specific identification (via his mother Zeruiah, David's sister) highlights the profound personal entanglement and the complex power dynamics that prevented David from justly punishing him during his lifetime. Joab's long tenure underscores his power and his tendency to act outside royal authority.
  • Did to me: This is not about physical harm, but refers to the deep offense, public dishonor, and the bloodguilt that Joab's actions brought upon David's reign and house. It suggests that Joab's actions undermined the very authority and legitimacy of the throne, leaving a stain on David's conscience and public image as king.
  • Murdered (Heb. ratsach - רָצַח): This term is critically significant. Unlike harag (a general word for killing), ratsach specifically refers to unlawful, premeditated, and malicious homicide, particularly in a manner contrary to the Sixth Commandment (Ex 20:13). It implies a severe violation of God's law and incurred bloodguilt, distinguishing Joab's actions from legitimate warfare.
  • Avenging... for blood that had been shed in war: Joab's stated motive was revenge for Asahel, but this was a false justification. Abner's killing of Asahel was an act of self-defense during legitimate warfare (2 Sam 2:23), not murder. Therefore, Joab's "avenging" was not a lawful execution of a blood avenger (go'el ha-dam) but an act of treachery.
  • In time of peace: This detail is paramount. Both Abner (2 Sam 3:27) and Amasa (2 Sam 20:8-10) were killed when they approached Joab peaceably and without hostility. Abner was making a treaty with David, and Amasa was supposed to be integrated back into the army structure. The betrayal of peace underscores the heinous and treacherous nature of Joab's acts.
  • Shedding innocent blood (Heb. dam naki - דַּם נָקִי): This phrase is deeply theological. It refers to unjust, unprovoked killing that brings severe guilt and defilement, often associated with polluting the land (Num 35:33-34) and invoking divine wrath (Deut 21:8-9). It signals that Abner and Amasa were not deserving of their deaths; they were murdered outside the bounds of justice.
  • On the collar of his belt and on his sandals: This vivid, metaphorical imagery profoundly expresses the inescapable nature of Joab's guilt. The "blood" (guilt) was permanently affixed to his person, publicly evident and indelible, like a mark of his pervasive defilement. It indicates that the guilt permeated his entire being and conduct, visible for all to see. Alternatively, it signifies that his crimes were carried out in a brazen, open manner, without concealment, making the defilement clear.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "What Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me... whom he murdered": This phrase connects Joab's treacherous killings directly to David's personal grief, the dishonor inflicted upon his reign, and the defilement upon the kingdom. It implies that these were not mere acts of violence, but profound challenges to David's royal authority and moral standing before God. David carried this burden for many years.
  • "Two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether": Specifying these two highly prominent military leaders underscores the severity and political ramifications of Joab's actions. These murders destabilized the kingdom's military and civil order, highlighting Joab's self-serving ambition and disregard for central authority. They were significant figures whose removal under such circumstances created a crisis of leadership and trust.
  • "Avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and shedding innocent blood": This dense phrase exposes Joab's duplicity and moral corruption. It starkly contrasts his pretext (avenging war-time deaths) with the reality (treacherous murder in peacetime). It highlights that his actions were premeditated acts of violence, unjustly shedding lives, and consequently incurred divine condemnation and defilement on the land. The true nature of his actions as "shedding innocent blood" cancels any claim of righteous vengeance.

1 Kings 2 5 Bonus section

• The weight of this command on Solomon's shoulders (1 Ki 2:6) reflects the king's sacred duty to God. A kingdom blessed by God could not tolerate such grievous unpunished bloodguilt.
• This instruction also functions as a "purge" or "purification" of the court, aligning Solomon's reign with God's law from its very beginning, contrasting with the compromises that characterized parts of David's rule.
• The fact that David, a man of war, struggled to deal with Joab underscores Joab's unique power and brazen character. David’s reliance on Joab during difficult periods might have created a sense of obligation or an inability to act decisively without jeopardizing his own throne.
• The detail of "collar of his belt and on his sandals" emphasizes a vivid visual image of personal bloodguilt and public defilement. It communicates the deep-seated corruption of Joab, whose crimes permeated his very being, representing him as irrevocably tainted and unfit to be among the king's loyal subjects.

1 Kings 2 5 Commentary

1 Kings 2:5 lays bare David's profound anguish and unfinished business regarding Joab, his powerful but problematic general. It is not a simple act of personal revenge, but a king's charge to his successor to uphold divine justice. David recounts Joab's deliberate, perfidious murders of Abner and Amasa, two pivotal military figures, highlighting how Joab’s acts of violence—done under the guise of peace and a false pretense of legitimate blood-vengeance—were actually instances of shedding "innocent blood." This term, "innocent blood," signifies an unrighteous act of homicide that brings severe defilement upon the land and demands expiation. David, despite his position, could not discipline Joab due to the latter's immense power and influence over the army. This verse thus passes the mantle of judicial responsibility to Solomon. Solomon is instructed to cleanse the royal house and the nation of this long-standing bloodguilt, demonstrating that his reign will be established not on unresolved sin and violence, but on God's righteous order and uncompromising justice. Dealing with Joab was critical for solidifying Solomon’s undisputed authority and ensuring divine blessing for his reign.