And it was told King Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord,.... This account was brought him very probably by some of his courtiers:and, behold, [he is] by the altar; to which he betook himself for refuge, laying hold on the horns of it:then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, go, fall upon him; slay him; Josephus says, the orders were to cut off his head; but perhaps it might be only to lay hold on him, and take him thence, and bring him to Solomon to have judgment passed upon him; for the Targum is,"exercise your power over him,''take him into custody; and certain it is that the first orders were not to slay him, at least upon the spot where he was.
Antiqu. l. 8. c. 1. sect.