1 Kings 2:33, commentary and pictures

Their bloodguilt returns upon the head of Joab and upon his descendants forever, while upon David and his descendants and his house and his throne there shall be peace forever from the LORD. It was spoken in Solomon's carrying out of David's charge to secure the throne, when Joab was put to death for disloyalty in joining Adonijah's ambition to seize the kingdom in David's old age after Solomon had been crowned. Joab was taken from the altar where he sought refuge and slain for his crimes, showing that the altar does not protect a presumptuous offender. The peace promised to David and his house and throne forever is the lasting peace of God's kingdom, surpassing even the peace enjoyed in Solomon's days.

Context and Execution

The verse belongs to the history of the undivided kingdom under Solomon. It stands in 1 Kings 1-2, which follows 2 Samuel 24 in David's history. It belongs to a continuous record running from 2 Samuel 8 through 1 Kings 2 concerning the war that continued between Israel and Judah after Saul died. At that time Saul's friends wanted to keep Saul's son on the throne after the manner of the surrounding nations, while God Himself would choose the rulers of His people, and after years of war the record ends with David triumphing as the beloved king over all the tribes. The verse is part of Solomon's carrying out of David's charge to secure the throne.

Joab was slain for disloyalty to his king in joining Adonijah's unholy ambition to take advantage of David's old age and take the throne. After Nathan, knowing the Lord's will and the king's mind, interfered with Adonijah's plan and Solomon was crowned king, Joab was slain a little later together with Adonijah, whose attempt ended in overthrow and death. The account to which the verse belongs is that of Joab's death after he supported Adonijah's bid for the throne. Joab was taken from the altar where he sought refuge and put to death for his crimes, showing that the altar does not protect a presumptuous offender. His sentence followed the custom of that time, and the place where he died showed his belief in Jehovah.

Joab's death is recorded as the last result of jealousy that grew in him and showed itself in a regrettable weakness. His character and end are sad and stir regret and detestation. The surrounding chapter also shows Shimei receiving the just reward for cursing David. Having cursed David, Shimei was put to death for failing to abide by his conditions of life.

Guilt and Lasting Peace

The bloodguilt for Joab's violent killings returns upon the head of Joab himself and upon the head of his seed forever, while upon David and upon his seed and upon his house and upon his throne there shall be peace forever from the LORD. This declaration belongs to Solomon's carrying out of David's charge to secure the throne. Joab was afterward put to death. The surrounding chapter likewise shows Shimei receiving the just reward for cursing David.

The later history of David to which this belongs shows how completely the denunciation through Nathan was accomplished in the judgments that came upon David after his great wickedness in the case of Uriah. That transgression is left uncovered and unexcused, by which he gave great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme. Alongside it stands his own humble confession of his great transgression placed on record for all future time. Adonijah's attempt to take David's throne ended in his overthrow and death, and the danger to David and Solomon from that attempt was a further trouble in David's house and a fulfillment of Nathan's warning that the sword would not depart from it.

The promised peace upon David, his descendants, his house, and his throne forever is the lasting peace of God's kingdom. That peace surpasses even the peace enjoyed in Solomon's days.