1 Kings 2 6

1 Kings 2:6 kjv

Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

1 Kings 2:6 nkjv

Therefore do according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.

1 Kings 2:6 niv

Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

1 Kings 2:6 esv

Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

1 Kings 2:6 nlt

Do with him what you think best, but don't let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 6 Meaning

David, in his final instructions to Solomon, commands him to act wisely and ensure that Joab, David’s former military commander, does not die of old age peacefully. This directive stems from Joab’s past unpunished acts of treacherous bloodshed, specifically the murders of Abner and Amasa, which had stained David's reign. Solomon is tasked with bringing the delayed justice upon Joab as an essential act for the integrity and security of the kingdom.

1 Kings 2 6 Context

This verse is part of David's final instructions to his son Solomon, as recorded in 1 Kings chapter 2. David, on his deathbed, gives Solomon a "charge" (vv. 2-9). This charge begins with general spiritual advice to obey God's commandments (vv. 2-4) for the prosperity of his kingdom and lineage. Immediately following, David turns to practical matters concerning specific individuals, revealing unresolved issues from his reign. The charge regarding Joab (vv. 5-6) is distinct from the following instructions concerning Barzillai (v. 7), who should be rewarded, and Shimei (vv. 8-9), who, like Joab, deserves judgment for past transgressions. David implicitly acknowledges his own failure or inability to fully bring justice to Joab for his brutal and often opportunistic murders, particularly of Abner (2 Sam 3) and Amasa (2 Sam 20), which deeply troubled David. As he prepares to transfer the kingdom to Solomon, David empowers and expects his son to rectify these past injustices, thus securing the stability and moral integrity of the newly established reign by ensuring that unpunished bloodshed does not linger over the throne. Culturally, new kings often consolidated power by rewarding loyalists and eliminating potential threats or past grievances.

1 Kings 2 6 Word analysis

• Do: The Hebrew word `עָשִׂיתָ` (asintha), from the root `עָשָׂה` (asah), means "to do," "make," or "perform." It conveys a strong imperative, signifying that Solomon must take deliberate, active measures rather than merely contemplating or observing.
• Therefore: This conjunction links the command to Solomon’s foundational duty of walking in God's ways and establishing his kingdom. Upholding justice is a practical outworking of his righteous rule.
• According to thy wisdom: The phrase `כְּחָכְמָתֶ֔ךָ` (kechokhmatekha), incorporating the Hebrew `חָכְמָה` (ḥokmâ), means "wisdom," "skill," or "discernment." This is not a license for arbitrary action but an instruction to use God-given insight (cf. 1 Ki 3:9, 28) to determine the right time and method for executing justice, acknowledging the powerful position Joab held and the need for prudence in dealing with him. It implies judicious, strategic action, not reckless vengeance.
• And let not his hoar head: The Hebrew `שֵׂיבָתֹו֙` (seivato), literally "his gray hair" or "his old age," emphasizes Joab's advanced years. In ancient Near Eastern culture, gray hair symbolized honor and respect gained through experience and longevity. However, for Joab, it is juxtaposed with the necessity of judgment, signifying that even great age should not exempt him from the consequences of his actions.
• Go down: The verb `תֹורֵ֤ד` (toreid), "cause to go down," indicates Solomon's direct agency in bringing about Joab's end, contrasting with a natural, peaceful decline.
• To the grave: The Hebrew `שְׁאֹ֔ול` (Sheol) refers to the realm of the dead, the underworld. It is the destination for all, but David's instruction implies a violent, un-peaceful descent into it, a judgment rather than a peaceful repose.
• In peace: The Hebrew `בְּשֶׁ֣לֹום` (beshalom) means "in peace," "in welfare," or "wholeness." This is the core negative command: Joab must not experience the common blessing of dying peacefully in old age. His end must be a consequence of his violent life.

• "Do therefore according to thy wisdom": This instruction empowers Solomon to handle a complex and politically sensitive situation with divine sagacity. It highlights that the execution of justice requires not just willingness, but also discernment to act appropriately, considering all circumstances. David implicitly trusted Solomon’s judgment in how to strategically deal with Joab, who was still a powerful figure.
• "and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace": This phrase directly states David’s ultimate demand: Joab’s life must end in retribution, not in serene old age. It underscores the severity of Joab's crimes and David’s commitment to seeing justice served for the shedding of innocent blood. It also points to the idea that a king is responsible for cleansing the kingdom of moral impurities that compromise its divine integrity.

1 Kings 2 6 Bonus section

• David’s directive concerning Joab stands in contrast to his advice for Barzillai (1 Kings 2:7) who showed loyalty, illustrating David’s final sorting of rewards and punishments to establish a morally ordered kingdom for his successor.
• While personal revenge is condemned in scripture (Rom 12:19), David’s command to Solomon is not about personal vindictiveness but about the state's responsibility to administer justice and punish capital crimes, ensuring a just social order and atonement for the land.
• The unresolved nature of Joab’s crimes, left hanging by David, suggests the burdens and compromises faced even by righteous kings, highlighting the need for future rulers to embody more perfect justice. Solomon, indeed, fully acted on this instruction (1 Kings 2:28-34), illustrating his fulfillment of this key aspect of his kingly duties.

1 Kings 2 6 Commentary

David's deathbed charge regarding Joab is a command to rectify an enduring injustice from his reign. Though David had condemned Joab’s murderous acts against Abner and Amasa (2 Sam 3:29), his position and the power dynamics of his court often prevented him from exacting full judgment upon his nephew and formidable military leader. Now, on the cusp of his own death, David places this moral burden upon Solomon. The phrase "according to thy wisdom" is crucial, granting Solomon not an instruction for immediate, reckless vengeance, but for a judicious and divinely guided execution of justice that accounts for the powerful position Joab still held. By specifying that Joab should not "go down to the grave in peace," David insists on a retributive end for a life marked by treacherous bloodshed, preventing a tranquil death that might be misconstrued as an unpunished outcome for grave sins. This ensures that the stains of past violence are cleansed from the new king's reign, upholding God's justice that calls for consequences for shedding innocent blood (Gen 9:6; Num 35:33) and thus solidifying Solomon's throne with righteous governance.