You Shall Take Him from My Altar to Die

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1. Murdering with Guile

   Rabbi Yaakov Medan

   To which murderer is the Torah referring when it states “you shall take him from My altar to die”? Chazal’s interpretation included only one who murders intentionally with premeditation, as opposed to one who murders accidentally. The verses, however, include a third type of murderer who is a composite of the first two types. He murders intentionally, but pretends to have done so unknowingly. It is concerning this murderer that the Torah commands that he be removed from the place of his refuge, from the 'altar,' and put to death. Examples exist throughout the biblical text, from Cain who murders Hevel, through Yoav ben Tzeruya’s murder of Avner, Amasa and Uriya, to Yishmael ben Netanya who murders Gedaliya ben Achikam.

2. Eliyahu on Mount Carmel (Part 7)

   The Nation's Response

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   “The Lord is God” is the nation’s response to the universal element of the challenge. The capturing of the prophets of Ba’al is their response to the national one. The prophets were not killed on Mount Carmel which is a place of an altar. The killing of the prophets appears to be a prophetic command which is attributed to Eliyahu and not the nation.

3. Between War and Peace

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   Yoav's murders of Avner and Amassa exhibit the simple act of dishonor to the king, and also jeopardize the prospect of national peace and unity. Yoav's bloody ways characterize the reign of David but are not appropriate for the peaceful reign of Shlomo.

   Shimi Ben Gera's venture to "Akhish ben Ma'akha, King of Gat" may be hinting that this is a venture of political maneuvering on Shimi's part, an appointment with a rival king and not a simple return of slaves. 

   The description in Divrei HaYamim of the transition between David and Shlomo is formal, regal, ceremonial, public, and sedate in contrast to the description in Melakhim.