Joab

How Nave’s arranged it

• 1. Son of David's sister1 Chronicles 2:16
• Commander of David's army2 Samuel 8:162 Samuel 20:231 Chronicles 11:61 Chronicles 18:151 Chronicles 27:34
• Dedicated the plunder of his battles1 Chronicles 26:28
• Defeated the Jebusites1 Chronicles 11:6
• Defeats and kills Abner2 Samuel 2:13–322 Samuel 3:271 Kings 2:5
• Destroys all the males in Edom1 Kings 11:16
• (See title)Psalms 60
• Defeats the Ammonites2 Samuel 10:7–141 Chronicles 19:6–15
• Captures Rabbah2 Samuel 11:12 Samuel 11:15–252 Samuel 12:26–291 Chronicles 20:11 Chronicles 20:2
• Procures the return of Absalom to Jerusalem2 Samuel 14:1–24
• Barley field of, burned by Absalom2 Samuel 14:29–33
• Pursues and kills Absalom2 Samuel 18

The passages, in Bible order (42)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. 2 Samuel 2:13–32

   So Joab son of Zeruiah, along with the servants of David, marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two camps took up positions on opposite sides of the pool.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 2:13–321 voice

   “On the east of the hill (El-jib, the ancient Gibeon) is a copious spring, which issues in a cave excavated in the limestone rock, so as to form a large reservoir. In the trees further down are the remains of a pool or tank of considerable size (120 feet by 110 feet). This is doubtless “the pool of Gibeon.” Sat down - i. e. halted and encamped.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 2:13–32→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. 2 Samuel 3:27

   When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 3:272 voices

   “And smote him there - Joab feared that, after having rendered such essential services to David, Abner would be made captain of the host: he therefore determined to prevent it by murdering the man, under pretense of avenging the death of his brother Asahel. The murder, however, was one of the most unprovoked and wicked: and such was the power and influence of this nefarious general, that the king dared not to bring him to justice for his crime. In the same way he murdered Amasa, a little time afterwards. See 2Sa 20:

   “To these considerations was added the remembrance of the blood feud that existed between them since the death of his brother Asahel (2Sa 2:23).

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 3:27→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 2 Samuel 8:16

   Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 8:162 voices

   “Joab . . . was over the host--by virtue of a special promise (2Sa 5:8). recorder--historiographer or daily annalist, an office of great trust and importance in Eastern countries.

   “Joab - was over the host - General and commander-in-chief over all the army. Ahilud - recorder - מזכיר mazkir, remembrancer; one who kept a strict journal of all the proceedings of the king and operations of his army; a chronicler. Or, remembrancer, or, writer of chronicles.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 8:16→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. 2 Samuel 10:7–14

   On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 10:7–142 voices

   “And when David heard of it,.... Of the preparation made by the Ammonites to fight with him: he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men: he sent out Joab his general, and an army under his command, consisting of men of strength, valour, and courage; or all the host and the mighty men, as Kimchi and Ben Melech, the famous mighty men mentioned in 2Sa 23:8; he did not think it advisable to wait for the Ammonites, but carried the war into their own country, and, instead of suffering them to invade his dominions, he invaded theirs.

   “Those that are at war with the Son of David not only give the provocation, but begin the war; for he waits to be gracious, but they strengthen themselves against him, and therefore, if they turn not, he will whet his sword, Ps. vii.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 10:7–14→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. 2 Samuel 11:1

   In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, David sent out Joab and his servants with the whole army of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 11:12 voices

   “After - When that year ended, and the next begun, which was in the spring time. When kings - Which is, when the ground is fit for the march of soldiers, and brings forth provision for man and beast.

   “This metropolis of the Ammonites was situated in the mountainous tract of Gilead, not far from the source of the Arnon. Extensive ruins are still found on its site.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 11:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. 2 Samuel 11:15–25

   In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 11:15–252 voices

   “He arose - So far is David from repenting, that he seeks to cover one sin with another. How are the beginnings of sin to be dreaded! For who knows where it will end?

   “Thus David, who in the judgment of Him who chose him was well pleasing to Him in almost all his deeds, as soon as the weight of pressure was removed, broke out into a swelling sore, and, having been as a laxly running one in his appetite for the woman, became as a cruelly hard one in the slaughter of the man; and he who had before known pitifully how to spare the bad learnt afterwards, without impediment of hesitation, to pant even for the death of the good.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 11:15–25→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. 2 Samuel 12:26–29

   Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 12:26–292 voices

   “Joab fought against Rabbah--The time during which this siege lasted, since the intercourse with Bath-sheba, and the birth of at least one child, if not two, occurred during the progress of it, probably extended over two years.

   “And took the royal city - How can this be, when Joab sent to David to come to take the city, in consequence of which David did come and take that city? The explanation seems to be this: Rabbah was composed of a city and citadel; the former, in which was the king’s residence, Joab had taken, and supposed he could soon render himself master of the latter, and therefore sends to David to come and take it, lest, he taking the whole, the city should be called after his name.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 12:26–29→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. 2 Samuel 14:1–24

   Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart longed for Absalom.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:1–242 voices

   “Was towards - He desired to see him, but was ashamed to shew kindness to one whom God's law and his own conscience obliged him to punish; he wanted therefore a fair pretense, which therefore Joab gave him.

   “As one who was himself a delinquent, by the murder of Abner. He was conscious to himself of the guilt of blood, and that he was himself obnoxious to public justice, and therefore whatever favour he could procure to be shown to Absalom would corroborate his reprieve.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 14:1–24→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 2 Samuel 14:29–33

   Then he sent for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So Absalom sent a second time, but Joab still would not come.

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 2 Samuel 17:25

    Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:252 voices

    “Amasa--By the genealogy it appears that this captain stood in the same relation to David as Joab, both being his nephews. Of course, Amasa was Absalom's cousin, and though himself an Israelite, his father was an Ishmaelite (1Ch 2:17). Nahash--is thought by some to be another name of Jesse, or according to others, the name of Jesse's wife.

    “Ithra an Israelite - Or “Jether the Ishmeelite” 1Ch 2:17. “Ithra” and “Jether” are practically the same names. “Israelite” in the text is wrong. It should be either “Ishmaelite” or “Jezreelite” 2Sa 3:2. Abigail the daughter of Nahash - If Zeruiah and Abigail were Jesse’s daughters, the only probable way of reconciling our text with 1Ch 2:16-17, is to suppose that Nahash was Jesse’s wife. If Zeruiah and Abigail were only sisters of David by the mother, then Nahash might be the name of her first husband.

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 17:25→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 2 Samuel 18:1

    Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands.

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:11 voice

    “And set captains of thousands - By this time David’s small company was greatly recruited; but what its number was we cannot tell. Josephus says it amounted to four thousand men. Others have supposed that they amounted to ten thousand; for thus they understand a clause in 2Sa 18:3, which they think should be read, We are now ten thousand strong.

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 18:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. 2 Samuel 19:1–8

    Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”

    Verse page →Original language →

13. 2 Samuel 19:13

    And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’”

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 19:131 voice

    “Of my bone ... - Render as in preceding verse, “art thou not my bone and my flesh?” It is curious to note how the phrase is used in 2Sa 5:1 of common descent from Israel, in 2Sa 19:12 of the closer kindred of the tribe of Judah, and in this verse of the yet nearer kindred between David and Amasa his sister’s son. Captain ... in the room of Joab - It is very plain that David felt the weight of Joab’s overbearing influence to be very oppressive (compare 2Sa 19:22; 2Sa 3:39; 2Sa 16:10).

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 19:13→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 2 Samuel 20:8–13

    And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa joined them. Now Joab was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt. And as he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:8–132 voices

    “Girded - After the manner of travelers and soldiers. Went forth - To meet and salute Amasa, who was coming towards him to do him honour. It fell - Things having (it is likely) been so contrived by Joab, that upon the least motion of his body, his sword should drop out, and he might take it up without raising Amasa's suspicion.

    “Joab’s garment - It appears that this was not a military garment; and that Joab had no arms but a short sword, which he had concealed in his girdle; and this sword, or knife, was so loose in its sheath that it could be easily drawn out.

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 20:8–13→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. 2 Samuel 20:16–22

    a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:16–221 voice

    “Then cried a wise woman - It seems none of all the men of Abel, offered to treat with Joab: no, not when they were reduced to extremity: but one wise woman saved the city. Souls know no difference of sex: many a manly heart is lodged in a female breast. Nor is the treasure of wisdom the less valuable, for being lodged in the weaker vessel.

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 20:16–22→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. 2 Samuel 20:23

    Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 20:232 voices

    “Now Joab was over all the host of Israel--David, whatever his private wishes, found that he possessed not the power of removing Joab; so winking at the murder of Amasa, he re-established that officer in his former post of commander-in-chief. The enumeration of David's cabinet is here given to show that the government was re-established in its wonted course.

    “Now Joab ... - This is by no means an unmeaning repetition. Joab had been dismissed to make room for Amasa, and was now, as the result of his successful expedition against Sheba, and the death of Amasa, reinstated in his command. Moreover, this was a fresh beginning of David’s reign, and therefore a statement of his chief officers is as proper as in 2Sa 8:16, when he had just established himself on the throne of Israel. Compare 1Ki 4:2-6.

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 20:23→

    Verse page →Original language →