1 Kings 2:28

1 Kings 2:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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 King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of 1 Kings 2:28

26The king told the priest Abiathar, “Go to your land in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I won’t kill you at this time because you carried the ark of the Almighty Lord ahead of my father David and because you shared all my father’s sufferings.” 27So Solomon removed Abiathar as the Lord’s priest and fulfilled the Lord’s word spoken at Shiloh about Eli’s family. The news reached Joab. (He had supported Adonijah, although he hadn’t supported Absalom.) So Joab fled to the Lord’s tent and clung to the horns of the altar. 29After King Solomon heard that Joab had fled to the altar in the tent of the Lord, Solomon sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to kill Joab. 30When Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord, he told Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out.’ ” “No,” Joab answered, “I’ll die here.” So Benaiah reported to the king what Joab had said and how he had answered.

1 Kings 2:28 word by word

וְהַשְּׁמֻעָה֙ בָּ֣אָה עַד־יוֹאָ֔ב כִּ֣י יוֹאָ֗ב נָטָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אֲדֹנִיָּ֔ה וְאַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם לֹ֣א נָטָ֑ה וַיָּ֤נָס יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יְהוָ֔ה וַֽיַּחֲזֵ֖ק בְּקַרְנ֥וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then tidingsשְׁמוּעָהshemû‛âh · tidingsH8052
• cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• had turnedנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• Adonijahאֲדֹנִיָּ֫הוּ'ădônîyâh 'ădônîyâhû · AdonijahH138
• Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
• fledנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
• unto the tabernacleאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• and caught holdחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
• on the hornsקֶ֫רֶןqeren · hornH7161
• of the altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196

Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:28

• 1 Kings 1:7But Adonijah had discussed his actions with Joab (son of Zeruiah) and with the priest Abiathar, so they supported him.
• Deuteronomy 32:35I will take revenge and be satisfied. In due time their foot will slip, because their day of disaster is near. Their doom is coming quickly.
• 2 Samuel 18:2David put a third of the troops under Joab’s command, another third under Joab’s brother Abishai (Zeruiah’s son), and the last third under Ittai from Gath. “I am going ⌞into battle⌟ with you,” the king said to the troops.
• 1 Kings 1:50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up, went ⌞to the tent of meeting,⌟ and took hold of the horns of the altar.
• Exodus 27:2Make a horn at each of its four corners. The four horns and the altar must be made out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟ covered with bronze.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 2:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Tidings 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Joab followed the example of Adonijab (margin reference). The tabernacle was now at Gibeon 1 Kings 3:4; 1 Chronicles 16:39.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-34Verses 26-34 Solomon's words to Abiathar, and his silence, imply that some recent conspiracies had been entered into. Those that show kindness to God's people shall have it remembered to their advantage. For this reason Solomon spares Abiathar's life, but dismisses him from his offices. In case of such sins as the blood of beasts would atone for, the altar was a refuge, but not in Joab's case. Solomon looks upward to God as the Author of peace, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28-29Joab followed Adonijah's example (1 Kings 1:50). Joab hoped for mercy by holding onto the altar's horns, as allowed by the law of Moses (Exodus 21:12–14; Numbers 35:22–25; Deuteronomy 19:4–5). However, because Joab was a murderer, he could not receive mercy (see 2 Samuel 3:27; 18:14; 20:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. Then tidings came to Joab--The execution of these sentences respectively on Adonijah and Abiathar prepared Joab for his fate. Death, due to his great crimes (Nu 35:33), would long ago have been inflicted, had not his power and popularity with the army been too formidable for the old king. He now fled to the altar, which, though a recognized asylum, afforded no sanctuary to the rebel and murderer (Ex 21:14). And, as he refused to leave it, he seems to…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 2:28

• Altar
• Government
• Homicide
• Joab

In the dictionaries

• Absalom
• Adonijah
• Joab
• Horns of the Altar
• Curse
• Fail
• Gibeon
• Gone
• Horn
• Return

Commentaries on 1 Kings 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings