“In this way their blood will return on the head of Yo’av and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his family and his throne there will be peace forever from Adonai.”-1 Kings 2:33 Why, from a Torah perspective, is murder such a serious crime? It’s because unpunished murder defiles both the people and […]

“The king answered him, ‘Do what he said — strike him down, and bury him. In this way you will take away from me and my father’s family the blood which Yo’av shed for no reason.‘”-1 Kings 2:31 When we last left off, Joab was hanging onto the horns of the altar at Gibeon. Solomon’s […]

“When the news came to Yo’av, he fled to the tent of Adonai and took hold of the horns of the altar; for Yo’av had given his support to Adoniyah, even though he had not supported Avshalom.”– 1 Kings 2:28 When the second Joab heard what Solomon had done to Adonijah and Evyatar, he knew […]

“To Evyatar the cohen the king said, ‘You, get yourself to ‘Anatot, to your own fields. You deserve to die; but I won’t put you to death just now; since you did carry the ark of Adonai Elohim before David my father; and you suffered together with my father in everything he suffered.’”-1 Kings 2:26 […]

As ridiculously awkward as Adonijah’s attempt to take over the throne was, Solomon knew that Adonijah had not acted alone. Who were his partners in crime? Solomon wanted to know. He rightly figured that it must have been Evyatar the High Priest and Joab the military commander. These men had been guests of honor at […]