So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This brief, stark account highlights a swift and decisive act of justice. Notice how it zeroes in on the action and the result, bypassing any lengthy description of the crime itself, underscoring the finality of Solomon's command.
So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King David, on his deathbed, commanded Solomon to deal with Joab, the commander of his army who had committed treason by killing David's rebellious son Absalom and later David's rival Amasa. Solomon, having solidified his reign, now carries out his father's final, difficult charge, ensuring justice and order before executing his own sovereign decisions. This act of executing Joab, though harsh, demonstrates Solomon's commitment to upholding righteousness and settling past accounts.
Solomon is executing a command from his father, David. But what does this reveal about the nature of justice and the king's role?
The King's Commission
David, on his deathbed, gave Solomon specific instructions, including dealing with Joab and Shimei (1 Kings 2:5-9). Solomon’s action here is not personal vengeance, but the execution of a dying king’s charge. This highlights the concept of royal authority being passed down and tasked with maintaining order and justice.
Justice or Retribution?
While this appears to be a harsh act, it's framed within the context of David's final words and Solomon’s desire to secure his kingdom and honor his father’s legacy. Joab, in particular, had committed serious offenses, including shedding innocent blood, which David explicitly said should not go unpunished (1 Kings 2:5-6). Solomon is acting as an agent of a justice system, albeit an ancient one.
The Weight of Command
Solomon sends Benaiah, his mighty warrior, to carry out the sentence. This shows that even a king doesn't typically do such things himself but delegates, yet the ultimate responsibility and authority rest with him. It’s a stark reminder that leadership often involves difficult decisions and the carrying out of sentences that have real, irreversible consequences.
Joab and Shimei both defied royal commands in the past. Their end serves as a powerful lesson about the ramifications of ignoring authority.
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Joab's Treachery
Joab had a history of bloodshed, including the murder of Abner and Amasa. Although he had aided David at times, his actions were often brutal and outside the bounds of justice (2 Samuel 3:27; 2 Samuel 20:9-10). David, in his wisdom and perhaps to avert further bloodshed or divine judgment on his own house, instructed Solomon to deal with Joab according to his deeds.
Shimei's Curse and Repentance (and Lack Thereof)
Shimei cursed David as he fled from Absalom, a deeply treasonous act (2 Samuel 16:5-13). David had spared him then, but with a vow that Shimei’s sin would not go unpunished (2 Samuel 16:10-13). When Solomon gave him a house arrest of sorts, forbidding him from leaving Jerusalem on pain of death (1 Kings 2:36-37), Shimei violated this command. His subsequent death (1 Kings 2:41-46) demonstrates that even a past pardon doesn't erase accountability when a new command is broken.
This event shows Solomon acting decisively to eliminate rivals and secure his throne, a common but often brutal aspect of ancient succession politics.
c. 970 BC
David Appoints Solomon King
King David, nearing the end of his life, designates his son Solomon as his successor, bypassing his older son Adonijah.
c. 970 BC
Adonijah's Attempted Coup
Adonijah, another son of David, tries to seize the throne by proclaiming himself king, gathering support from certain officials like Joab and Abiathar.
c. 970 BC
Solomon Consolidates Power
Upon David's death, Solomon quickly moves to secure his kingship, dealing with threats and consolidating his authority over the kingdom.
c. 970 BC— this verse
Adonijah Requests Abishag
Adonijah approaches Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, to ask her to intercede with Solomon for him to marry Abishag, David's former concubine. This was seen as a veiled claim to the throne.
c. 970 BC
Solomon Executes Adonijah
Solomon interprets Adonijah's request concerning Abishag as a further challenge to his reign and orders Benaiah to execute Adonijah, thus eliminating a rival claimant.
This passage shows Adonijah, who was seeking the throne, making a similar move by clinging to the altar, and Solomon, the new king, dealing with him decisively.
1 Samuel 15:33This verse recalls Samuel hewing Agag in pieces before the Lord, showing a precedent of divinely sanctioned execution for defiance or rebellion against God's appointed authority.
Deuteronomy 17:6-7This passage outlines the law that a person must be put to death based on the testimony of two or three witnesses, providing the legal framework for such executions in Israel.
2 Samuel 3:27This verse describes Joab striking down Abner, highlighting the violent political landscape and the often harsh justice carried out by military leaders in that era.
This brief, stark account highlights a swift and decisive act of justice. Notice how it zeroes in on the action and the result, bypassing any lengthy description of the crime itself, underscoring the finality of Solomon's command.
King David, on his deathbed, commanded Solomon to deal with Joab, the commander of his army who had committed treason by killing David's rebellious son Absalom and later David's rival Amasa. Solomon, having solidified his reign, now carries out his father's final, difficult charge, ensuring justice and order before executing his own sovereign decisions. This act of executing Joab, though harsh, demonstrates Solomon's commitment to upholding righteousness and settling past accounts.
King David, on his deathbed, commanded Solomon to deal with Joab, the commander of his army who had committed treason by killing David's rebellious son Absalom and later David's rival Amasa. Solomon, having solidified his reign, now carries out his father's final, difficult charge, ensuring justice and order before executing his own sovereign decisions. This act of executing Joab, though harsh, demonstrates Solomon's commitment to upholding righteousness and settling past accounts.
"So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck him down, and he died." — This brief, stark account highlights a swift and decisive act of justice. Notice how it zeroes in on the action and the result, bypassing any lengthy description of the crime itself, underscoring…
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Last reviewed October 2026