⁸ Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks^[a] is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

⁷ The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each with weapon in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

¹⁵ Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks^[a] and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple^(A) of the Lord.”

²⁸ When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns^(A) of the altar. ²⁹ King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar.^(B) Then Solomon ordered Benaiah^(C) son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!”

³⁰ So Benaiah entered the tent^(D) of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!^(E)’”

But he answered, “No, I will die here.”

Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”

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^(F) that Joab shed.

¹⁷ to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”^(A)

¹⁴ But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately,^(A) that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.^(B)