1 Kings 2 · Verse 28

1 Kings 2:28

Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
1 Kings 2:28, King James Version

1 Kings 2:28 in other translations

BSBWhen the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.
WEBThis news came to Joab; for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he didn’t follow Absalom. Joab fled to the LORD’s Tent, and held onto the horns of the altar.
ASVAnd the tidings came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the Tent of Jehovah, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
YLTAnd the report hath come unto Joab--for Joab hath turned aside after Adonijah, though after Absalom he did not turn aside--and Joab fleeth unto the tent of Jehovah, and layeth hold on the horns of the altar.
DARBYAnd the report came to Joab (for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he had not turned after Absalom); and Joab fled to the tent of Jehovah, and caught hold of the horns of the altar.
BBEAnd news of this came to Joab; for Joab had been one of Adonijah's supporters, though he had not been on Absalom's side. Then Joab went in flight to the Tent of the Lord, and put his hands on the horns of the altar.
WebsterThen tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled to the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

What does 1 Kings 2:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
28. Then tidings came to Joab--The execution of these sentences respectively on Adonijah and Abiathar prepared Joab for his fate. Death, due to his great crimes (Nu 35:33), would long ago have been inflicted, had not his power and popularity with the army been too formidable for the old king. He now fled to the altar, which, though a recognized asylum, afforded no sanctuary to the rebel and murderer (Ex 21:14). And, as he refused to leave it, he seems to have cherished some faint hope that a religious scruple would have been felt at the thought of violating the sanctity of the place by bloodshed. Benaiah, not liking to assume any responsibility, referred the matter to Solomon, who determined that the law should take its course (De 19:13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 Tidings came to Joab - He heard that Adonijah had been slain and Abiathar banished, and probably he had heard of David's dying charge to Solomon. Fearing therefore for his personal safety, he takes refuge at the tabernacle, as claiming Divine protection, and desiring to have his case decided by God alone; or perhaps a spark of remorse is now kindled; and, knowing that he must die, he wishes to die in the house of God, as it were under the shadow, that he might receive the mercy of the Almighty.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Kings 2:26-34

Solomon's words to Abiathar, and his silence, imply that some recent conspiracies had been entered into. Those that show kindness to God's people shall have it remembered to their advantage. For this reason Solomon spares Abiathar's life, but dismisses him from his offices. In case of such sins as the blood of beasts would atone for, the altar was a refuge, but not in Joab's case. Solomon looks upward to God as the…

Read the full comment on 1 Kings 2:26-34 →

1 Kings 2:28 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְהַשְּׁמֻעָה֙ve.ha.she.mu.'Ahand the reportH8052
בָּ֣אָהBa.'ahit cameH935
עַד\־'ad-toH5704
יוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvJoabH3097
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
יוֹאָ֗בyo.'AvJoabH3097
נָטָה֙na.Tahhe had turned asideH5186
אַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiafterH310
אֲדֹנִיָּ֔ה'a.do.ni.YahAdonijahH138
וְאַחֲרֵ֥יve.'a.cha.Reiand afterH310
אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם'av.sha.LomAbsalomH53
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
נָטָ֑הna.Tahhe had turned asideH5186
וַיָּ֤נָסvai.Ya.nosand he fledH5127
יוֹאָב֙yo.'AvJoabH3097
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אֹ֣הֶל'O.hel[the] tent ofH168
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וַֽיַּחֲזֵ֖קvai.ya.cha.Zekand he took holdH2388
בְּקַרְנ֥וֹתbe.kar.Noton [the] horns ofH7161
הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ\׃ha.miz.Be.achthe altarH4196

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Kings 2:28

  • 1 Kings 1:7

    And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

  • 1 Kings 1:50

    And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

  • 2 Samuel 18:2

    And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

  • 2 Samuel 17:25

    And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man’s son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.

  • Exodus 27:2

    And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.

  • Deuteronomy 32:35

    To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

  • 2 Samuel 18:14-15

    Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Joab had.
1:7; De 32:35; 2Sa 18:2,14,15
caught.
1:50; Ex 27:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Kings 2:27

    So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the Lord; that he might fulfil the word of the Lord, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

  • 1 Kings 2:28

    Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

  • 1 Kings 2:29

    And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.

Read all of 1 Kings 2

1 Kings 2:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vino la noticia hasta Joab: porque también Joab se había adherido á Adonía, si bien no se había adherido á Absalom. Y huyó Joab al tabernáculo de Jehová, y asióse á los cornijales del altar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et la nouvelle en vint jusqu’à Joab (car Joab s’était détourné après Adonija, mais ne s’était pas détourné après Absalom), et Joab s’enfuit à la tente de l’ Éternel, et saisit les cornes de l’autel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und das Gerücht kam zu Joab; da floh Joab zum Zelte Jehovas und erfaßte die Hörner des Altars.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Venit autem nuntius ad Joab, quod Joab declinasset post Adoniam, et post Salomonem non declinasset: fugit ergo Joab in tabernaculum Domini, et apprehendit cornu altaris.