1 Kings 2:5

“Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me, etc.] In slaying Absalom, contrary to his orders, and in behaving insolently towards him on account of his mourning for him, and at other times; but as these things might not be personally known to Solomon, only by hearsay, this may respect his disloyalty towards him, in joining with Adonijah, who set himself up for king in his lifetime, and without his knowledge and consent; or it may respect the instances next mentioned, in which he did injury to the interest, honour, and character of David: [and], or “even”, what he did to the two captains of the host of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of…”

“thou knowest also what Joab . . . did--The insolent and imperious conduct of that general had not only been deeply offensive to the feelings (Sa2 18:5-15; Sa2 19:5-7), but calculated to bring reproach on the character, to injure the prospects, and endanger the throne of David. Passing over the injuries committed directly against himself, David dwelt with strong feelings on the base assassination of Abner and Amasa. shed the blood of war in peace, &c.--The obvious meaning is, that in peace he acted towards them as if they had been in a state of warfare; but perhaps these graphic expressions might be designed to impress Solomon's mind more strongly with a sense of the malice, treachery, and…”

“In his directions with respect to certain important persons, David, anxious for the security of his young successor’s kingdom, allows old animosities to revive, and is willing to avenge himself indirectly and by deputy, though he had been withheld by certain scruples from taking vengeance in his own person. We must not expect Gospel morality from the saints of the Old Testament. They were only the best men of their several ages and nations. The maxim of “them of old time,” whether Jews or Gentiles, was “Love your friends and hate your enemies” (see Matthew 5:43); and David perhaps was not in this respect in advance of his age. Joab’s chief offence against David, besides his two murders, was…”

“To me - That is, against me; in what he did against Abner and Amasa: whose death was a great injury to David, as it was a breach of his laws and peace; a contempt of his person and government; a pernicious example to his subjects, and a great scandal to him, as if Joab had been only David's instrument, to affect what he secretly designed. And shed - He slew them as if they had been in the state of war, when there was not only a cessation of arms, but also a treaty of peace. Put the blood - This is added to note his impenitency, that although by his perfidious manner of killing them when he pretended to embrace them, he stained his own garments with their blood, yet he was not ashamed of it,…”

“2:5-6 Joab had supported David’s bid for kingship but had become too ambitious. He had murdered former military rivals Abner (2 Sam 3:22-30) and Amasa (2 Sam 20:10), as well as David’s son Absalom (2 Sam 18:1-18). A party to David’s murder of Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam 11:14-27), Joab had grown very powerful (2 Sam 20:23), and his backing of Adonijah posed a serious threat to Solomon.”

“Joab: Kg1 1:7, Kg1 1:18, Kg1 1:19; Sa2 3:39, Sa2 18:5, Sa2 18:12, Sa2 18:14, Sa2 19:5-7 Abner: Sa2 3:27 Amasa: Sa2 20:10 Jether: Sa2 17:25, Ithra shed: Heb. put put: Jer 2:34, Jer 6:15; Eze 24:7, Eze 24:8 3 Kings (1 Kings) 2:6”