Joab
“Yahweh is father”
Summary
David's nephew and commander-in-chief of the Israelite army, a brilliant military strategist whose career was marred by treacherous murders and whose end came when he was slain at the altar for supporting Adonijah's claim to the throne.
☩Early Career
Joab was the eldest of three sons born to Zeruiah, David's sister, making him David's nephew. His brothers were Abishai and Asahel, all renowned warriors. Joab first appears in the narrative of the war with Abner, who supported Ishbosheth's claim to the throne against David. In the engagement at the pool of Gibeon, Joab's army proved victorious, though his brother Asahel was killed by Abner during the pursuit. This began a blood feud that would have fatal consequences. Joab won his position as commander-in-chief by being the first to scale the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem, fulfilling David's challenge that whoever first conquered the citadel would become captain of the host.
☩Military Achievements
Joab proved himself an exceptionally able general, conducting the wide range of wars that established David's empire. He defeated the combined forces of Ammon and their Syrian allies, dividing his army and leaving Abishai to engage the Ammonites while he himself attacked the Syrians. His exhortation before battle was noble: 'Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God; and the Lord do that which seemeth Him good.' He spent six months destroying the Edomite males in the Valley of Salt, and his name became so dreaded in Edom that Prince Hadad did not venture to return from Egypt until hearing that Joab was dead. After besieging Rabbah, the Ammonite capital, Joab magnanimously summoned David to complete the conquest so that the glory would belong to the king rather than the general.
☩Treacherous Murders
Despite his loyalty to David, Joab's career was stained by two treacherous murders. When Abner came to David at Hebron to negotiate bringing the northern tribes under his rule, Joab was absent. Upon returning and learning that Abner had been received favorably, Joab recalled him by messenger and then, taking him aside at the gate of Hebron as if for private conversation, stabbed him in revenge for Asahel's death—though jealousy of a potential rival surely contributed. David felt powerless to punish him, confessing 'these sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me.' Later, when David appointed Amasa to replace Joab after Absalom's rebellion, Joab at Gibeon pretended to kiss his cousin in friendship while stabbing him with his left hand. Having murdered Uriah at David's command, Joab possessed the king's dark secret and exercised almost complete sway over him.
☩Absalom's Rebellion and Death
Joab played a complex role in the Absalom crisis. He first engineered Absalom's restoration to favor through the wise woman of Tekoa, perceiving that David wished for reconciliation though justice demanded severity. When Absalom rebelled and appointed Amasa as his general instead of Joab, this determined Joab's course. He commanded one-third of David's forces in the decisive battle, and when informed that Absalom was caught in a tree, he personally thrust three darts through the rebel's heart, contrary to David's plea for mercy. When David's overwhelming grief threatened to alienate the victorious army, Joab sternly rebuked him: unless he went forth to encourage his soldiers, all would desert by morning. Though harsh, the rebuke was just.
☩Death and Legacy
Joab's unswerving loyalty to David finally wavered at the end when he supported Adonijah's claim to succeed David rather than Solomon. When Solomon secured the throne, Joab saw his danger and fled to the tabernacle, grasping the horns of the altar for sanctuary. Refusing to come out when summoned, he was slain there by Benaiah, who became his successor as commander of the army. David's dying charge to Solomon had included Joab: 'Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace,' citing the murders of Abner and Amasa. Thus punishment long delayed finally fell in righteous judgment. Joab was buried at his estate in the wilderness. Whatever his faults, he was David's greatest general, and the king's success owed much to this complex, capable, and ruthless warrior.
Related Verses126 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Joab," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "JOAB," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. VI (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).
- 3.George Morrish, "Joab," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Joab," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).