John Gill Commentary 1 Kings 2:28

"And the tidings came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the Tent of Jehovah, and caught hold on the horns of the altar." — 1 Kings 2:28 (ASV)

Then tidings came to Joab
Of the death of Adonijah, and the deposition of Abiathar:

for Joab had turned after Adonijah ;
publicly appeared at his feast, when he was saluted king by him, and others, and privately gave him advice in the affair of Abishag:

though he turned not after Absalom ;
did not join with him in his rebellion, but faithfully adhered to David; and yet both in his lifetime, and after his death, acted the traitorous part in favour of Adonijah:

Ben Gersom gives these words a different sense, as if he was blameworthy in both cases; that he turned after Adonijah to make him king, without consulting David, and having his consent; and he did not turn after Absalom, to deliver him from death, as David commanded him; but the former sense is best:

and Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord ;
which was at Gibeon, see (2 Chronicles 1:3) ; it was four miles from Jerusalem to the north, situated on an hill ^F5 ; according to Josephus ^F6 , it was forty furlongs, or five miles, from it; though Kimchi thinks it was the altar in Jerusalem he fled to, which was before the ark, in the tent David made for it; but that is never called the tabernacle of the Lord, only that of Moses:

Joab's fleeing hither showed guilt, and that he was in the conspiracy of Adonijah, and was conscious he deserved to die, and now expected it, since Adonijah was put to death; while he remained reprieved or pardoned, he thought himself safe, but now in danger, and therefore fled for it:

and caught hold of the horns of the altar; (See Gill on 1 Kings 1:50).

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F5: Bunting's Travels p. 98.
• F6: Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7.