1 Kings 2:31-33

31 The king said to him, "1Do as he has spoken and fall upon him and bury him, 2that you may remove from me and from my father's house the blood which Joab shed without cause.
32 "3The LORD will return his blood on his own head, 4because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he and killed them with the sword, while my father David did not know it: 5Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and 6Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.
33 "7So shall their blood return on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever; but to David and his descendants and his house and his throne, may there be peace from the LORD forever *."

1 Kings 2:31-33 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KING 2

This chapter gives an account of the charge David gave to his son Solomon, a little before his death, to walk in the ways of the Lord, 1Ki 2:1-4; and of some instructions delivered to him concerning some particular persons he should either show favour to, or execute justice on, 1Ki 2:5-9; and the next account in it is concerning his death and burial, and the years of his reign, 1Ki 2:10,11; after which it relates an address of Bathsheba to Solomon in favour of Adonijah, which was refused, and the issue of it was his death, 1Ki 2:12-25; and the deposition of Abiathar from the priesthood, 1Ki 2:26,27; and the putting of Joab to death for his treason and murders, 1Ki 2:28-34; in whose post Benaiah was put, as Zadok was in the place of Abiathar, 1Ki 2:35; and lastly the confinement of Shimei in Jerusalem, who had cursed David, 1Ki 2:36-38; who upon transgressing the orders given him was put to death, 1Ki 2:39-46.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Exodus 21:14
  • 2. Numbers 35:33; Deuteronomy 19:13; Deuteronomy 21:8, 9
  • 3. Genesis 9:6; Judges 9:24, 57; Psalms 7:16
  • 4. 2 Chronicles 21:13, 14
  • 5. 2 Samuel 3:27
  • 6. 2 Samuel 20:9, 10
  • 7. 2 Samuel 3:29

Footnotes 2

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