God’s Word Translation
1 Kings 2:6
6Use your wisdom. Don’t let that gray-haired, old man go to his grave peacefully.
1 Kings 2:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
- New International Version (NIV)Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore do according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.
Context of 1 Kings 2:6
4⌞You’ll succeed⌟ because the Lord will keep the promise he made to me: ‘If your descendants are faithful to me with all their hearts and lives, you will never fail to have an heir on the throne of Israel.’ 5“You know what Joab (Zeruiah’s son) did to me and to the two commanders of Israel’s army—Abner, son of Ner, and Amasa, son of Jether. Joab killed them. When there was peace, he shed blood as if it were wartime. With their blood he stained the belt around his waist and the shoes on his feet. Use your wisdom. Don’t let that gray-haired, old man go to his grave peacefully. 7“Be kind to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead. Let them eat at your table. They helped me when I was fleeing from your brother Absalom. 8“Shimei, son of Gera from Bahurim in Benjamin, is still with you. He cursed me repeatedly when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came to meet me at the Jordan River, I took an oath by the Lord and said, ‘As long as I’m king, I won’t have you killed.’
Read all of 1 Kings 21 Kings 2:6 word by word
וְעָשִׂ֖יתָ כְּחָכְמָתֶ֑ךָ וְלֹֽא־תוֹרֵ֧ד שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּשָׁלֹ֖ם שְׁאֹֽל׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:6
- 1 Kings 2:9Now, don’t let him go unpunished. You are wise and know what to do to him: Put that gray-haired, old man into his grave by slaughtering him.”
- Proverbs 20:26A wise king scatters the wicked and then runs them over.
- 1 Kings 2:23King Solomon took an oath by the Lord and said, “May God strike me dead if Adonijah doesn’t pay with his life for this request!
- Genesis 9:6Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed, because in the image of God, God made humans.
- Numbers 35:33“You must not pollute the land where you live. Murder is what pollutes the land. The land where a murder was committed can never make peace with the Lord except through the death of the murderer.
- Proverbs 28:17A person burdened with the guilt of murder will be a fugitive down to his grave. No one will help him.
- Ecclesiastes 8:11When a sentence against a crime isn’t carried out quickly, people are encouraged to commit crimes.
- Isaiah 65:20There will no longer be an infant who lives for only a few days or an old man who doesn’t live a long life. Whoever lives to be a hundred years old will be thought of as young. Whoever dies before he is a hundred years old will be cursed as a sinner.
- Genesis 42:38Jacob replied, “My son will not go with you. His brother is dead, and he’s the only one left. If any harm comes to him on the trip you’re taking, the grief would drive this gray-haired old man to his grave!”
- 2 Kings 22:20That is why I’m going to bring you to your ancestors. I’m going to bring you to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see any of the disaster I’m going to bring on this place.’ ” So they reported this to the king.
- Psalms 37:37Notice the innocent person, and look at the decent person, because the peacemaker has a future.
- Isaiah 48:22“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.
- Isaiah 57:2When peace comes, everyone who has lived honestly will rest on his own bed.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 2:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace - It would have been an insult to justice not to have taken the life of Joab. David was culpable in delaying it so long; but probably the circumstances of his government would not admit of his doing it sooner. According to the law of God, Joab, having murdered Abner and Amasa, should die. And had not David commanded Solomon to perform this act of justice, he could not have died in the approbation of his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6His hoar head - Joab, though the nephew of David, was probably not very greatly his junior, David being the youngest of the family, and Zeruiah, as is most likely, one of the eldest.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-11Verses 5-11 These dying counsels concerning Joab and Shimei, did not come from personal anger, but for the security of Solomon's throne, which was the murders he had committed, but would readily repeat them to carry any purpose; though long reprieved, he shall be reckoned with at last. Time does not wear out the guilt of any sin, particularly of murder. Concerning Shimei, Hold him not guiltless; do not think him any true friend to thee, or thy government…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6Joab had supported David's rise to kingship but became too ambitious. He murdered former military rivals Abner (2 Samuel 3:22–30) and Amasa (2 Samuel 20:10), as well as David's son Absalom (2 Samuel 18:1–18). Involved in David's murder of Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11:14–27), Joab became very powerful (2 Samuel 20:23), and his support for Adonijah was a serious threat to Solomon.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-65-6. thou knowest also what Joab ... did--The insolent and imperious conduct of that general had not only been deeply offensive to the feelings (2Sa 18:5-15; 19:5-7), but calculated to bring reproach on the character, to injure the prospects, and endanger the throne of David. Passing over the injuries committed directly against himself, David dwelt with strong feelings on the base assassination of Abner and Amasa. shed the blood of war in peace, &c.--The…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 2:6
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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