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Saturday, June 28th, 2025
the Week of Proper 7 / Ordinary 12
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New Living Translation

1 Kings 2:28

Joab had not joined Absalom's earlier rebellion, but he had joined Adonijah's rebellion. So when Joab heard about Adonijah's death, he ran to the sacred tent of the Lord and grabbed on to the horns of the altar.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Altar;   Government;   Homicide;   Joab;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Altars;   Malice;   Punishments;   Tabernacle;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Joab;   Murder;   Refuge, Cities of;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Joab;   Solomon;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Murder;   Preaching;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Gibeon;   Horn;   Joab;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gibeon;   Jeremiah;   Law;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Adonijah;   Altar;   Amasa;   Benaiah;   Cities of Refuge;   Court Systems;   Horn;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Adonijah;   Altar;   Benaiah;   Reuben;   Solomon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Altar ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Benaiah ;   Shimei ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Joab;   Talent;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Jo'ab;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Asylum;   Goel;   Horn;   Joab;   Refuge, Cities of;   Sanctuary;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Altars forms of;   Blood-revenge;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Abiathar;   Altar;   Asylum;  

Devotionals:

- My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for April 19;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The news reached Joab. Since he had supported Adonijah but not Absalom, Joab fled to the Lord’s tabernacle and took hold of the horns of the altar.
Hebrew Names Version
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.
King James Version
Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord , and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
English Standard Version
When the news came to Joab—for Joab had supported Adonijah although he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
New Century Version
When Joab heard about what had happened, he was afraid. He had supported Adonijah but not Absalom. So Joab ran to the Tent of the Lord and took hold of the corners of the altar.
New English Translation
When the news reached Joab (for Joab had supported Adonijah, although he had not supported Absalom), he ran to the tent of the Lord and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar.
Amplified Bible
Now the news reached Joab, for Joab had supported and followed Adonijah, although he had not followed Absalom. So Joab fled to the [sacred] tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar [to seek asylum].
New American Standard Bible
Now the news came to Joab because Joab had followed Adonijah, though he had not followed Absalom. So Joab fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then tidings came to Ioab: (for Ioab had turned after Adoniiah, but he turned not after Absalom) and Ioab fled vnto the Tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the hornes of the altar.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now the news came to Joab, for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he had not followed Absalom. And Joab fled to the tent of Yahweh and took hold of the horns of the altar.
Contemporary English Version
Joab had not helped Absalom try to become king, but he had helped Adonijah. So when Joab learned that Adonijah had been killed, he ran to the sacred tent and grabbed hold of the corners of the altar for protection.
Complete Jewish Bible
When the news came to Yo'av, he fled to the tent of Adonai and took hold of the horns of the altar; for Yo'av had given his support to Adoniyah, even though he had not supported Avshalom.
Darby Translation
And the report came to Joab (for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he had not turned after Absalom); and Joab fled to the tent of Jehovah, and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
Easy-to-Read Version
Joab had supported Adonijah, but not Absalom. But when Joab heard what happened to Abiathar, he was frightened and ran to the tent of the Lord to hold onto the horns of the altar.
George Lamsa Translation
Now when the news reached Joab that Adonijah had been slain (for Joab had been leaning toward Adonijah and he was not leaning toward Solomon), Joab fled to the tabernacle of the LORD and took refuge on the horns of the altar.
Good News Translation
Joab heard what had happened. (He had supported Adonijah, but not Absalom.) So he fled to the Tent of the Lord 's presence and took hold of the corners of the altar.
Lexham English Bible
When the message came to Joab (now Joab had supported Adonijah but had not supported Absalom), he fled to the tent of Yahweh and grasped the horns of the altar.
Literal Translation
And the report came to Joab, for Joab had turned aside after Adonijah though he did not turn aside after Absalom. And Joab fled to the tabernacle of Jehovah, and lay hold on the horns of the altar.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And this rumonre came before Ioab: for Ioab cleued vnto Adonias, and not vnto Salomon. Then fled Ioab into the Tabernacle of the LORDE, and toke holde of the hornes of the altare.
American Standard Version
And the tidings came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the Tent of Jehovah, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
Bible in Basic English
And news of this came to Joab; for Joab had been one of Adonijah's supporters, though he had not been on Absalom's side. Then Joab went in flight to the Tent of the Lord, and put his hands on the horns of the altar.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then tydinges came also to Ioab (for Ioab had turned after Adonia, though he turned not after Absalom) and Ioab fled vnto the tabernacle of the Lorde, and caught holde on the hornes of the aulter.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the tidings came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the Tent of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
King James Version (1611)
Then tidings came to Ioab (for Ioab had turned after Adoniiah, though hee turned not after Absalom) and Ioab fled vnto the Tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the hornes of the Altar.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the report came to Joab son of Saruia; for Joab had turned after Adonias, and he went not after Solomon: and Joab fled to the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
English Revised Version
And the tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the Tent of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
Berean Standard Bible
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe a messager cam to Salomon, that Joab hadde bowid aftir Adonye, and that he hadde not bowid after Salomon. Therfor Joab fledde in to the tabernacle of the Lord, and took the horn of the auter.
Young's Literal Translation
And the report hath come unto Joab -- for Joab hath turned aside after Adonijah, though after Absalom he did not turn aside -- and Joab fleeth unto the tent of Jehovah, and layeth hold on the horns of the altar.
Update Bible Version
And the tidings came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn't turn after Absalom. And Joab fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled to the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
World English Bible
The news came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn't turn after Absalom. Joab fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
New King James Version
Then news came to Joab, for Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So Joab fled to the tabernacle of the LORD, and took hold of the horns of the altar.
New Life Bible
Now the news came to Joab. For Joab had followed Adonijah, but he had not followed Absalom. And Joab ran to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar.
New Revised Standard
When the news came to Joab—for Joab had supported Adonijah though he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and grasped the horns of the altar.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, the report, came unto Joab, for, Joab, had inclined after Adonijah, although, after Solomon, he had not inclined, - so then Joab fled into the Tent of Yahweh, and laid hold of the horns of the altar.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the news came to Joab, because Joab had turned after Adonias, and had not turned after Solomon: and Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord, and took hold on the horn of the altar.
Revised Standard Version
When the news came to Jo'ab--for Jo'ab had supported Adoni'jah although he had not supported Ab'salom--Jo'ab fled to the tent of the LORD and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
THE MESSAGE
When this news reached Joab, this Joab who had conspired with Adonijah (although he had remained loyal in the Absalom affair), he took refuge in the sanctuary of God , seizing the horns of the Altar and holding on for dear life. King Solomon was told that Joab had escaped to the sanctuary of God and was clinging to the Altar; he immediately sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada with orders, "Kill him."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now the news came to Joab, for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he had not followed Absalom. And Joab fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.

Contextual Overview

26 Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, "Go back to your home in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not kill you now, because you carried the Ark of the Sovereign Lord for David my father and you shared all his hardships." 27 So Solomon deposed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord , thereby fulfilling the prophecy the Lord had given at Shiloh concerning the descendants of Eli. 28 Joab had not joined Absalom's earlier rebellion, but he had joined Adonijah's rebellion. So when Joab heard about Adonijah's death, he ran to the sacred tent of the Lord and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. 29 When this was reported to King Solomon, he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him. 30 Benaiah went to the sacred tent of the Lord and said to Joab, "The king orders you to come out!" But Joab answered, "No, I will die here." So Benaiah returned to the king and told him what Joab had said. 31 "Do as he said," the king replied. "Kill him there beside the altar and bury him. This will remove the guilt of Joab's senseless murders from me and from my father's family. 32 The Lord will repay him for the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he. For my father knew nothing about the deaths of Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and of Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 33 May their blood be on Joab and his descendants forever, and may the Lord grant peace forever to David, his descendants, his dynasty, and his throne." 34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada returned to the sacred tent and killed Joab, and he was buried at his home in the wilderness.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Joab had: 1 Kings 1:7, Deuteronomy 32:35, 2 Samuel 18:2, 2 Samuel 18:14, 2 Samuel 18:15

caught: 1 Kings 1:50, Exodus 27:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:6 - by Exodus 21:14 - take him Numbers 35:31 - Moreover Deuteronomy 19:12 - General 2 Samuel 2:13 - Joab 1 Kings 2:6 - let 1 Kings 19:2 - So let 2 Kings 11:8 - he that cometh Ezekiel 43:15 - four horns Hebrews 6:18 - lay

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then tidings came to Joab,.... Of the death of Adonijah, and the deposition of Abiathar:

for Joab had turned after Adonijah; publicly appeared at his feast, when he was saluted king by him, and others, and privately gave him advice in the affair of Abishag:

though he turned not after Absalom; did not join with him in his rebellion, but faithfully adhered to David; and yet both in his lifetime, and after his death, acted the traitorous part in favour of Adonijah: Ben Gersom gives these words a different sense, as if he was blameworthy in both cases; that he turned after Adonijah to make him king, without consulting David, and having his consent; and he did not turn after Absalom, to deliver him from death, as David commanded him; but the former sense is best:

and Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord; which was at Gibeon, see 2 Chronicles 1:3; it was four miles from Jerusalem to the north, situated on an hill e; according to Josephus f, it was forty furlongs, or five miles, from it; though Kimchi thinks it was the altar in Jerusalem he fled to, which was before the ark, in the tent David made for it; but that is never called the tabernacle of the Lord, only that of Moses: Joab's fleeing hither showed guilt, and that he was in the conspiracy of Adonijah, and was conscious he deserved to die, and now expected it, since Adonijah was put to death; while he remained reprieved or pardoned, he thought himself safe, but now in danger, and therefore fled for it:

and caught hold of the horns of the altar; 2 Chronicles 1:3- :.

e Bunting's Travels, &c. p. 98. f Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Joab followed the example of Adonijab (margin reference). The tabernacle was now at Gibeon 1 Kings 3:4; 1 Chronicles 16:39.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 2:28. Tidings came to Joab — He heard that Adonijah had been slain and Abiathar banished, and probably he had heard of David's dying charge to Solomon. Fearing therefore for his personal safety, he takes refuge at the tabernacle, as claiming Divine protection, and desiring to have his case decided by God alone; or perhaps a spark of remorse is now kindled; and, knowing that he must die, he wishes to die in the house of God, as it were under the shadow, that he might receive the mercy of the Almighty.


 
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