Biblical Profile: Joab

Joab

Joab was David’s nephew, the son of David’s sister Zeruiah (1 Chr 2:13-16); his brothers were Abishai and Asahel. Joab became commander of David’s armies because of his bravery and military skill (2 Sam 2:18; 8:16; 11:1; 1 Chr 18:15). As the first to attack the Jebusite city of Jerusalem, he was awarded the commander’s position (1 Chr 11:4-9). Joab also suppressed a rebellion among the Arameans and Ammonites (2 Sam 10:1-19; 1 Chr 19:8-15) and won many key battles for David against the northern army of Israel under Abner’s impressive command (2 Sam 2:12-32).

Joab often acted to promote what he perceived were David’s interests. For example, he colluded with David in the death of Uriah the Hittite to cover up the king’s adultery with Bathsheba (11:1-27). He persuaded David to allow Absalom’s return to court (14:1-33), and he tried to talk David out of taking a census that provoked God’s anger (24:1-9; 1 Chr 21:1-6).

Though he was very loyal to David, Joab sometimes acted in his own interest, and sometimes he disregarded the king’s orders. When Abner killed Joab’s brother Asahel (2 Sam 2:23), Joab killed Abner in revenge (3:26-30), despite Abner’s new loyalty to David (3:12-19). Later, Joab killed his own cousin Amasa (20:8-10), who commanded Absalom’s army (17:25), after David had appointed Amasa commander in Joab’s place (19:13; 20:4). Joab also killed Absalom against David’s direct order (18:5, 10-17). He then rebuked David for grieving Absalom’s death rather than congratulating the army (19:5-7). Joab was ruthless, and he regained the most powerful position in David’s army (20:23; 24:2; 1 Kgs 1:19).

Joab sealed his fate by supporting Adonijah’s bid for David’s throne (1 Kgs 1:5-7). David’s deathbed instructions to Solomon included having Joab killed because of his murders of Abner and Amasa. When Solomon became king, he sent Benaiah to kill Joab even as Joab clung to the horns of the altar (1 Kgs 2:28-34). Joab met the same fate that he dealt to others throughout his life, and his executioner replaced him as commander of Israel’s army (1 Kgs 2:35).

Passages for Further Study

2 Sam 2:13-32; 3:22-39; 8:16; 10:7-14; 11:1-25; 12:26-28; 14:1-33; 17:25; 18:2–19:13; 20:7-23; 24:2-9; 1 Kgs 1:7, 19; 2:28-35; 11:15-16; 1 Chr 2:16; 11:6-8; 18:15; 19:8-15; 20:1; 21:2-6; 26:28; 27:24, 34; Ps 60:1-12