David: Joab

2ND SAMUEL 3:20-30 & 19:1-13 & 20:1-10 1ST KINGS 2:28-34

Joab was the nephew of David. He and his brothers, Abishai & Asahel served as military officers in the army of the king. We are not given scripture proof that Joab was a highly religious man, and he was likely a part of what we learned in Acts 7:38 was "the church in the wilderness".

He became a skillful military leader and counsel to David. He was the man who correctly warned David not to number the people as he understood nothing good would come from it ( 1 Chron 21: 1-3 ). To number the people meant that David was placing his trust in men and not in God. Many victories had been given by the Lord against

overwhelming numbers so the number of men was not a military factor as long as God was on their side.

Joab was an able field leader, and after he led the successful assault on the fortress at Mt. Zion, he was made commander of the army. He went on to lead victory in battles in Syria, Ammon, and Edom.

Joab was also known for his political cunning, which he used to reconcile David to his son, Absalom. In spite of his many attributes, he was not a man who sought God, and rather relied upon his own resources and himself.

Joab was also a man to seek revenge which he did after Asahel was killed by Abner, even though Abner warned Asahel not to pursue him. Joab's emotions seemed to stew in bitterness and resentment, finally resulting in murderous thoughts.

When David made peace with Abner, Joab was far more than angry at David, confronting David and then sending messengers to falsely tell Abner that David wanted him back in Hebron. Joab waited on Abner and killed him a few miles from Hebron. Joab had used the name of David to lure Abner back and he killed Abner with his own hand. This act was deceit & conspiracy.

Joab had also strongly disobeyed David when he killed Absalom after David had given direct orders not to do so. In the Lord's eyes, these actions were rebellion and willful stubborn disobedience.

Joab had also rebuked David for public mourning the death of Absalom. In one sense Joab was correct in that David did not seem to understand how such open weeping and mourning would negatively affect the troops who saw it. But on the other hand Joab missed the agony of David's grief over losing his son. So Joab gave some good counsel, but it was at times in a heartless and callous manner.

Joab was a "mixture" of good and not so good.

David came to the point where he could no longer trust Joab. But removing his nephew from his commander position was not easy. Joab had used his skill and political contacts to assure his own power base which was strong considering he was in full charge of the military portion of all of the nation. But eventually, David did remove him. This change did not sit well with Joab, especially when he learned his cousin, Amasa was his replacement (2nd Samuel 17:25 & 19:13).

When another rebellion erupted, and needed to be put down; Joab used the confusion and turmoil as an opportunity to return to power and he used treachery and deceit to kill Amasa and return to the commander's position himself (2nd Samuel 20:8-13 & 1 Kings 2:5). No one in the army offered to bring Joab to justice, reflecting how powerful he was inside the military itself.

Joab's power grab was short lived. As his death grew near, David advised his son Solomon, whom he chose to succeed him as king, not to waste any time dealing with Joab. His advice was strong and direct" ... let not his hoary head go down to the grave in peace ... " (1st Kings 2:5-6).

Joab knew Solomon would deal with him quickly and he was correct. Thinking he would be safe within the holy tabernacle, he fled there, thinking no one would execute him if he held on to the horns of God's sacred altar. He was wrong.

Without God's spirit in him, Joab had been convinced that his own talents and gifts were all he needed. He spent his life leaning upon himself, not the Lord. He selfishly felt that wealth and power were all he needed. Again, he was wrong. He chased things that do not matter, worldly things, and did not seek first the righteousness of the Lord.

It may be that Joab felt Solomon would grant him mercy at the holy altar, but what he overlooked was that Solomon had been advised by David to end the life of Joab AND that Solomon had God's own word on this matter:

"But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die ... " (Ex 21: 14).

Josephus writes in the Antiquities of the Jews that Solomon ordered Benaiah, the son of Jehoida, to slay Joab and remove his head, which was done and Joab was given the respect of being buried in his own land away from the city.

Review the good and the not-so-good events of the life of Joab:

GOOD:

When David fought against the Jubusites over the city of Jerusalem, Joab was the first to go forward into the battle, showing heroism.

David demonstrated his trust in Joab by placing him in command of wars while David stayed in Jerusalem.

When Hanun, the son Nahash, the Ammonite, deliberately provoked David, it was Joab David sent to deal with him. In this victorious battle Joab showed his military skill and won the acclaim ·of his soldiers.

Joab played the leading role in the defeat of the Edomites.

Despite his personal ambition, he showed strong loyalty to David by telling David to come and take command himself to allow all credit to go to the king.

Joab took the role of counselor to the king on political matters.

Joab took the lead in putting down several revolts inside the kingdom.

He found a way to bring Absalom back into David's house.

He showed courage by rebuking David when David displayed too much public grief over the loss of Absalom at the expense of not expressing thanks for the victory of his own troops.

NOT-SO-GOOD:

Joab killed Abner who had come to reconcile with David.

He killed Amasa who David had chosen to replace him.

He killed Absalom after David ordered him not to be.killed.

Joab sealed his own fate by taking the side of Adonijah against Solomon. David told Solomon to remove Joab (from life) and Solomon carried out this request with the order to kill Joab in the tabernacle: "... fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father". 1st Kings 2:31