31 The king said to him, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him in order to remove from me and from my father’s family the blood that Joab shed without just cause.(A) 32 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(B) son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa(C) son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. 33 The responsibility for their deaths will come back to Joab and to his descendants[a] forever, but for David, his descendants, his dynasty, and his throne, there will be peace from the Lord forever.”(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:33 Lit Their blood will return on the head of Joab and on the head of his seed

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(A) that Joab shed. 32 The Lord will repay(B) him for the blood he shed,(C) 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(D) son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better(E) 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.”

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