1 Kings 2:34

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

²⁶Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, "Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered." ²⁷So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and so fulfilled the word the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli. ²⁸When 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. ²⁹It 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!" ³⁰And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, "The king says, 'Come out!'" But Joab replied, "No, I will die here." So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, "This is how Joab answered me." ³¹And the king replied, "Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed. ³²The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he killed with the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army. ³³Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever." ³⁴So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Benaiah: 1 Kings 2:25, 1 Kings 2:31, 1 Kings 2:46

and fell: It appears that he slew him at the very altar. The altar was so sacred among all the people, that, in general, even the vilest wretch found safety, if he once reached it. This led to many abuses, and the perversion of public justice; and God decreed - Exodus 24:14 that the presumptuous murderer, who had taken refuge at his altar, should be dragged thence and put to death.

buried: 2 Kings 21:18, 2 Chronicles 33:20

in the: Joshua 15:61, Matthew 3:1

Reciprocal: Judges 15:12 - fall 1 Samuel 25:1 - in his house 2 Samuel 1:15 - Go near 2 Samuel 3:39 - the Lord 2 Samuel 8:18 - Benaiah 1 Kings 2:45 - the throne 1 Kings 11:21 - Hadad 1 Chronicles 11:22 - Benaiah 1 Chronicles 18:17 - Benaiah Hosea 12:14 - therefore

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up,.... To Gibeon, which was a great high place, 1 Kings 3:4;

and fell upon him, and slew him; at the altar; or, dragging him from it at some distance, drew his sword and slew him:

and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness; not in his dwelling house strictly taken, but in a garden or field adjoining to it, which house in the wilderness; not a waste place uninhabited; for, as Kimchi observes, this word sometimes signifies a place uninhabited, though not tilled, but left for pasture of cattle; and in such a place might Joab's house be, at least his country house, where he might have a farm, and fields, and cattle, as it is plain he had, 2 Samuel 14:30.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Retribution overtook Joab on the very scene (Gibeon) of the most treacherous of his murders. It was at the “great stone which is in Gibeon” that Joab killed Amasa 2 Samuel 20:8-10.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 2:34. So Benaiah - went up - and slew him — It appears he slew him at the very altar. Joab must have been both old and infirm at this time, and now he bleeds for Abner, he bleeds for Amasa, and he bleeds for Uriah. The two former he murdered; of the blood of the latter he was not innocent; yet he had done the state much service, and they knew it. But he was a murderer, and vengeance would not suffer such to live.