JOAB’S EXECUTION

28 The news reached Joab. Since he had supported Adonijahaj but not Absalom,ak Joab fled to the Lord’s tabernacle and took hold of the horns of the altar.a

29 It was reported to King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the Lord’s tabernacle and is now beside the altar.”

Then Solomon sentB Benaiah son of Jehoiadab and told him, “Go and strike him down!”c

30 So Benaiah went to the tabernacle and said to Joab, “This is what the king says: ‘Come out!’ ”d

But Joab said, “No, for I will die here.”

So Benaiah took a message back to the king, “This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me.”

31 The king said to him, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him in order to remove from me and from my father’s family the blood that Joab shed without just cause.e 32 The Lord will bring back his own blood on his head because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, without my father David’s knowledge. With his sword, Joab murdered Abnerf son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasag son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. 33 The responsibility for their deaths will come back to Joab and to his descendantsC forever, but for David, his descendants, his dynasty, and his throne, there will be peace from the Lord forever.”h

34 Benaiah son of Jehoiadai went up, struck down Joab, and put him to death. He was buried at his house in the wilderness.j 35 Then the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army,k and he appointed the priest Zadok in Abiathar’s place.