1 Kings 2:5

5 Also thou knowest what things Joab, the son of Zeruiah, did to me; (and) what things he did to [the] two princes of the host of Israel, to Abner, the son of Ner, and to Amasa, the son of Jether, which he killed, and shedded the blood of battle in peace; and putted the blood of battle in his girdle, that was about his loins, and in his shoe(s), that was in his feet (and put the blood of battle upon his girdle, that was about his loins, and in his shoes, that were upon his feet).

1 Kings 2:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 2:5

Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did
unto me
In slaying Absalom, contrary to his orders, and in behaving insolently towards him on account of his mourning for him, and at other times; but as these things might not be personally known to Solomon, only by hearsay, this may respect his disloyalty towards him, in joining with Adonijah, who set himself up for king in his lifetime, and without his knowledge and consent; or it may respect the instances next mentioned, in which he did injury to the interest, honour, and character of David:

[and],
or "even",

what he did to the two captains of the host of Israel, unto Abner the
son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew;
to Abner who was under Ishbosheth, and Amasa under David, who had not only the promise of the post, but was actually in it when Joab slew him; and indeed out of envy to him for it:

and shed the blood of war in peace;
when they were at peace with him, as if they had been in open war; and even under a pretence of friendship to them, asking of their peace and welfare, as if he meant nothing less than to behave peaceably towards them; hence the Targum is,

``whom he slew in craftiness:''

and put the blood of war upon the girdle that [was] about his loins,
and in his shoes that [were] in his feet;
which particularly respects the affair of Amasa, whose blood he shed with his sword, that dropped out of its scabbard, girded upon his loins, and into which he put it again, all over bloody, and wore it girded upon his loins; and which he also stooped for when it fell, as if he was going to unloose or buckle his shoes, and into which the blood ran down when he stabbed him; and after this barbarous action marched on without any shame or remorse, with his bloody sword on his loins, and the blood of the murdered in his shoes.

1 Kings 2:5 In-Context

3 And keep thou the keepings and the behests of thy Lord God, that thou go in his ways, and keep his ceremonies, and his behests, and his dooms, and (his) witnessings, as it is written in the law of Moses; that thou understand all things which thou doest, and whither ever thou shalt turn thee. (And obey thou the orders and the commands of the Lord thy God, so that thou go in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his commands, and his laws, or his judgements, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses; so that thou understand all the things that thou doest, and wherever thou shalt turn thyself.)

4 That the Lord confirm his words, which the Lord spake of me, and said, If thy sons keep my ways, and go before me in truth, in all their heart, and in all their soul, a man shall not be taken away of thee from the throne of Israel. (So that the Lord shall establish his words, which the Lord spoke about me, saying, If thy sons follow my ways, and go before me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, a man of thee shall not be taken away from the throne of Israel.)

5 Also thou knowest what things Joab, the son of Zeruiah, did to me; (and) what things he did to [the] two princes of the host of Israel, to Abner, the son of Ner, and to Amasa, the son of Jether, which he killed, and shedded the blood of battle in peace; and putted the blood of battle in his girdle, that was about his loins, and in his shoe(s), that was in his feet (and put the blood of battle upon his girdle, that was about his loins, and in his shoes, that were upon his feet).

6 Therefore thou shalt do by thy wisdom, and thou shalt not lead forth his hoariness peaceably to hells, either (the) sepulchre. (And so do thou by thy wisdom, and do not let his hoar hairs go down peacefully to Sheol, or into the grave, or into the tomb.)

7 But also thou shalt yield grace to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead, and they shall be eating in thy board (and they shall eat at thy table); for they met me, when I fled from the face of Absalom, thy brother.