Joab’s Execution

Solomon clearly considers his execution of Joab to be an act of justice: Yahweh is bringing the blood that Joab shed back on his own head. And Solomon also indicates that the execution of Joab is necessary to clear David’s house of blood-guilt. This is suggested in two ways.

First, David uses unusual language to describe Joab’s actions in 1 Ki 2:5. Joab, David says, is guilty because he ?shed the blood of war in peace?E(v. 5). The phrase ?shed blood?Eusing the verb SIM (normally translated as ?set?Eor ?place?E is almost unique in the Hebrew Bible; normally blood is ?poured out?E(Heb. SHAPHAK). The only other use of the idiom found in 1 Kings 2:5 is in Deuteronomy 22:8, which warns that accidents that result from negligence will ?bring bloodguilt upon the house.?E Thus, Joab’s murders have brought bloodguilt on the “house” of David, his dynasty (Joab is considered a member of the house), and this can be removed only by the execution of the one who caused the bloodguilt to fall.

Second, Solomon’s speech in 1 Kings 2:31-33 is arranged chiastically, in such a way to make it clear that the execution of Joab removes blood guilt from David’s house and thereby established the kingdom of Solomon.

A. Fall upon him and bury him to remove blood from me and my father?s house
B. Yahweh returns blood on him
C. Because he killed two better and more righteous men
D. David was ignorant
C’. Abner and Amasa
B’. Blood will be on Joab and seed
A’. But to David and seed peace of Yahweh forever

We can read this, as Breck suggests, in a circular way, moving from A to A to B to B and so on. On this reading, the text says: Remove blood from me and my fathers house, and bring peace (A and A’); for Yahweh returns blood on Joab, even on his seed forever (B and B’); because he killed two better men, even Abner and Amasa (C and C’); but David was innocent (D). We can read from inside out as well: The assertion in D serves as a justification for the cleansing of the house, which is described in A and A’; because David was ignorant of Joab’s plans and actions, his house can be freed of blood guilt by the “sacrifice” of Joab.