Joab

One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and “captain of the host” during the whole of David’s reign (2 Sam. 2:13; 10:7; 11:1; 1 Kings 11:15). His father’s name is nowhere mentioned, although his sepulchre at Bethlehem is mentioned (2 Sam. 2:32). His two brothers were Abishai and Asahel, the swift of foot, who was killed by Abner (2 Sam. 2:13-32), whom Joab afterwards treacherously murdered (3:22-27). He afterwards led the assault at the storming of the fortress on Mount Zion, and for this service was raised to the rank of “prince of the king’s army” (2 Sam. 5:6-10; 1 Chr. 27:34). His chief military achievements were, (1) against the allied forces of Syria and Ammon; (2) against Edom (1 Kings 11:15, 16); and (3) against the Ammonites (2 Sam. 10:7-19; 11:1, 11). His character is deeply stained by the part he willingly took in the murder of Uriah (11:14-25). He acted apparently from a sense of duty in putting Absalom to death (18:1-14). David was unmindful of the many services Joab had rendered to him, and afterwards gave the command of the army to Amasa, Joab’s cousin (2 Sam. 20:1-13; 19:13). When David was dying Joab espoused the cause of Adonijah in preference to that of Solomon. He was afterwards slain by Benaiah, by the command of Solomon, in accordance with his father’s injunction (2 Sam. 3:29; 20:5-13), at the altar to which he had fled for refuge. Thus this hoary conspirator died without one to lift up a voice in his favour. He was buried in his own property in the “wilderness,” probably in the north-east of Jerusalem (1 Kings 2:5, 28-34). Benaiah succeeded him as commander-in-chief of the army.

People and places

Selected passages

Show passage in OET: SA2 2:13-17

OET-RV SA2 2:13

13 but Yoav (Joab) (Tseruyah’s son, traditionally called ‘Yoav’ in English) took some of David’s servants and went and confronted them at the Giveon pool—one group on each side of the pool.

OET-RV SA2 2:14

14 Then Avner said to Yoav, “Let’s get some of these young warriors to fight it out in front of us.”
¶ “Sounds good to me,” said Yoav.

OET-RV SA2 2:15

15 So they stood up and counted off twelve representing Benyamin and Sha’ul’s (Saul) son Ish -Boshet and twelve from David’s servants.

OET-RV SA2 2:16

16 Each of them grabbed his opponent’s head and then thrust his sword into his side, so they both fell down dead together. So that place in Giveon was named ‘Helkat-Hatsurim’ (meaning ‘Field of Daggers’).

OET-RV SA2 2:17

17 That led on to a very intense battle that day, but Avner and the Israeli men were defeated by David’s servants.

OET-LV SA2 2:13

13 And_Yōʼāⱱ/(Joab) the _son _of Tsərū^yāh/(Zeruiah) and_the _servants _of Dāvid they _went _out and_they_met _them at the _pool _of Giⱱˊōn together and_ these_men _they _lived at the_pool from_this and_these at the_pool from_this.

OET-LV SA2 2:14

14 And_ ʼAⱱnēr _he/it _said to Yōʼāⱱ let _them _arise please the _young_men and_let _them _play before_us and_ Yōʼāⱱ _he/it _said let _them _arise.

OET-LV SA2 2:15

15 And_they _arose and_they _passed _by by_number two _plus ten for_Binyāmīn and_for_Ish- boshet the _son _of Shāʼūl and_two _plus ten of_the _servants _of of _Dāvid.

OET-LV SA2 2:16

16 And_they _took _hold each on_the _head _of his/its_neighbour and_sword _of_his was_in_the _side _of his/its_neighbour and_they _fell together and_he/it _called (to)_place (the)_that Helkath Hazzurim which is_in_Giⱱˊōn.

OET-LV SA2 2:17

17 And_it _became the_battle severe up _to muchness in _the_day (the)_that and_ ʼAⱱnēr and_the _men _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _he _was _defeated to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the _servants _of Dāvid.

Show passage in OET: SA2 18:9-15

OET-RV SA2 18:9

9 Avshalom happened to meet some of David’s men. He was riding his mule, and when it darted under the think branches of a large terebinth tree, his head got caught in the branches and he was left hanging in the air as the mule kept going.

OET-RV SA2 18:10

10 Someone noticed him and informed Yoav that he’d seen Avshalom hanging in a tree.

OET-RV SA2 18:11

11 “What!. You saw him but didn’t strike him down?” Yoav challenged. “I would have given you ten silver coins and a leather belt.”

OET-RV SA2 18:12

12 “Even if you’d placed one thousand silver coins in my hands,” he replied, “I wouldn’t have harmed the king’s son, because we heard the king’s command with our own ears about looking out for Avshalom.

OET-RV SA2 18:13

13 Even if I’d ignored my good sense, the king would have found out about it, then even you wouldn’t have stood up for me.”

OET-RV SA2 18:14