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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 2:26-34

Abiathar and Joab were both aiding and abetting in Adonijah's rebellious attempt, and it is probable were at the bottom of this new motion made of Adonijah for Abishag, and it should seem Solomon knew it, 1 Kgs. 2:22. This was, in both, an intolerable affront both to God and to the government, and the worse because of their high station and the great influence their examples might have upon many. They therefore come next to be reckoned with. They are both equally guilty of 51c0 the treason,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 2:31

And the king said unto him, do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him ,.... Let him die where he is, slay him upon the spot, and then bury him; not by the altar, but in his own sepulchre, as later related, that in, give orders to bury him there; for Benaiah being a priest, could not be concerned in the burial of him, and besides it was below the dignity of his office: (, 1 Chronicles 27:2 where Gill advances resaons for Benaiah not being a priest. Editor.) that thou mayest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 2:32

And the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head ,.... By way of retaliation, blood for blood: who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he ; later named; for though they had been in open rebellion against David, yet had submitted, and were reconciled and received into favour; and even their open crimes were not so bad, Solomon judged, as his secret treacherous murders of innocent persons in cool blood; they were men of more honour and integrity than he was, not so cruel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 2:33

Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever ,.... Not only upon Joab, but upon his posterity as long as there would be any; signifying, that Joab's death would not be a sufficient satisfaction, but the punishment of his murders would be continued to his offspring: see 2 Samuel 3:29 ; but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the Lord ; such traitors and murderers... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 2:34

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 2:26-35

The Death of Joab. "Know ye not that there is a prince and great man fallen this day in Israel"—so might men say as they heard, so may we say as we read, the history of Joab's death. After David, he was by far the greatest man—the ablest general, the bravest soldier, the most capable statesman—of that age. He was "the Marlborough, the Belisarius of the Jewish empire." He had fought David's battles, won his conquests, captured his citadel, and twice preserved for him his crown. It is a sad... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 2:31

And the king said unto him do as he hath said, and fall upon him [the law decreed ( Exodus 21:14 ) that, if a man had slain his neighbour with guile, he should be taken from the altar to die. Possibly the desperate character of Joab made literal compliance with this command well nigh impossible. The attempt to drag him from his place of refuge might have led to a bloody encounter. And the king evidently felt that Joab's crimes justified exceptional measures], and bury him [why this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 2:32

And the Lord shall return [ LXX . ἐπέστρεψε , returns, or returned] his blood [ LXX . τὸ αἷμα τῆς ἀδικίας αὐτοῦ , i.e; the blood he had shed. Cf. 1 Kings 2:33 , 1 Kings 2:44 ] upon his own head, who fell upon [same word as in 1 Kings 2:29 , 1 Kings 2:31 . So that it was strictly a retaliation. The lex talionis was carried out to the letter] two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing . [Heb. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 2:33

Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Josh, and upon the head of his seed [according to Exodus 20:5 ; Exodus 34:7 ; Le Exodus 20:5 ; Exodus 26:1-37 :39. There is an obvious reference to David's curse 2 Samuel 3:29 , which thoroughly agreed with the spirit of the Old Testament in comprehending the children in its sweep. And it is to be noticed that the sins of the fathers are still, by the operation of natural laws, and by the constitution and laws of society, visited... read more

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