29. When Solomon heard about this, he sent someone to ask Joab, “Why did you run to the altar?”Joab sent back his answer, “I was afraid of you, and I ran to the Lord for protection.”Then Solomon shouted, “Benaiah, go and kill Joab!”
30. Benaiah went to the sacred tent and yelled, “Joab, the king orders you to come out!”“No!” Joab answered. “Kill me right here.”Benaiah went back and told Solomon what Joab had said.
31-32. Solomon replied:Do what Joab said. Kill him and bury him! Then my family and I won't be responsible for what he did to Abner the commander of Israel's army and to Amasa the commander of Judah's army. He killed those innocent men without my father knowing about it. Both of them were better men than Joab. Now the Lord will make him pay for those murders.
33. Joab's family will always suffer because of what he did, but the Lord will always bless David's family and his kingdom with peace.
34. Benaiah went back and killed Joab. His body was taken away and buried near his home in the desert.
35. Solomon put Benaiah in Joab's place as army commander, and he put Zadok in Abiathar's place as priest.
36. Solomon sent for Shimei and said, “Build a house here in Jerusalem and live in it. But whatever you do, don't leave the city!
37. If you ever cross Kidron Valley and leave Jerusalem, you will be killed. And it will be your own fault.”
38. “That's fair, Your Majesty,” Shimei answered. “I'll do that.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem from then on.
39. About three years later, two of Shimei's servants ran off to King Achish in Gath. When Shimei found out where they were,
40. he saddled his donkey and went after them. He found them and brought them back to Jerusalem.
41. Someone told Solomon that Shimei had gone to Gath and was back.