Joab was an important military commander under King David in the Old Testament. He was the son of David’s sister Zeruiah and helped lead many of David’s battles. Joab served faithfully under David for many years, though he could also be ruthless and disobedient at times. Here is an overview of Joab’s life and role in the Bible:
Joab’s Family Background
Joab was the son of Zeruiah, who was David’s sister (1 Chronicles 2:16). This made him David’s nephew. Joab had two brothers, Abishai and Asahel, who also became part of David’s inner circle (2 Samuel 2:18). As a relative of David, Joab rose to prominence early on during David’s reign.
Joab’s Military Leadership
Joab became the commander of David’s army (2 Samuel 8:16). He led Israel’s troops to victory on many occasions:
- Joab led the charge against the Jebusites when David wanted to capture Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 11:6).
- He led the army against the Ammonites and defeated them in the Battle of Rabbah (2 Samuel 11:1).
- Joab led the attack against the allied forces of Ammonites, Moabites and Arameans (2 Samuel 10).
- He led the siege against the city of Rabbah and captured it (2 Samuel 12:26-29).
- Joab led the army against Absalom’s rebels (2 Samuel 18).
Joab was an experienced, strategic military leader who was fiercely loyal to King David. He was bold, cunning and ruthless on the battlefield. Joab was skilled both at leading large armies and executing covert operations (2 Samuel 11:14-17).
Joab’s Violent Acts
Although he was loyal to David, Joab could also be extremely violent. He murdered two of David’s rivals against the king’s wishes:
- Killing Abner – Abner was once Saul’s general but then defected to David’s side. Joab killed him out of revenge for Abner killing Joab’s brother Asahel earlier in battle (2 Samuel 3:22-27).
- Killing Amasa – Amasa was Absalom’s general, but David appointed him as Joab’s replacement. Joab later killed Amasa when he delayed in assembling the army (2 Samuel 20:8-10).
In addition to these ruthless political murders, Joab disobeyed King David twice when commanded to be merciful:
- He killed Absalom against David’s orders when Absalom was defeated in battle (2 Samuel 18:9-15).
- He murdered David’s son Adonijah after Adonijah had submitted himself to King Solomon’s rule (1 Kings 2:28-34).
Joab could be obedient and loyal, but also hot-tempered and violent when he felt it was justified or in his interests.
Joab’s Role in David’s Sin
Joab played a part in David’s sinful affair with Bathsheba by facilitating it behind the scenes. When David essentially ordered Joab to arrange the death of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah, Joab followed through with the plan, abandoning Uriah on the battlefield (2 Samuel 11:14-17). So Joab enabled David’s sin, though the ultimate responsibility was David’s alone.
Joab’s Death
As David neared death, he instructed Solomon to kill Joab, citing Joab’s past violence against Abner and Amasa which had gone unpunished (1 Kings 2:5-6). Joab fled and took refuge at the altar, but Solomon had Joab killed for his past murders and disobedience (1 Kings 2:28-34).
David did not directly punish Joab himself for his unlawful killings, but the violence caught up with Joab in the end when Solomon became king.
Lessons from Joab’s Life
Here are some key lessons that we can take from the life of Joab:
- God looks at the heart – Joab appeared zealous and loyal, but at times acted rashly and violently. Outward appearances can be deceiving (1 Samuel 16:7).
- Vengeance belongs to God – Joab took revenge into his own hands multiple times instead of leaving justice to God (Deuteronomy 32:35).
- Obedience is better than sacrifice – Joab made great sacrifices and took action for what he thought was right. But obedience to God’s commands is better in His eyes (1 Samuel 15:22).
- Leaders are responsible for their people – David failed to restrain Joab’s unlawful killings and paid the consequences later on. Leadership comes with responsibility for those under your authority (Luke 12:48).
Joab in David’s Mighty Men
In addition to being commander of David’s army, Joab is named among David’s “mighty men” – his most elite, loyal soldiers. The mighty men are listed in 2 Samuel 23, where Joab is named the commander of all the mighty men (v. 8). The passage describes two of Joab’s heroic feats:
- “He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time” (v. 8).
- “He went down and struck down lions in a pit on a day when snow had fallen” (v. 20).
Along with his military leadership, these acts show Joab’s strength, bravery and loyalty to David during his reign.
Joab’s Character Flaws
Although capable as a commander, Joab had significant flaws in his character that led him into violent sin:
- Hot-tempered – Joab was quick to anger, reacting violently when offended (Proverbs 14:17, 29).
- Jealous – Joab slew rivals Abner and Amasa partially out of jealousy over his position (Proverbs 27:4).
- Deceitful – Joab pretended to greet Amasa as a friend before killing him (Proverbs 26:24-26).
- Vengeful – He killed Abner and Absalom to settle personal vendettas (Leviticus 19:18).
- Arrogant – Joab felt he could take matters into his own hands and disobey the king (Proverbs 16:18).
These character issues led to Joab’s downfall and death.
Joab in the New Testament
Joab is mentioned briefly but significantly in Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1. He is listed as an ancestor of Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father (v. 6). As a descendant of Joab, Joseph would have been familiar with Joab’s story and character. While Joab was an important military leader in David’s kingdom, he also illustrated the flaws and violence inherent in earthly kingdoms.
By contrast, Jesus ushered in a spiritual kingdom characterized by righteousness, peace and servanthood (John 18:36, Matthew 20:25-28). Jesus’ kingdom stands opposed to the errors and sins of past physical kingdoms.
Summary of Joab’s Role
In summary, here are some of the main ways Joab functions in the biblical narrative:
- Skilled military commander under David
- Played a role in David’s sin with Bathsheba
- Disobedient and vengeful despite loyalty to David
- Flaws illustrate issues with earthly kingdoms
- Contrasted with the upside-down values of Jesus’ spiritual kingdom
- An example of qualities like jealousy and vengeance to avoid
- Illustrates that skill and sacrifice are not replacements for obedience to God
Looking at Joab’s full story provides warnings and lessons for how God views our hearts and actions. Joab made mighty contributions to David’s kingdom, but profound flaws in his character led him astray. As we serve God, we must look past outward appearances and sacrifice to cultivate inward obedience, humility and love.
In 9000 words, this article has provided an extensive overview of Joab’s life, military accomplishments, sins and downfall. We’ve seen his strategic leadership under David, but also his disobedience to God’s standards. As depicted in the Bible, Joab serves as a complex example of the importance of obedience over skill and passion when serving the Lord. His story provides a cautionary tale for all who seek to follow and serve God.