King James Bible Dictionary

Jehovah is his father.

1. One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David's sister, and "captain of the host" during the whole of David's reign (2 Samuel 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 Samuel 2:32). His two brothers were Abishai and Asahel, the swift of foot, who was killed by Abner (2 Samuel 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 Samuel 5:6-10; 1 Chronicles 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 Samuel 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 Samuel 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 Samuel 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.

2. 1 Chronicles 4:14.

3. Ezra 2:6.

paternity; voluntary

1. Son of David's sister

General references
1 Chronicles 2:16

Commander of David's army
2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Samuel 20:23; 1 Chronicles 11:6; 1 Chronicles 18:15; 1 Chronicles 27:34

Dedicated spoils of his battles
1 Chronicles 26:28

Defeated the Jebusites
1 Chronicles 11:6

Defeats and slays Abner
2 Samuel 2:13-32; 2 Samuel 3:27; 1 Kings 2:5

Destroys all the males in Edom
1 Kings 11:16; Psalms 60:1

Defeats the Ammonites
2 Samuel 10:7-14; 1 Chronicles 19:6-15

Captures Rabbah
2 Samuel 11:1; 2 Samuel 11:15-25; 2 Samuel 12:26-29; 1 Chronicles 20:1-2

Procures the return of Absalom to Jerusalem
2 Samuel 14:1-24

Barley field of, burned by Absalom
2 Samuel 14:29-33

Pursues and kills Absalom
2 Samuel 10:18

Censures David for lamenting the death of Absalom
2 Samuel 19:1-8

Replaced by Amasa as commander of David's army
2 Samuel 17:25; 2 Samuel 19:13

Kills Amasa
2 Samuel 20:8-13; 1 Kings 2:5

Causes Sheba to be put to death
2 Samuel 20:16-22

Opposes the numbering of the people
2 Samuel 24:3; 1 Chronicles 21:3

Numbers the people
2 Samuel 24:4-9; 1 Chronicles 21:4-5; 1 Chronicles 27:23-24

Supports Adonijah as successor to David
1 Kings 1:7; 1 Kings 2:28

Slain by Benaiah, under Solomon's order
1 Kings 2:29-34

2. A grandson of Kenaz
1 Chronicles 4:14

3. An Israelite (or the name of two Israelites) whose descendants returned from Babylon to Jerusalem
Ezra 2:6; Ezra 8:9; Nehemiah 7:11

4. House of Joab, probably identical with Joab, 1 above
1 Chronicles 2:54

(whose father is Jehovah), the most remarkable of the three nephews of David, the children of Zeruiah, David's sister. (B.C. 1053-1012.) Joab first appears after David's accession to the throne at Hebron. Abner slew in battle Asahel, the youngest brother of Joab; and when David afterward received Abner into favor, Joab treacherously murdered him. [ABNER] There was now no rival left in the way of Joab's advancement, and at the siege of Jebus he was appointed for his prowess commander-in-chief

"captain of the host." In the wide range of wars which David undertook, Joab was the acting general. He was called by the almost regal title of "lord," (2 Samuel 11:11) "the prince of the king's army." (1 Chronicles 27:34) In the entangled relations which grew up in David's domestic life he bore an important part, successfully reinstating Absalom in David's favor after the murder of Amnon. (2 Samuel 14:1-20) When the relations between father and son were reversed by the revolt of Absalom, Joab remained true to the king, taking the rebel prince's dangerous life in spite of David's injunction to spare him, and when no one else had courage to act so decisive a part. (2 Samuel 18:2,11-15) (B.C. 1023). The king transferred the command to Amasa, which so enraged Joab that he adroitly assassinated Amasa when pretending to welcome him as a friend. (2 Samuel 20:10) Friendly relations between himself and David seem to have existed afterward, (2 Samuel 24:2) but at the close of his long life, his loyalty, so long unshaken, at last wavered. "Though he had not turned after Absalom, he turned after Adonijah." (1 Kings 2:28) This probably filled up the measure of the king's long-cherished resentment. The revival of the pretensions of Adonijah after David's death was sufficient to awaken the suspicions of Solomon. Joab fled to the shelter of the altar at Gibeon, and was here slain by Benaiah. (B.C. about 1012.)

1. One of Kenaz's descendants. (1 Chronicles 4:14)
2. (Ezra 2:6; 8:9; Nehemiah 7:11)