³¹ “‘Do not accept a ransom^(A) for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death.

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. ³² The Lord will repay^(G) him for the blood he shed,^(H) 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^(I) son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better^(J) 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.”

³⁴ So Benaiah^(K) son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab^(L) and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country.

¹³ Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned^(A) against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away^(B) your sin.^(C) You are not going to die.^(D)

¹¹ But if out of hate someone lies in wait, assaults and kills a neighbor,^(A) and then flees to one of these cities, ¹² the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die. ¹³ Show no pity.^(B) You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood,^(C) so that it may go well with you.

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

⁵ And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting.^(A) I will demand an accounting from every animal.^(B) And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.^(C)