Holy Bible Online 
Joab was the nephew of King David and the son of Zeruiah. He was the commander of Israel’s army. Brave and strategic, he stood out in decisive battles such as the conquest of Jerusalem. However, his ambition and disobedience, shown in the killings of Abner and Absalom, stained his legacy. He represents the tension of military loyalty when confronted with divine and royal authority.
The story of Joab is intertwined with the reign of King David. He was the son of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and therefore David’s nephew. From a young age, Joab showed courage and leadership. When David became king, Joab was chosen to command Israel’s army.
His first great achievement was the capture of Jerusalem, when he led the soldiers and became the king’s chief commander. Joab was a skilled warrior and often loyal to David, helping to strengthen the kingdom and defeat powerful enemies.
However, Joab was also impulsive and often acted on his own. He killed Abner, another general, out of vengeance and suspicion, even without David’s approval. Later, when David’s son Absalom rebelled against his father, Joab helped David regain the throne but killed Absalom, disobeying the king’s order to spare him.
Afterward, when Adonijah attempted to claim the throne instead of Solomon, Joab supported the rebellion. This sealed his fate. When Solomon took the throne, he ordered Joab’s execution for his crimes and acts of betrayal.
The story of Joab shows a man who was courageous and loyal in many moments, but also violent and disobedient. He was essential to David’s military success, but his impulsive actions and desire for power eventually led to his death and stained his legacy.
Bible Study on Joab
Joab and David: Conflicted Loyalty
The relationship between David and Joab was marked by loyalty, power, and conflict. Joab fought bravely in David’s wars, protected the throne, and helped strengthen the kingdom. His courage and military skill made him indispensable to David, especially during times of crisis and rebellion.
However, this loyalty was complicated. Joab did not always obey David’s orders. He acted according to his own judgment, often with violence. He killed Abner out of vengeance and killed Absalom in direct disobedience to the king. His actions showed a loyalty aimed more at maintaining the stability of the kingdom than following David’s personal wishes.
David, in turn, depended on Joab’s power and strength but feared his boldness and lack of restraint. This tension between royal authority and military power created a relationship filled with both respect and distrust.
In the end, Joab was executed by order of Solomon, fulfilling the judgment that David had left behind. His story reveals the conflict between duty and submission, between the loyal warrior and the servant who goes beyond the limits set by the king.
Joab Kills Abner
Abner was the commander of Saul’s army, the former king of Israel. After Saul’s death, he supported Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, as king, while David ruled in Judah. Over time, Abner had a disagreement with Ish-bosheth and decided to support David instead, promising to unite all Israel under David’s rule. David accepted the alliance and let Abner leave in peace after a friendly meeting.
However, Joab, the commander of David’s army, became furious when he heard that Abner had been in Hebron. He distrusted Abner’s intentions and also wanted revenge, because Abner had killed his brother Asahel in an earlier battle.
Pretending that he wanted a private conversation, Joab called Abner back to the city. When they met at the gate of Hebron, a place where killing was forbidden, Joab stabbed him in the stomach and killed him.
David was deeply grieved by the crime and made it clear that he did not approve of the act, publicly mourning Abner’s death. The murder left a stain on Joab’s leadership and revealed his impulsive and vengeful character.
Joab Kills Absalom Against David’s Will
When Absalom, David’s son, rebelled against his father to take the throne, a war broke out between his followers and David’s soldiers. Before the battle, David gave a clear order to his commanders, especially Joab, that they should treat Absalom gently and spare his life, even though he was an enemy.
During the battle in the forest of Ephraim, Absalom fled on a mule, but his long hair became caught in the branches of a large oak tree. The mule kept running, and he was left hanging in midair, helpless. A soldier saw what happened and reported it to Joab, but refused to kill Absalom because he feared the king’s command.
Joab, impatient and determined to end the conflict, went to the place himself. Ignoring David’s order, he took three javelins and thrust them into Absalom’s heart. Other soldiers then surrounded Absalom and finished killing him.
When David heard about his son’s death, he wept bitterly. He mourned not only the loss itself, but also Joab’s disobedience. Although Joab had been loyal to the kingdom, he ignored the heart of the king in favor of military victory.
Learn more about the story of Absalom.
How Joab Died
The death of Joab is recorded in 1 Kings 2:28–34. After David died, his son Solomon became king. Before his death, David instructed Solomon to bring justice against Joab and reminded him that Joab had shed innocent blood by killing Abner and Amasa without the king’s permission.
When Joab heard that Adonijah, another son of David, had been killed for trying to seize the throne, he feared for his own life. He fled to the tabernacle of the Lord and grabbed the horns of the altar, seeking sacred refuge. However, King Solomon sent Benaiah, the captain of his guard, to execute him.
Even inside the sanctuary, Joab refused to leave and declared that he would rather die there. Benaiah then killed him according to the king’s command. In this way, Joab died because of his rebellion and violence, ending a life marked by loyalty mixed with betrayal and bloodshed.
What We Can Learn From Joab’s Life
The life of Joab teaches important lessons about loyalty, obedience, and character. He was a courageous man, a strategist, and loyal to King David in many moments. His strength and leadership were essential for Israel’s victories, showing that God can use people with great abilities to accomplish His purposes. However, Joab also represents the danger of disobedience and ambition.
Even though he was loyal to David, he often acted according to his own will, ignoring the king’s commands and using violence to solve conflicts. His actions against Abner, Absalom, and Amasa reveal a heart driven by vengeance and pride. This shows that partial obedience does not please God. Serving with strength but without humility can lead to downfall.
In the end, Joab reaped the consequences of his actions. His death shows that no position of power or military success can protect someone from divine justice. The story of Joab reminds us that true loyalty requires submission and that courage only has value when it is guided by obedience, faith, and the fear of God.
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