Joab

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File:Absalom-pardoned.jpg

Joab oversees the reconciliation of David and Absalom

Joab (יוֹאָב "The Lord is father", Standard Hebrew Yoʾav, Tiberian Hebrew Yôʾāḇ) was the nephew of King David, the son of Zeruiah in the Bible. He was made the captain of David's army (2 Samuel 8:16; 20:23; 1 Chronicles 11:6; 18:15; 27:34). He had two brothers, Abishai and Asahel. Asahel was killed by Abner, for which Joab took revenge by treacherously murdering Abner (2 Samuel 2:13-32; 3:27). After leading the assault on the fortress of Mount Zion, he was promoted to the rank of General (1 Chronicles 27:34). He led the army against Syria, Ammon, Moab and Edom. He also took part in David's murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11:14-25).

Blood fued with Abner

Joab first comes on the scene during the period of biblical history in which King Saul has recently been killed in battle, David rules as the over the Tribe of Judah and Ish-boshesth, son of Saul, rules over the northern tribes in Saul's place as king of "Gilead, Asher, and Jezreel; and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel." (2 Sam. 2:9) In a moment of apparent peace between the two camps, Joab meets Abner, Ishbosheth's general at the pool of Gibeon. Abner proposes that their men engage in hand-to-hand combat, twelve against twelve. The fighting turns serious, with Joab's men gaining the upper hand. Joab's fleet-footed brother Asahel chases Abner, who does not want to engage him for fear of creating bad blood with Joab. Whe Ashael refuses to give up the chase, Abner turns and slays him with a spear thrust. Joab's forces now pursue Abner to exact vengeance, and the tribe of Benjamin rallies to Abner's defense. Abner offers a truce, and Joab accepts. The causulaties among Joab's forces are counted at 19 missing, while the number of dead among Abner's allies is 360.

Although few details are given concening the ongoing war between David and Ish-Bosheth, the struggle continued for several years. A major event in David's favor occurred when Abner, Ish-Bosheth's top military commander, went over to David's side after a scandal involving his affair with the concubine of King Ish-Bosheth's father, Saul. (2 Sam. 3) As proof of Abner's good faith, David demanded that he bring with him Michal, the daughter of Saul who had been David's first love wife but had later been given by Saul to another man. The fearful Ish-Bosheth is portrayed as agreeing to allow both Michal and Abner go over to David's side. Abner came then to David at Hebron, bringing not only Michal, but also 20 soldiers and a pledge of loyalty from the entire Tribe of Benjamin and elements of other northern tribes who had lost faith in Ish-Bosheth's leadership. David then dispatched Abner north to garner additional support for David's cause.

Joab, learning of Abner's visit to Hebron, immediately sent messengers to recall him. When Abner dutifully returned, ostensibly "to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach," but no doubt because he also sense in Abner a threat to his own position. David publicly declared himself innocent of the crime, cursing Joab's family and ordering Joab to publicly repent for the murder, but did nothing to demote or otherwise punish him for his act. Ish-Bosheth, meanwhile would soon be assassinated. Although David benefited greatly from this act, he again disassociated himself from it, and ordered the assasins to be executed.

Commander of David's armies

With Ish-Bosheth out of the way, David was able to consolidate power and soon became the monarch of what history calls the United Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Joab led the forces that took the Jebusite fortress of Jerusalem of Jerusalem. According the account in Chronicles, it was this act that moved David to name Joab his commander-in-chief of David's armies. This account also credits Joab with restoring the existing city of Jerusalem after its capture, while David "He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall." (I Chon. 6-8)

David arrives at Rabbah after Joab has paved the way to victory.

Therefter, Joab helped David to win crucial victories against the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites. (2. Sam. 8) With his brother Abishai, Joab also won a brilliant victory against a combined Ammonite and Syrian forces, after which Ammon became a vassal state of David's kingdom. (2 Sam. 10)

During the Israelite seige of the Ammonite town of Rabbah, one of the commanders under Joab was the warrior Uriah the Hittite, the unknowing husband of David's lover Bathsheba. During the long seige, Bathsheba became pregnant and Uriah was unexpectedly recalled to Jerusalem in order that David could claim that Uriah had been with Bathsheba at a plausible time of conception. When this plan was foiled by Uriah's soldierly refusal to stay at his home with Bathsheba while his men fought on the front line, Uriah soon returned to Joab with a sealed message from David. Joab must have been taken aback when he read David's orders:

"Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest.

Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die."

Joab dutifully did as David instructed, and the innocent Uriah died as Joab's men left him unprotected in harm's way. After ensuring victory by seizing the town's water supply, he sent news to David, allowing his king the glory of conquering the city and being offer the crown of its king. A series of easy military victories over other Ammonite towns quickly followed. (2 Sam. 2:12)

Joab and Absalom

Joab kills Absalom.

Joab also played a key role in king David's treatment of his son Absalom, who had killed his brother Amnon and fled. Absalom, the heir apparent to David's throne, had slain Amnon after Amnon had raped their sister Tamar. He was widely popular not only for his handsome appearance but also for taking action against the criminal when his father had been indecisive. For three years, David remained in a state of despondency over the matter. It was not until Joab conspired with a "wise woman" of Tekoa to manipulate David into bringing Absalom back that the king finally came to himself. AFter two more years, with Absalom back in Jerusalem but still banished fromthe king's presence, it was Joab—under serious pressure from Absalom—who faciliated a reconciliation between them. (2 Sam. 15)

Within three years, however, Absalom had gained enough support to mount a serious rebellion against David, causing the king to flee Jerusalem as Absalom approached from Hebron with "all the men of Israel." (2 Sam. 16:15) Joab, perhaps demoted by David on account of his earlier support of a Absalom, was place in charge of one third of David's forces, another third given each to Joab's brother Abishai and a Philistine ally of David's named Ittai. David gave orders that, in the fighting, Absalom must not be intentionally harmed.

File:Joab-slays-absalom.jpg

Joab slays Absalom.

It was soon reported to Joab that Absalom's long hair had been caught in a tree as he rode past on horseback. Jaob promptly found the place and slew the helpless Absalom with javelins. David, rather than celebrating the victory for which his troops had risked their lives, only mourned Absalom's death until Joab courageously confronted him, saying:

Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. You love those who hate you and hate those who love you... Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now." (2 Sam 19:5-7)

Once again coming to his senses only through Joab's intervention, David immediately went out and took his public place among his men.

Later career

Soon, David faced another rebellion of the northern tribes under the leader Sheba son of Bicri. David placed one Amasa—the commander of the army that had supported Absalom—in charge of the expedition to put down the rebels. When he delayed, the king sent Abishai and Joab ahead, with Abishai now in command. When Amasa joined them, Joab took the opportunity to slay Amasa. He and Abishai then rallied the troops and persued the rebel Sheba to the town of Abel Beth Maacah, when the armies of Judah again used seige tactics to force the rebels to capitulate. Here, Joab once again employed a "wise woman" who agreed to use her influence betray Sheba in excahnge for the lifting of the seige. Soon, the head of Sheba son of Bicri was thrown down from the town's wall, and the seige was lifting. Immediately, a narrator tells us that Joab is again "over Israel's entire army." (2 Sam. 20:23)

Later, Joab balked when David commanded him to take a census of the nation able-bodied men, believing that such a thing would consistute a sin. David insisted, and Joab led a mission of almost 10 months, going throughout the country to enroll them all. On he return, Joab reported 800,000 able-bodied men who could handle a sword among the northern tribes and another 500,000 in Judah. The account in Chronicles gives slightly different numbers, adding: "Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king's command was repulsive to him." (1 Chronicles 21:6)

Realizing his sin, David repented for commanding the census. God reportedly struck the land with a plague, nevetheless, which ended only after David purchased land from Araunah the Jebusite, built and altar there, and offered various sacrifices. (2 Sam. 24)

Joab's demise and legacy

Near the end of David's life, Joab miscaculated badly when he, together with the high priest Abiathar, supported the heir apparent, Adonijah, in his have himself named king while David was still clinging to life. While Adonijah, Abiathar, Joab and several of the royal sons participated in a sacfricial feast outside of Jerusalem, Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan conspired to have Bathsheba's son Solomon named king by portraying Adonijah as a usurper. David immediately commanded Nathan and another high priest, Zadok, anoint Solomon as king. (1 Kings 1)

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David to Solomon: "Do not let [Joab's] gray head go down to the grave in peace.

On his deathbed David advised Solomon to act ruthlessly in consolidating power, espcially toward Joab, remembering Joab's murders of Abner and Amasa. "Do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace," David commanded. (1 Kings 2:6) Solomon moved against Adonijah and Joab after Adonijah bold request to take David's young concubine, Abishag, to be his wife. Solomon had Adonijah assassinated immediately and exiled Abiathar to his home village of Anathoth. Joab sought sanctuary at the sacred altar of the "tent of the Lord." Solomon then commanded his man, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, to strike down Joab where he stood, justifying the act on account of "the innocent blood that Joab shed." Benaiah did as he was order, and thus Joab died clinging to the horns (horn-shaped front posts) of the altar. Solomon reward Benaiah by placing him in charge of the army in Joab's former place, while Zadok, who helped Solomon to the kingship was made high priest. Joab was buried in a tomb on his own property.

The Book of Chronicles adds the interesting note that Joab dedicated certain items plunder that were considered holy enough to be placed in the Temple of Jerusalem after it was built. (1 Cron. 26:28) Apparently, Joab's family remained prominent after his death for many generations, as the the Book of Ezra mentions 219 descendants of Joab, including their leader, Obadiah son of Jehiel, as returning from Babylon to Jerusalem after their exile. The scribal introduction to Psalm 60 preserves a tradition that this hymn was written on the occasion of Joab's victory over the Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

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This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.

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