28 When the news came to Joab—for Joab (A)had supported Adonijah although (B)he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and caught hold of the (C)horns of the altar. 29 And when it was told King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the tent of the Lord, and behold, he is beside the altar,” Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.” 30 So Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord and said to him, “The king commands, ‘Come out.’” But he said, “No, I will die here.” Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.” 31 The king replied to him, (D)“Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him, (E)and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause. 32 The Lord will (F)bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men (G)more righteous and better than himself, (H)Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and (I)Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 33 (J)So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever. But for David and for his descendants and for his house and for his throne there shall be peace from the Lord forevermore.” 34 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and put him to death. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

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28 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(A) of the altar. 29 King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar.(B) Then Solomon ordered Benaiah(C) son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!”

30 So Benaiah entered the tent(D) of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!(E)’”

But he answered, “No, I will die here.”

Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”

31 Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood(F) that Joab shed. 32 The Lord will repay(G) him for the blood he shed,(H) because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa(I) son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better(J) men and more upright than he. 33 May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.”

34 So Benaiah(K) son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab(L) and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country.

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