⁸ shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king ^(A)when he goes out and when he comes in.”

⁷ The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

¹⁵ Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.”

²⁸ When the news came to Joab—for Joab ^(A)had supported Adonijah although ^(B)he had not supported Absalom—Joab fled to the tent of the Lord and caught hold of the ^(C)horns of the altar. ²⁹ And when it was told King Solomon, “Joab has fled to the tent of the Lord, and behold, he is beside the altar,” Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.” ³⁰ So Benaiah came to the tent of the Lord and said to him, “The king commands, ‘Come out.’” But he said, “No, I will die here.” Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.” ³¹ The king replied to him, ^(D)“Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him, ^(E)and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause.

¹⁷ who ^(A)shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be ^(B)as sheep that have no shepherd.”

¹⁴ But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, ^(A)you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.