1 Kings 2:29

29 It was told king Shlomo, Yo'av is fled to the Tent of the LORD, and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Shlomo sent Benayah the son of Yehoiada, saying, Go, fall on him.

1 Kings 2:29 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 2:29

And it was told King Solomon that Joab was fled unto the
tabernacle of the Lord
This account was brought him very probably by some of his courtiers:

and, behold, [he is] by the altar;
to which he betook himself for refuge, laying hold on the horns of it:

then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, go, fall upon
him;
slay him; Josephus ^F7 says, the orders were to cut off his head; but perhaps it might be only to lay hold on him, and take him thence, and bring him to Solomon to have judgment passed upon him; for the Targum is,

``exercise your power over him,''

take him into custody; and certain it is that the first orders were not to slay him, at least upon the spot where he was.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 1. sect. 4.

1 Kings 2:29 In-Context

27 So Shlomo thrust out Avyatar from being Kohen to the LORD, that he might fulfill the word of the LORD, which he spoke concerning the house of `Eli in Shiloh.

28 The news came to Yo'av; for Yo'av had turned after Adoniyahu, though he didn't turn after Avshalom. Yo'av fled to the Tent of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

29 It was told king Shlomo, Yo'av is fled to the Tent of the LORD, and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Shlomo sent Benayah the son of Yehoiada, saying, Go, fall on him.

30 Benayah came to the Tent of the LORD, and said to him, Thus says the king, Come forth. He said, No; but I will die here. Benayah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Yo'av, and thus he answered me.

31 The king said to him, Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him; that you may take away the blood, which Yo'av shed without cause, from me and from my father's house.