Joab (son of Zeruiah)
David's commander-in-chief
Joab was David's nephew and his commander-in-chief for most of his reign. He was a brilliant but ruthless military strategist who won many victories for Israel, but also committed several brutal murders that ultimately led to his downfall.
Family
Key events
The Conquest of Jerusalem
Joab led the attack on Jerusalem through the water shafts and thus became David's commander-in-chief.
6David had said, "Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall become chief and commander." Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he became chief.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔יד כָּל־מַכֵּ֤ה יְבוּסִי֙ בָּרִ֣אשׁוֹנָ֔ה יִהְיֶ֥ה לְרֹ֖אשׁ וּלְשָׂ֑ר וַיַּ֧עַל בָּרִאשׁוֹנָ֛ה יוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֖ה וַיְהִ֥י לְרֹֽאשׁ׃
The Murder of Abner
Joab killed Abner, Saul's former army commander, at the gate of Hebron to avenge his brother Asael's death, even though David had granted Abner safe passage.
27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the gateway as though to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, and he died—in revenge for the blood of Joab's brother Asahel.
וַיָּ֤שָׁב אַבְנֵר֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וַיַּטֵּ֤הוּ יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַשַּׁ֔עַר לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּשֶּׁ֑לִי וַיַּכֵּ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ הַחֹ֔מֶשׁ וַיָּ֕מָת בְּדַ֖ם עֲשָׂה־אֵ֥ל אָחִֽיו׃
28Later, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD of the blood of Abner son of Ner.
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע דָּוִד֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָקִ֨י אָנֹכִ֧י וּמַמְלַכְתִּ֛י מֵעִ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם מִדְּמֵ֖י אַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן־נֵֽר׃
29May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house! May the house of Joab never be without someone with a running sore or a skin disease, or a man who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food."
יָחֻ֙לוּ֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ יוֹאָ֔ב וְאֶ֖ל כָּל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יו וְֽאַל־יִכָּרֵ֣ת מִבֵּ֣ית יוֹאָ֡ב זָ֠ב וּמְצֹרָ֞ע וּמַחֲזִ֥יק בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ וְנֹפֵ֥ל בַּחֶ֖רֶב וַחֲסַר־לָֽחֶם׃
30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
וְיוֹאָב֙ וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י אָחִ֔יו הָרְג֖וּ לְאַבְנֵ֑ר עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵמִ֜ית אֶת־עֲשָׂה־אֵ֧ל אֲחִיהֶ֛ם בְּגִבְע֖וֹן בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ פ
The Death of Uriah
At David's command, Joab ensured that Uriah was placed in the most dangerous part of the battle, which led to his death.
14In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.
וַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּכְתֹּ֥ב דָּוִ֛ד סֵ֖פֶר אֶל־יוֹאָ֑ב וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח בְּיַ֥ד אוּרִיָּֽה׃
15In the letter he wrote: "Put Uriah at the front, where the fighting is fiercest, then pull back from him so that he is struck down and dies."
וַיִּכְתֹּ֥ב בַּסֵּ֖פֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר הָב֣וּ אֶת־אֽוּרִיָּ֗ה אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֤י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ הַֽחֲזָקָ֔ה וְשַׁבְתֶּ֥ם מֵאַחֲרָ֖יו וְנִכָּ֥ה וָמֵֽת׃ ס
16So as Joab kept watch on the city, he stationed Uriah at the place where he knew the strongest defenders were.
וַיְהִ֕י בִּשְׁמ֥וֹר יוֹאָ֖ב אֶל־הָעִ֑יר וַיִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־א֣וּרִיָּ֔ה אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָדַ֔ע כִּ֥י אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֖יִל שָֽׁם׃
17The men of the city came out and fought against Joab, and some of the troops, David's own servants, fell. Uriah the Hittite also died.
וַיֵּ֨צְא֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הָעִיר֙ וַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּ אֶת־יוֹאָ֔ב וַיִּפֹּ֥ל מִן־הָעָ֖ם מֵעַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד וַיָּ֕מָת גַּ֖ם אוּרִיָּ֥ה הַחִתִּֽי׃
The Murder of Absalom
Joab killed Absalom when he was caught hanging from a tree during the rebellion, despite David's explicit order to spare him.
14Joab said, "I will not waste time with you like this." He took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the heart of the oak.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֔ב לֹא־כֵ֖ן אֹחִ֣ילָה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַיִּקַּח֩ שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה שְׁבָטִ֜ים בְּכַפּ֗וֹ וַיִּתְקָעֵם֙ בְּלֵ֣ב אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ חַ֖י בְּלֵ֥ב הָאֵלָֽה׃
15Then ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
וַיָּסֹ֙בּוּ֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה נְעָרִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י כְּלֵ֣י יוֹאָ֑ב וַיַּכּ֥וּ אֶת־אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם וַיְמִיתֻֽהוּ׃
The Murder of Amasa
Joab killed his cousin Amasa, whom David had appointed to replace him as army commander, by stabbing him with a sword while greeting him.
9Joab said to Amasa, "Are you well, my brother?" And with his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa's beard to kiss him.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַעֲמָשָׂ֔א הֲשָׁל֥וֹם אַתָּ֖ה אָחִ֑י וַתֹּ֜חֶז יַד־יְמִ֥ין יוֹאָ֛ב בִּזְקַ֥ן עֲמָשָׂ֖א לִנְשָׁק־לֽוֹ׃
10Amasa was not on guard against the sword in Joab's hand, and Joab struck him in the belly with it, spilling his entrails on the ground. He needed no second blow, and Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.
וַעֲמָשָׂ֨א לֹֽא־נִשְׁמַ֜ר בַּחֶ֣רֶב ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיַד־יוֹאָ֗ב וַיַּכֵּהוּ֩ בָ֨הּ אֶל־הַחֹ֜מֶשׁ וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ מֵעָ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וְלֹא־שָׁ֥נָה ל֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת ס וְיוֹאָב֙ וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י אָחִ֔יו רָדַ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִֽי׃
Support for Adonijah and Execution
Joab supported Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne instead of Solomon. After David's death, Solomon ordered Joab to be executed at the altar where he had sought refuge.
28When the news reached Joab—who had sided with Adonijah, though he had not sided with Absalom—he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.
וְהַשְּׁמֻעָה֙ בָּ֣אָה עַד־יוֹאָ֔ב כִּ֣י יוֹאָ֗ב נָטָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אֲדֹנִיָּ֔ה וְאַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם לֹ֣א נָטָ֑ה וַיָּ֤נָס יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יְהוָ֔ה וֽ͏ַיַּחֲזֵ֖ק בְּקַרְנ֥וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
29King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD and was there beside the altar. So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada with the order, "Go, strike him down."
וַיֻּגַּ֞ד לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה כִּ֣י נָ֤ס יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יְהוָ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֖ה אֵ֣צֶל הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה אֶת־בְּנָיָ֧הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֛ע לֵאמֹ֖ר לֵ֥ךְ פְּגַע־בּֽוֹ׃
30Benaiah came to the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, "The king says, 'Come out!'" But he answered, "No, I will die here." Benaiah brought word back to the king: "This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me."
וַיָּבֹ֨א בְנָיָ֜הוּ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יְהוָ֗ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ צֵ֔א וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ׀ לֹ֖א כִּ֣י פֹ֣ה אָמ֑וּת וַיָּ֨שֶׁב בְּנָיָ֤הוּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ דָּבָ֣ר לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּֽה־דִבֶּ֥ר יוֹאָ֖ב וְכֹ֥ה עָנָֽנִי׃
31The king said to him, "Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from my father's house the innocent blood that Joab shed.
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֲשֵׂה֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֔ר וּפְגַע־בּ֖וֹ וּקְבַרְתּ֑וֹ וַהֲסִירֹ֣תָ ׀ דְּמֵ֣י חִנָּ֗ם אֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁפַ֣ךְ יוֹאָ֔ב מֵעָלַ֕י וּמֵעַ֖ל בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי׃
34So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck Joab down, and put him to death; and he was buried at his own house in the wilderness.
וַיַּ֗עַל בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וַיִּפְגַּע־בּ֖וֹ וַיְמִתֵ֑הוּ וַיִּקָּבֵ֥ר בְּבֵית֖וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
Mentioned in the Bible (117)
1 Samuel 26:62 Samuel 2:132 Samuel 2:142 Samuel 2:182 Samuel 2:222 Samuel 2:242 Samuel 2:262 Samuel 2:302 Samuel 2:322 Samuel 3:222 Samuel 3:232 Samuel 3:242 Samuel 3:262 Samuel 3:272 Samuel 3:292 Samuel 3:302 Samuel 3:312 Samuel 8:162 Samuel 10:72 Samuel 10:92 Samuel 10:132 Samuel 10:142 Samuel 11:12 Samuel 11:62 Samuel 11:72 Samuel 11:112 Samuel 11:142 Samuel 11:162 Samuel 11:172 Samuel 11:182 Samuel 11:222 Samuel 11:252 Samuel 12:272 Samuel 14:12 Samuel 14:32 Samuel 14:192 Samuel 14:202 Samuel 14:212 Samuel 14:222 Samuel 14:232 Samuel 14:292 Samuel 14:302 Samuel 14:312 Samuel 14:322 Samuel 14:332 Samuel 17:252 Samuel 18:22 Samuel 18:52 Samuel 18:102 Samuel 18:122 Samuel 18:142 Samuel 18:152 Samuel 18:202 Samuel 18:212 Samuel 18:222 Samuel 18:232 Samuel 18:292 Samuel 19:22 Samuel 19:62 Samuel 19:142 Samuel 20:72 Samuel 20:82 Samuel 20:92 Samuel 20:102 Samuel 20:112 Samuel 20:132 Samuel 20:152 Samuel 20:162 Samuel 20:172 Samuel 20:202 Samuel 20:212 Samuel 20:222 Samuel 20:232 Samuel 23:182 Samuel 23:242 Samuel 23:372 Samuel 24:22 Samuel 24:32 Samuel 24:41 Kings 1:71 Kings 1:191 Kings 1:411 Kings 2:51 Kings 2:221 Kings 2:281 Kings 2:291 Kings 2:301 Kings 2:311 Kings 2:331 Kings 11:151 Kings 11:161 Kings 11:211 Chronicles 2:161 Chronicles 4:141 Chronicles 11:61 Chronicles 11:81 Chronicles 11:201 Chronicles 11:261 Chronicles 11:391 Chronicles 18:151 Chronicles 19:81 Chronicles 19:101 Chronicles 19:141 Chronicles 19:151 Chronicles 20:11 Chronicles 21:21 Chronicles 21:31 Chronicles 21:41 Chronicles 21:51 Chronicles 21:61 Chronicles 26:281 Chronicles 27:71 Chronicles 27:241 Chronicles 27:34Ezra 2:6Ezra 8:9Nehemiah 7:11