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Joab: David's Ruthless Commander
Joab: David's Ruthless Commander
Among the many powerful figures in King David's court, few stand out as starkly as Joab, the son of Zeruiah. As David's nephew and the long-serving commander of Israel's army, Joab was an indispensable asset, a master of strategy, and a formidable warrior. Yet, his story is irrevocably stained by acts of calculated ruthlessness, deceit, and violence that often transcended the bounds of justice and even David's own commands. His life presents a complex paradox: a fiercely loyal servant who secured David's throne, yet a man whose ambition and willingness to shed blood ultimately sealed his own fate.
The Rise of a Warrior
Joab's prominence began early in David's reign. After the death of King Saul, Israel was divided, with David reigning in Hebron over Judah and Saul's son Ish-bosheth ruling over the rest of Israel. During this period of civil war, Joab distinguished himself as a military leader. He, along with his brothers Abishai and Asahel, were known as mighty men. It was Joab's military prowess that likely secured his position as commander. When David sought to capture the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem, Joab led the charge:
And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.
This daring act cemented Joab's position as David's chief commander, a role he would hold for decades, leading Israel's armies to numerous victories and expanding the kingdom's borders.
Calculated Vengeance: The Murder of Abner
Joab's ruthlessness first became evident in the murder of Abner, Saul's former commander. Abner had killed Joab's brother Asahel in self-defense during a skirmish at Gibeon (2 Samuel 2:23). Later, Abner sought to make peace with David and unite all Israel under his rule. David welcomed Abner, seeing the strategic advantage of such an alliance. However, Joab saw both a personal slight and a potential political threat. After Abner had departed from David:
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there in the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
This act was a grave transgression against David's will and a breach of hospitality. David publicly mourned Abner and cursed Joab, stating, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner" (2 Samuel 3:28). Joab's motivation was a blend of personal vengeance and a shrewd calculation to eliminate a rival who might challenge his authority or influence with David.
Maintaining Power: The Treachery Against Amasa
Joab's willingness to eliminate rivals became even more apparent during Absalom's rebellion. After Absalom's defeat, David, in an attempt to reconcile with the northern tribes and perhaps to diminish Joab's excessive power, appointed Amasa, another of his nephews, as the new commander of the army (2 Samuel 19:13). This was a direct slight to Joab, who had faithfully served David throughout the rebellion, albeit in his own brutal way. When a new rebellion arose under Sheba, David sent Amasa to gather an army, but Amasa was slow. Joab, ever the pragmatist, was sent in his stead. He found Amasa:
And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
This cold-blooded murder, executed under the guise of a greeting, revealed Joab's deep-seated ambition and his readiness to use any means necessary to secure his position. It was a clear message that Joab would not tolerate any challenge to his authority as the supreme commander.
Defiance and Pragmatism: The Killing of Absalom
Perhaps Joab's most famous act of defiance against David was the killing of Absalom. Before the decisive battle, David had given clear instructions to his commanders: "Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom" (2 Samuel 18:5). However, when Absalom was found caught in an oak tree, Joab disregarded David's command:
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
From a purely military and political standpoint, Joab's action was decisive. Absalom was a charismatic leader who had caused immense turmoil and threatened the stability of David's kingdom. Allowing him to live, in Joab's eyes, would have been a perpetual threat. He understood that David's emotional weakness for his son would compromise the kingdom's security. While disobedient, this act showcased Joab's pragmatic and unflinching resolve, even if it meant incurring David's wrath. Later, Joab had to confront David's excessive grief, urging him to show himself to his victorious army and prevent their desertion (2 Samuel 19:5-8). This demonstrates Joab's understanding of leadership and the practicalities of maintaining power, even when David was emotionally compromised.
A Complex Loyalty
Despite his ruthless methods, Joab was undeniably loyal to David's throne and the kingdom of Israel. His actions, however violent, were almost always aimed at strengthening David's rule or protecting the realm from internal or external threats. He was David's blunt instrument, often doing the dirty work that David himself could not or would not do. He also possessed a sharp political mind, as seen in his counsel to David regarding Absalom's death. Furthermore, when David was tempted to number Israel, an act that displeased the Lord, Joab expressed his reservations:
But Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.
This shows a rare moment of Joab's caution and perhaps a recognition of divine displeasure, even though he ultimately obeyed David's command.
The Final Disloyalty and Downfall
Joab's long and bloody career finally came to an end with an act of disloyalty that he could not recover from. As David neared his death, a succession crisis arose. Adonijah, David's son, declared himself king, and Joab, along with Abiathar the priest, sided with him (1 Kings 1:7). This was a critical miscalculation, as David had already designated Solomon as his successor. Perhaps Joab felt his influence waning under David and sought to secure his position under a new, more malleable king, or perhaps he genuinely believed Adonijah was the rightful heir by birthright. However, when Solomon was firmly established on the throne, David, remembering Joab's past deeds, gave Solomon a charge:
Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
Solomon, in his wisdom, acted decisively. When Joab heard that Solomon had executed Adonijah, he fled to the tabernacle and sought refuge at the horns of the altar. However, even this sacred sanctuary could not save him. Solomon sent Benaiah to execute him:
So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him, and buried him in his own house in the wilderness.
Thus, Joab, the ruthless commander who had lived by the sword, died by the sword, a fitting end for a man whose life was defined by violence.
Conclusion
Joab's legacy is a testament to the complex interplay of loyalty, ambition, and the corrupting influence of power. He was an incredibly effective military leader, indispensable to David's kingdom, yet his actions were often morally reprehensible. He served God's anointed king, but his methods frequently violated God's law. His story reminds us that while God can use imperfect vessels to accomplish His purposes, personal accountability for sin remains. Joab's life is a cautionary tale, illustrating that even fierce loyalty and military success cannot atone for a pattern of ruthless violence and defiance against both human and divine authority. His end, at the command of the very dynasty he had so fiercely protected, underscores the biblical principle that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).
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