King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, [he is] by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
King Shlomo was told, "Yo'av has fled to the tent of ADONAI; he's there by the altar." Shlomo sent B'nayah the son of Y'hoyada with the order, "Go, strike him down."
Berean Standard Bible:
It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!”
American Standard Version:
And it was told king Solomon, Joab is fled unto the Tent of Jehovah, and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it was told{H5046} king{H4428} Solomon{H8010} that Joab{H3097} was fled{H5127} unto the tabernacle{H168} of the LORD{H3068}; and, behold, he is by{H681} the altar{H4196}. Then Solomon{H8010} sent{H7971} Benaiah{H1141} the son{H1121} of Jehoiada{H3077}, saying{H559}, Go{H3212}, fall{H6293} upon him.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Kings 2:25
- And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
Exodus 21:14
- But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
Ezekiel 9:6
- Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom [is] the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which [were] before the house.
1 Kings 2:31
- And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.
1 Peter 4:17
- For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1 Kings 2:46
- So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Kings 2:29
1 Kings 2:29 is set within the broader narrative of the transition of power from King David to his son Solomon. The verse captures a pivotal moment in the early reign of Solomon, as he consolidates his authority and deals with potential threats to his kingdom.
In this verse, Solomon is informed that Joab, his father's former army commander, has fled to the tabernacle of the Lord and is seeking sanctuary by clutching the horns of the altar. Joab's flight is a response to Solomon's previous command to execute him for his involvement in the murders of Abner and Amasa, two other military leaders, during David's reign (1 Kings 2:5-6). The act of grasping the altar's horns was a symbolic plea for protection and asylum according to the laws of sanctuary (Exodus 21:12-14).
Despite Joab's attempt to seek refuge, Solomon demonstrates his resolve to eliminate any perceived threats to his rule by sending Benaiah, another military leader, with the explicit instruction to kill Joab. This action reflects Solomon's pragmatic approach to leadership and his determination to establish his authority by removing those who could challenge his reign, even if it meant violating the sacred tradition of sanctuary.
The verse highlights themes of power, justice, and the intersection of political necessity with religious practice. It underscores the complexity of Solomon's early rule, where wisdom and ruthlessness are intertwined, and sets the stage for the Solomonic era, which will be marked by both great wisdom and eventual moral compromise. Historically, this event is significant as it shows the transition from a tribal coalition under David to a more centralized state under Solomon, where the king's law and edicts began to supersede traditional customs and sanctuaries.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5046
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַד
Transliteration: nâgad
Pronunciation: naw-gad'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H8010
There are 263 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁלֹמֹה
Transliteration: Shᵉlômôh
Pronunciation: shel-o-mo'
Description: from שָׁלוֹם; peaceful; Shelomah, David's successor; Solomon. - Strong's Number: H3097
There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹאָב
Transliteration: Yôwʼâb
Pronunciation: yo-awb'
Description: from יְהֹוָה and אָב; Jehovah-fathered; Joab, the name of three Israelites; Joab. - Strong's Number: H5127
There are 143 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נוּס
Transliteration: nûwç
Pronunciation: noos
Description: a primitive root; to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver); [idiom] abate, away, be displayed, (make to) flee (away, -ing), put to flight, [idiom] hide, lift up a standard. - Strong's Number: H168
There are 369 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹהֶל
Transliteration: ʼôhel
Pronunciation: o'-hel
Description: from אָהַל; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance); covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H681
There are 165 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵצֶל
Transliteration: ʼêtsel
Pronunciation: ay'-tsel
Description: from אָצַל (in the sense of joining); a side; (as a preposition) near; at, (hard) by, (from) (beside), near (unto), toward, with. See also בֵּית הָאֵצֶל. - Strong's Number: H4196
There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ
Transliteration: mizbêach
Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh
Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar. - Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H1141
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּנָיָה
Transliteration: Bᵉnâyâh
Pronunciation: ben-aw-yaw'
Description: or בּנָיָהוּ; (prolonged) from בָּנָה and יָהּ; Jah has built; Benajah, the name of twelve Israelites; Benaiah. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3077
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהוֹיָדָע
Transliteration: Yᵉhôwyâdâʻ
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-yaw-daw'
Description: from יְהֹוָה and יָדַע; Jehovah-known; Jehojada, the name of three Israelites; Jehoiada. Compare יוֹיָדָע. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H6293
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּגַע
Transliteration: pâgaʻ
Pronunciation: paw-gah'
Description: a primitive root; to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity; come (betwixt), cause to entreat, fall (upon), make intercession, intercessor, intreat, lay, light (upon), meet (together), pray, reach, run.