Daily Tanach Thursday Sefer Melachim 1 – Chapter 2: Avyasar the Kohen is exiled by Shlomo

1.      Avyasar the Kohen is exiled by Shlomo:

• Avyasar the Kohen was informed by the king that he should flee to his fields in Anasos, as he is liable for death [for having rebelled against the king by joining the crowning of Adoniyahu]. “However, I will not put you to death today, being that you carried the Aron of G-d before Dovid my father, and you fasted whenever Dovid my father fasted.”
• Avyasar was banished by the king from being a high priest for G-d in order to fulfill the promise that G-d made to the house of Eli in Shilo [to banish them from the priesthood].

2.      Yoav flees from Shlomo and is caught and put to death:

• Yoav flees to the altar: Yoav heard that Shlomo had been instructed by Dovid to have him killed [and he feared for his life being that he knew that Shlomo hated him]. Yoav was instructed to be put to death because he had followed after Adoniyahu even though he did not follow after Avshalom when he made his rebellion. Yoav fled to the tent of G-d and held onto the corners of the altar.
• Yoav tries to negotiate his death: King Shlomo heard that Yoav had fled to the tent of G-d and is by the altar, and he instructed Benayahu Ben Yehoyada to put him to death. Benayahu arrived to the tent of G-d and said to Yoav that the king had instructed him to leave the area. Yoav refused to comply, saying that he wishes to die here [and that he does not agree to both receive the curses of Dovid and to be put to death^[1]]. Benayahu went back to the king and told him the reply of Yoav. The king answered Benayahu saying that “I will do as Yoav requested [i.e. accept the curses of Dovid upon his own household^[2]] and put him to death and bury him, “thus removing the liability of the innocent blood that Yoav had spilled, from me and from my father’s household. G-d will return his blood on his own head in vengeance for the fact that he killed two righteous men who were much greater than him with use of the sword, while my father Dovid was unaware. He had killed Avner the son of Ner who was the general of the Army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Yeser, who was the general of the Judean Army. Their blood will be placed on the head of Yoav and on the head of his descendants forever. As a result of doing so, to Dovid and his descendants and his household and his throne there will be peace forever from G-d.”
• Yoav is killed: Benayahu Ben Yehoyada went up to meet Yoav, and he met him and killed him and buried him in his home in the desert.

3.      The king’s appointees:

• The king appointed Benayahu Ben Yehoyada in place of Yoav as the new general, and he pointed Tzadok the Kohen as the new high priest instead of Avyasar.

[1] Rashi 2:30

[2] Rashi 2:31