Benaiah began to obey Solomon’s command to strike down Joab. He went to the tent where Joab was and in the name of the king commanded Joab to come out. To this command Joab gave a negative reply, saying that he would die by the altar where he was.
Was this answer just an attempt to make his execution as difficult as possible? Was Joab armed and by this statement showing that he was ready to resist Benaiah by force? Did he believe that by such a reply he was placing Benaiah in a no-win
situation, believing that no Israelite would profane the Lord’s tent with the blood of violence?
We cannot be sure of the answers to any of these questions. It did cause Benaiah to seek further instructions from Solomon, and he reported to the king the conversation between him and Joab. This caution exhibits that Benaiah possessed a spiritual sensitivity that the Lord’s holiness was a matter that could make him seek confirmation to the step he was ordered to take.
Benaiah’s action is a warning to us that the Bible does not require blind obedience to human commandments. Only the omniscient and eternal God is able to give commandments that are always proper to obey.
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.”