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Character Study of Joaba character study by Jeff S. SmithIntroductionCommentators compare the character of General Joab to something out of the work of Homer, but Joabwas no fictional person. Joab served King David with distinction and even had the honesty and courage tospeak up when he witnessed his leader doing wrong. Joab, however, was certainly not above breaking therules to advance the causes he believed in.DiscussionI. His Character 51A. Background1. Joab was actually David’s nephew, being the son of David’s sister, Zeruiah (First Chronicles2:13-17)2. for some reason, Joab is frequently referred to in the histories as the son of his mother, ratherthan his father–perhaps the royal association is explanation enoughB. Enemy of Abner1. we first meet Zeruiah’s boy in the story of the war with Abner, who upon the death of Saul,supported the claims of Ishbosheth to the throne against David (Second Samuel 2:8-14)a. a 24 man battle royal ensued (Second Samuel 2:16-17)b. Joab’s brother, Asahel, was as swift as a gazelle and he chased Abner, but a little too far(Second Samuel 2:22-23)c. Joab and his other brother Abishai then gave chase and would have killed Abner except thathe appealed for an end to the hostilities (Second Samuel 2:26-28)d. “There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grewstronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker” (3:1).2. later, Abner visited David at Hebron to make an alliance and crown him king over Israel aswell as Judah (Second Samuel 3:20-30)a. Joab not only got his revenge, but he took out of the way a potential rival in Abnerb. the curse that David pronounced, however, would cling to Joab the rest of his lifeC. In The Ammonite War1. Joab proves himself to be a wise and able general during a war with the Ammonites2. ironically, it was skepticism about the king’s intentions that started the war, much as Joab’sown skeptical thoughts about Abner had led to his death (Second Samuel 10:1-7)3. Joab ended up in between the Ammonites and their Syrian allies, so he divided the army andgave the other half into the command of Abishai, enabling them to rout both the Ammonites and theSyrians (First Chronicles 19:10-15)4. war with the Ammonites resumed later and Joab is used in a most unseemly and criminal partof the fight; it is he who is enlisted to help the king cover up his adulterous indiscretion with Bathsheba,the wife of a Hittite soldier named Uriah (Second Samuel 11:14-21, 25)5. when victory is at hand, Joab loyally calls for David to come and claim it (Second Samuel12:26-29)D. With Absalom1. Joab also figures prominently in the relationship between David and his rebellious son,Absalom, both as an emotional conciliator and a pragmatic executioner2. Absalom had fled Jerusalem after killing his half-brother, who had raped and dishonored theirsister, but Joab wanted him to return after a while (Second Samuel 14:1-23)a. Absalom, however, was not allowed to visit his father and was made to remain in hishouse, which led him to feel frustrated and anger, and to ask Joab to help againb. Joab refuses until Absalom gets his attention another way (Second Samuel 14:28-33)3. Absalom, though, still revolts against his father and makes Amasa, another royal nephew, hisgeneral instead of Joab in the new administrationa. Joab continues to follow David and leads a full third of the army (along with Abishai and213