1 Kings 2:29, commentary and pictures

The verse falls within the history of Solomon's reign, during the period when the kingdom was still united. It falls within the account of Solomon carrying out the measures David charged him to take to secure the throne after David's death. It stands in the closing chapter of a clear narrative running from 2 Samuel 8 to 1 Kings 2, in which war continued between Israel and Judah when the friends of Saul wanted to keep a son of the dead king on the throne as the surrounding nations did, while God showed that He Himself would select the rulers of His people, until after years of war David triumphed and became the beloved king over all the tribes of Israel.

The verse belongs to the open, unexcused record of David's great wickedness in the case of Uriah, by which he gave great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, and with 2 Samuel 11-24 and 1 Kings 1 it shows the judgments that came upon David in complete fulfillment of the prophet Nathan's warning that the sword would not depart from David's house as a consequence of his sin concerning Uriah. The final trouble in David's house included Adonijah's attempt to take the throne in David's old age, which threatened the lives of David and Solomon, but Nathan's wisdom defeated the plot, ending in Adonijah's overthrow and death. Joab met his end after he failed in loyalty to his king by joining Adonijah's unholy ambition to take advantage of David's old age, and after Nathan acted on the Lord's will and the king's mind to have Solomon crowned king, Joab was slain a little later together with Adonijah, while Shimei who had cursed David was also put to death for failing to abide by his conditions of life. His death was the end of jealousy in him, which had existed on his part and grew and showed itself as a regrettable weakness that at last led to his death.

After David's adversary Shimei had cursed him during his flight, Solomon sent Benaiah to put Joab to death when Joab took refuge at the Lord's tabernacle beside the altar, as part of God bringing Shimei the just reward of his wickedness. Joab fled to the Lord's tabernacle and took hold of the altar, seeking refuge under the Lord's name, and Solomon nevertheless sent Benaiah to strike him down, with Joab put to death later after a further offense and insult to the king. Joab stood beside the altar before Solomon ordered his execution, and although he apparently regarded his sentence as just according to the custom of the time, his choice of refuge at the altar showed his belief in Jehovah. His flight to the Lord's altar did not protect him from Solomon's order to execute him, for the altar was no refuge for his offense, which shows that religious conscience should not shield people from punishment by civil authority for what it regards as religious error.