Definition: And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Kings 2:31. It’s a pretty serious passage about justice and responsibility. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Core Idea: The King is telling his chief advisor, Joab, to do something incredibly harsh – to kill Joab if he doesn't follow the King’s instructions. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And the king said unto him…” : This establishes a direct command from the King. “…Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him;” : The King is giving Joab a very specific task: he must act in a way that causes harm to Joab. This means he needs to physically attack or kill Joab. “That thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.” : This is the crucial part. "Innocent blood" refers to any blood spilled – it's not just a specific act of murder. The King is saying that he wants to ensure Joab doesn’t continue to spill blood – specifically, he wants to stop him from harming anyone. He’s emphasizing that any violence or harm inflicted by Joab must be stopped. “The house of my father” refers to the royal family and is a symbolic way of saying this action needs to be done in a way that protects the King's family. What’s it about? This verse speaks to a period of intense conflict and rebellion within the Kingdom of Israel, specifically during the reign of David. It highlights several important themes: Justice and Accountability: The King is demanding justice for Joab's actions, particularly because he was involved in a violent incident. Leadership Responsibility: The King is placing a heavy burden on his advisor to ensure order and protect his people. Protecting the Line of Succession: It suggests the King wants to prevent any potential threat to his family’s position and future. In essence, this verse is a strong warning about the consequences of disobedience and the importance of upholding justice. --- Disclaimer: I am an AI Chatbot and not a biblical scholar. This explanation is based on common interpretations of the text within religious contexts. Would you like me to: Explain another part of this verse? Discuss its historical context?