Joab (2 Samuel 2:12–32; 2 Samuel 3:22–39; 2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Samuel 10:6–14; 2 Samuel 11:14–25; 2 Samuel 12:26–29; 2 Samuel 14:1–33; 2 Samuel 18:1–17; 2 Samuel 19:1–8; 2 Samuel 20:4–23; 2 Samuel 24:1–9; 1 Kings 1:5–7; 1 Kings 2:5–6; 1 Kings 2:28–35; 1 Chronicles 2:15–16; 1 Chronicles 11:4–9; 1 Chronicles 21:2–6)

Son of Zeruiah, Captain of David's Host

Son of Zeruiah and brother of Abishai and Asahel, who was over David's host: he slew Abner at Hebron, went up first against Jebus according to Chronicles, carried out David's letter about Uriah, brought Absalom back and later slew him, slew Amasa, turned after Adonijah, and was put to death by Benaiah at Solomon's word.

Joab is first met at the pool of Gibeon, where “the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel” (2 Samuel 2:18). Chronicles names Zeruiah as a sister of David: “their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three” (1 Chronicles 2:16). When Abner killed Asahel, Joab and Abishai slew Abner “because he had killed their brother Asahel” (2 Samuel 3:30), and David said, “these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me” (2 Samuel 3:39). Chronicles tells that David said, “Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief” (1 Chronicles 11:6), and Samuel lists him as the one who “was over the host” (2 Samuel 8:16).

In the Ammonite war he set the battle in array and said, “Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people” (2 Samuel 10:12). At the siege of Rabbah he received David's letter about Uriah and assigned Uriah to the place where valiant men were (2 Samuel 11:14-17). He perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom and brought him back from Geshur (2 Samuel 14:1, 23); in the forest of Ephraim he thrust three darts through Absalom's heart, though the king had said, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom” (2 Samuel 18:5). He then told David that the king's mourning had shamed all his servants (2 Samuel 19:5-7). He slew Amasa, to whom David had promised the host in his room, and afterward pursued Sheba to Abel of Beth-maacah (2 Samuel 20:8-22). When David numbered the people, Joab said, “why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?” (2 Samuel 24:3), but the king's word prevailed and he gave up the sum.

In David's old age Joab conferred with Adonijah and helped him (1 Kings 1:7). David charged Solomon concerning what Joab did to Abner and Amasa, “and shed the blood of war in peace” (1 Kings 2:5). Joab fled to the horns of the altar, and Solomon sent Benaiah, saying, “Go, fall upon him” (1 Kings 2:29); “he was buried in his own house in the wilderness” (1 Kings 2:34). The New Testament does not name him.

Strengths

• Went up first
• Courage in battle
• Turned not after Absalom
• Plain counsel to the king

Weaknesses

• Shed the blood of war in peace
• Too hard for the king
• Slew Absalom against the king's charge
• Turned after Adonijah

Themes

• Captain of the host
• Blood shed in peace
• Service to the king
• The sons of Zeruiah
• Absalom and Adonijah

The pool of Gibeon and the death of Asahel (2 Samuel 2:12–32)

At Abner's word Joab lets twelve young men of each side arise and play before them, and Abner is beaten; Abner kills Asahel, and Joab and Abishai pursue until Joab blows the trumpet and the people stand still.

Joab slays Abner at Hebron (2 Samuel 3:22–39)

Joab returns from a foray to learn that David has sent Abner away in peace, rebukes the king, sends after Abner and smites him in the gate for the blood of Asahel; David disowns the deed and mourns Abner.

Joab slays Abner at Hebron

When the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, they told Joab that Abner had come to the king and “he is gone in peace” (2 Samuel 3:23). “Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?” (2 Samuel 3:24).

“And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother” (2 Samuel 3:26-27).

David said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner: let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father’s house” (2 Samuel 3:28-29). He bade Joab rend his clothes and mourn, and followed the bier himself. “And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness” (2 Samuel 3:39).

Goes up first against Jebus (1 Chronicles 11:4–9; 2 Samuel 8:16)

Chronicles tells that David offers the chief place to whoever smites the Jebusites first, and Joab goes up first, is made chief, and repairs the rest of the city.

The Ammonites and the Syrians (2 Samuel 10:6–14)

Seeing the battle set against him before and behind, Joab chooses the choice men against the Syrians, commits the rest to Abishai against Ammon, and the Syrians flee.

David's letter about Uriah, and the taking of Rabbah (2 Samuel 11:1–25; 2 Samuel 12:26–29)

At the siege of Rabbah Joab sends Uriah to David, receives David's letter, assigns Uriah to the place where valiant men were, and sends word of the war; later he takes the city of waters and sends for David to take Rabbah, lest it be called after his name.

David's letter about Uriah, and the taking of Rabbah

“And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die” (2 Samuel 11:14-15).

“And it came to pass, when Joab kept watch upon the city, that he assigned Uriah unto the place where he knew that valiant men were. And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also” (2 Samuel 11:16-17). Joab charged the messenger that if the king's wrath arose over going so nigh the wall, “then shalt thou say, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also” (2 Samuel 11:21). David sent back, “Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another” (2 Samuel 11:25).

Afterward “Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yea, I have taken the city of waters. Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name” (2 Samuel 12:27-28).

The woman of Tekoa and Absalom's return (2 Samuel 14:1–33)

Joab perceives that the king's heart is toward Absalom, puts words in the mouth of a wise woman of Tekoa, and at the king's word brings Absalom from Geshur; Absalom later burns Joab's barley field to bring him.

Absalom slain in the oak (2 Samuel 18:1–17)

David charges his captains to deal gently with Absalom; Joab, told that Absalom hangs in an oak, thrusts three darts through his heart, his armor-bearers finish him, and Joab blows the trumpet.

Absalom slain in the oak

David sent out the people under Joab, Abishai and Ittai. “And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom” (2 Samuel 18:5).

Absalom's head caught in a great oak, and a certain man told Joab. “And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest it, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten pieces of silver, and a girdle” (2 Samuel 18:11). The man answered, “Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom” (2 Samuel 18:12).

“Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab’s armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people” (2 Samuel 18:14-16).

Joab rebukes David for mourning (2 Samuel 19:1–8)

Told that the king weeps for Absalom, Joab comes into the house and says that David has shamed his servants and that no man will tarry with him unless he goes out; the king sits in the gate.

Amasa slain; Sheba pursued (2 Samuel 19:13; 2 Samuel 20:4–23)

Amasa tarries beyond the set time; at the great stone in Gibeon Joab greets him and smites him with the sword, then pursues Sheba to Abel of Beth-maacah, where a wise woman speaks and Sheba's head is thrown over the wall.

Amasa slain; Sheba pursued

David had said to Amasa, “God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab” (2 Samuel 19:13). Amasa “tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him” (2 Samuel 20:5), and Joab's men went out after Sheba the son of Bichri.

“And Joab said to Amasa, Is it well with thee, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died” (2 Samuel 20:9-10). “When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab” (2 Samuel 20:13).

At Abel of Beth-maacah a wise woman cried, “Come near hither, that I may speak with thee” (2 Samuel 20:16) and said of her city, “thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel” (2 Samuel 20:19). “And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy” (2 Samuel 20:20). Sheba's head was thrown out to him; “and he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king” (2 Samuel 20:22).

The numbering of the people (2 Samuel 24:1–9; 1 Chronicles 21:2–6; 1 Chronicles 27:24)

David bids Joab number Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba; Joab asks why the king delights in this thing, but the king's word prevails and Joab gives up the sum, though Chronicles says he counted not Levi and Benjamin.

Turns after Adonijah; death at the altar (1 Kings 1:5–7; 1 Kings 1:41; 1 Kings 2:5–6; 1 Kings 2:28–35)

Joab confers with Adonijah and helps him; after David's charge to Solomon, Joab flees to the horns of the altar and Benaiah, sent by Solomon, falls upon him.

Turns after Adonijah; death at the altar

Adonijah said, “I will be king” (1 Kings 1:5) and “he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him” (1 Kings 1:7).

David charged Solomon: “Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me, even what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace” (1 Kings 2:5). “Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to Sheol in peace” (1 Kings 2:6).

“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). Benaiah said, “Come forth” (1 Kings 2:30) and Joab answered, “Nay; but I will die here” (1 Kings 2:30). Solomon said, “Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father’s house” (1 Kings 2:31), “because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, and my father David knew it not” (1 Kings 2:32). “Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness” (1 Kings 2:34).

David (2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Samuel 19:5–7; 1 Chronicles 2:15–16)

The king whom Joab served as captain of the host; Chronicles names Zeruiah as a sister of David.

Zeruiah (1 Chronicles 2:16; 2 Samuel 17:25)

Joab's mother, named in Chronicles as one of the sisters of David.

Abishai (2 Samuel 2:18; 2 Samuel 3:30; 2 Samuel 18:2)

The son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, who pursued beside him and was set over a third part of the people.

Asahel (2 Samuel 2:18–23; 2 Samuel 3:27)

Slain by Abner at Gibeon; Joab smote Abner for the blood of Asahel his brother.

Abner (2 Samuel 2:12–17; 2 Samuel 3:27; 1 Kings 2:5)

The captain of Ish-bosheth's host, beaten at Gibeon and smitten by Joab in the gate at Hebron.

Amasa (2 Samuel 17:25; 1 Chronicles 2:17; 2 Samuel 19:13; 2 Samuel 20:8–10)

Son of Abigail, sister to Zeruiah, set over the host by Absalom and promised Joab's room by David, whom Joab smote with the sword.

Absalom (2 Samuel 14:23; 2 Samuel 18:14–15)

Joab brought him back from Geshur and later thrust three darts through his heart in the oak.

Adonijah (1 Kings 1:7; 1 Kings 2:28)

Joab conferred with him and helped him; Joab had turned after Adonijah.

Solomon (1 Kings 2:29–35)

The king who bade Benaiah fall upon Joab at the altar and put Benaiah in his room over the host.

Benaiah (1 Kings 2:29–35)

Sent by Solomon to fall upon Joab, he slew him and was put in his room over the host.

Major sections

• 2 Samuel 2–3
• 2 Samuel 10–12
• 2 Samuel 14
• 2 Samuel 18–20
• 2 Samuel 24
• 1 Kings 1–2
• 1 Chronicles 11
• 1 Chronicles 19–21

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