1 Kings 2:32
ESV
The Lord will 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 more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.
NIV
The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, 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 son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better men and more upright than he.
NASB
The Lord will return his blood on his own head, because he struck two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, while my father David did not know about it: Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.
CSB
The Lord will bring back his own blood on his head because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, without my father David’s knowledge. With his sword, Joab murdered Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.
NLT
The Lord will repay him for the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he. For my father knew nothing about the deaths of Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and of Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.
KJV
And the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
NKJV
So the Lord will return his blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword— Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah—though my father David did not know it.
What does 1 Kings 2:32 mean?
Solomon is sending a message to Benaiah, who asked whether he should execute Joab in the tabernacle. Solomon replied that Benaiah should kill Joab and bury him (1 Kings 2:29–31). Solomon wants to be clear about why Joab is being executed. He would be within his rights as the king to have Joab killed for backing Adonijah's attempt to take the throne (1 Kings 2:22). That's what Solomon is acting now, but it's not why Joab must die.Solomon may be spelling it out as clearly as possible because Joab has served David and Israel for many years. He is doubtless a war hero among the people. Beyond that, Benaiah has fought alongside Joab for most of that time, as both have risked their lives for the good of Israel and David. It's no wonder that Benaiah would now hesitate to kill a former comrade in arms.
Benaiah probably knows the stories, but Solomon recounts them anyway: Joab is a murderer. He defied David by killing Abner and Amasa in peacetime (2 Samuel 3:26–27; 20:8–10). Solomon describes both as better and more righteous men than Joab. It's true that they had opposed David during their respective civil wars, but both had reconciled with David and had agreed to serve him as king. Abner's murder harmed David's attempts to join Judah to the northern tribes. Amasa's killing harmed David's attempt to reintegrate Absalom's followers into his authority. When Joab died, David placed a curse of retribution on Joab (2 Samuel 3:28–29). Now Solomon echoes it by saying that the Lord is bringing Joab's bloody deeds on his own head (1 Kings 2:33).
But Benaiah is probably also reluctant because at this moment, Joab is within the walls of the tabernacle, holding on to the horns, or protruding corners, of the altar. This is the place for the spilled blood of cows, sheep, and goats. God doesn't accept human sacrifice. But if that's where Joab wants to die, Solomon will grant his last wish.
