Theodidacti

A Character Study of Joab

Joab was the brother of Abishai and Asahel, and the son of Zeruiah. More distinctively, he was King David’s nephew. Joab’s name means “the Lord is Father.” But that was where the divine family connection ended; the rest was loyalty to David’s family. Early in 2 Samuel a competition arose between Joab, a leader in David’s army and Abner, a leader in Ishbosheth’s (son of King Saul) army. The contest between their soldiers turned into a furious battle and ended in deaths. The rivalry did not end there even though Abner eventually (and especially because) came to David’s camp.

Joab was a company man—he did what it took to advance his superior’s cause and to rise in the ranks. Becoming the top military man and resorting to murder would not be surprising developments in the life of Joab. We are not disappointed in either case. Eventually becoming commander of David’s army (2Sa 8:16; 20:23), he also ended up murdering Abner. This was probably done out of jealousy and a fear of Abner’s rising favor with David, though he blamed it on Abner’s having killed his brother, Abishai, an act of self-defense. Abner might well have become commander of David’s armies; Joab could not leave that prospect linger. He also had his men execute Absolom, David’s son and usurper to the throne. This was performed against David’s wishes. In fact, David asked Joab to “deal gently” (2Sa 18:5) with Absolom. Yet when Absolom was found defenseless, hanging in a terebinth tree, Joab used not one, but three spears, to finish Absolom’s life. Perhaps Joab did this more in repayment of Absolom once having burned his barley field (2Sa 14:30) than in loyalty to David. He also helped with David’s murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. At David’s bidding, Joab, Uriah’s commander, had him sent to the front lines of battle to die so that David would get the girl and be off the hook for getting her pregnant. Despite his discreet assistance, David eventually replaced Joab as commander with another of his nephews, Amasa. Joab slew him too. No one got in Joab’s way—except Joab.

The old saying goes, “Those who live by the sword will die by the sword” and it was never truer than in Joab’s case. When Solomon was rising to his father’s throne, David gave him the advice to kill Joab because of his dark, murderous past. Having him in the wings in Solomon’s new kingdom could prove devastating for the Davidic throne. Solomon took his father’s advice and had Joab eliminated in the Temple, of all places (as he became a sort of family sacrifice). In this latest segment of the story David was protecting his son and throne from someone whom he had schooled and who was devoted to the kingship of David. It might have been assumed he would also be loyal to Solomon but a family cannot take such chances. Indeed, David had once said that Abner’s death would fall upon the head of Joab one day (2Sa 3:29). It was not so much prophetic as a promise since David chose the day.

David’s advice to kill Joab might have been wise even if Joab could have been trusted. Killers lead other killers. After spearing the heart of Absolom three times, ten of Joab’s cronies stepped up to kill the prince too. Certainly Absolom was already dead, or at least moments from the end. Why strike him ten times over when the deed was done except for the pure, murderous passion? These were the kind of men Joab led and mentored. These men would now be in Solomon’s court and if they had eagerly killed one prince, what was one more?

It may be argued that Joab was just a loyal servant to David and his family. A case might also be made that Joab was a man who was in actuality loyal to self and used the king to advance his own causes. Abner was a threat that Joab snuffed out. Absolom had once offended and humiliated Joab but Joab dealt the final offense in a shameful way (Deu 21:23). Without question, Amasa was the king’s choice for a new general. Therefore, it was not loyalty to David that eliminated Joab’s cousin; it was Joab’s loyalty to Joab. Joab did not perform these dark deeds simply for king or kingdom; he also carried them out for his own advancement in that royal family.