Joab

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=**Ancestry**=

Joab is one of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister and had two brothers—Abishai and Asahel (2 Sam. 2:13, 1 Chron. 2:16).1

=**Military Accomplishments**=

Joab was the captain of David’s army and leader of his mighty men (2 Sam. 10:7; 11:1; 1 Kings11:15). Among his military accomplishments are the taking of Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:8; 1 Chron. 11:6, 8), the defeat of the Edomites (1 Kings 11:15, 16), defeat of the Ammonites (2 Sam. 10:7-19; 11:1, 11), his execution of David’s plan to kill Uriah (2 Sam. 11:6-26), and the capturing of Rabbah (2 Sam. 12:26-31).2

=**Murder of Abner**=

2 Samuel 3:26-27 records his avenging of his brother Asahel’s death by murdering Abner in the middle of the gate at Hebron. David then grows angry at him and prophesies that God would punish Abner’s killer (2 Sam. 3:31-39).2

=**Period of Loyalty**=

During Joab’s fight against Rabbah, which is believed to be around 993 (Merrill), he calls for David to come and capture it himself so that it will not be named after him (2 Sam. 12:26-31). Then when David asks Joab to go number the people he initially refuses but David prevails upon him and he does it (2 Sam. 24:2-4). Abner also seeks to reconcile David and Absalom through the use of a woman (2 Sam. 14:18-24).3

=**Period of Disloyalty**=

2 Samuel 3:22-30 tell of Joab’s disloyalty to David when he accuses Abner of deception to David and then proceeds to kill him in the gate of Hebron even though David had just made peace with him. Joab again disobeys a direct order by David to protect Absalom and when Absalom is caught by his hair in a tree, Joab sticks him with three spears through his heart (2 Sam. 18:14-33). He also aids in the rebellion of Adonijah and because of this treachery David tells Solomon to kill him (1 Kings 1:5-53).4

=**Death**=

Since Joab knew that he had betrayed David and heard of what David said, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar for refuge. Solomon then ordered Benaiah to kill him and he does (1 Kings 2:28-34).4

1. E. M Blaiklock, //Today's Handbook of Bible Characters// (Minneapolis, Minn: Bethany House, 1987). 2. James Maxwell Miller, //A History of Ancient Israel and Judah//, 1st ed. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986). 3. Wood, D. R. W. (1996, c1982, c1962). //New Bible Dictionary//. InterVarsity Press. 4. Easton, M. (1996, c1897). //Easton's Bible dictionary//. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

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