Joab in the Bible
Meaning: paternity; voluntary
Exact Match
And their sisters [were] Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three.
Zeruiah's three sons were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.
The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Ataroth-Beth-Joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.
And Meonothai begot Ophrah: and Seraiah begot Joab, the father of the valley of craftsmen; for they were craftsmen.
Then David said, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first will be chief and commander." And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first and became chief.
And he built the city all around from the Millo and up to the circuit. And Joab restored the remainder of the city.
Now Abishai the brother of Joab was himself the head of the three. And he roused himself with his spear against three hundred [whom he] killed and [made] a name for himself among the three.
Now the mighty warriors of the troops [were] Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the bearer of the weapons of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;
David heard about this and sent Joab and the entire army of warriors.
When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some men out of all the elite troops
“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” Joab said, “then you’ll be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll help you.
Joab and the people with him approached the Arameans for battle, and they fled before him.
When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they likewise fled before Joab’s brother Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab went to Jerusalem.
In the spring
So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan and bring a report to me so I can know their number.”
Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply the number of His people a hundred times over!
Yet the king’s order prevailed over Joab. So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel and then returned to Jerusalem.
Joab gave the total troop registration to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 swordsmen and in Judah itself 470,000 swordsmen.
But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the word of the king was repulsive to Joab.
All that Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated, along with everything else that had been dedicated, were in the care of Shelomith
Joab son of Zeruiah began to count them, but he didn’t complete it. There was wrath against Israel because of this census,
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Thematic Bible
Citizens » Loyal » Joab
Homicide » Instances of felonious » Joab
And when Abner was come again to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate, to speak with him guilefully, and there smote him under the short ribs that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
Homicide » Instances of the punishment of murderers » Joab
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and smote him and slew him and buried him in his own house in the wilderness.
Joab » Son of david's sister » Commander of david's army
Joab » Son of david's sister » Captures rabbah
And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah and assaulted it and gat it.
Then Joab sent and told David all the process of the war, and charged the messengers, saying, "When thou hast made an end of telling the story of war unto the king, if he begin to fume and say unto thee, 'Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city to fight? Wist ye not that men would hurl and shoot from the walls? Who smote Abimelech son of Jerubbosheth? Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from off the walls, that he died in Thebes? Why then went ye nigh the walls?" Then say thou, 'Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'" And the messengers went and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him with, and said unto David, "The men prevail against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we stuck unto them, even unto the entering of the gate. And the shooters shot from the walls, and some of the servants of the king be dead. And thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also." Then said David unto the messenger, "Thus wise say unto Joab, 'Let not that thing trouble thee. For the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city and destroy it, and see that thou courage, Joab."
Joab » Son of david's sister » Numbers the people
and came to the strong town of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Cananites, and then went out to the South of Judah even to Beersheba. And so when they had been abroad throughout all the land they returned to Jerusalem again at the end of nine months and twenty days. And then Joab delivered up the reckoning of the number of the people unto the king. And there were found in Israel nine hundred thousand men of might that drew swords. And the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
Joab » Son of david's sister » Defeats and kills abner
And they caught each his fellow that came against him, by the head and thrust his sword in his side, and so fell down all at once. Wherefore the place was called Helkathhazzurim which is in Gibeon. And there began an exceeding cruel battle that same day. But Abner and the men of Israel were put to the worse of the servants of David. And there was three sons of Zeruiah there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel - which Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild roe - and followed after Abner and turned neither to the righthand nor to the left from Abner. Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Art thou Asahel?" And he said, "Yea." Then said Abner, "Turn thee either to the righthand or to the left and catch one of the young men and take thee his spoil." But Asahel would not depart from him. And Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn from me! Why wilt thou that I smite thee to the ground? For then how should I hold up my face before Joab thy brother?" Howbeit, he would in no wise depart. Then Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the short ribs, that the spear came out behind him: that he fell down in the same place and died there. And as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. But Joab and Abishai followed Abner till the sun went down. And when they were come to the hill Ammah that lieth before Giah in the way that goeth through the wilderness of Gibeon, the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner on a plump and stood still on the top of a hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour without end? Knowest thou not that bitterness is wont to come in the latter end? How long shall it be, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?" And Joab answered, "As truly as God liveth, if thou hadst so said, then even in the morning had the people departed, each from following his brother." And therewith Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still and pursued after Israel no more nor fought no more. And Abner and his men walked all that night by the wild fields, and went over Jordan, and passed through all Bithron and came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from after Abner and gathered all the people together. And there lacked, of David's servants, nineteen persons and Asahel. But the servants of David had slain, of Benjamin and of Abner's men, three hundred and three score men. And they took up Asahel and buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and came in the dawning to Hebron.
Joab » Son of david's sister » Defeats the ammonites
And the rest of the people he delivered in the hand of Abishai his brother, which put them in array against the children of Ammon. And he said, "If the Syrians overcome me, then succor me. But if the children of Ammon be too good for thee, I will come and succor thee. Quite thee like a man, and let us fight lustily for our people and for the cities of our God. And the LORD do what seemeth best in his eyes." And forthwith Joab proceeded, and the people that was with him, into battle against the Syrians: which fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. And so Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.
And the children of Ammon came out and put them in array to battle before the gate of the city. And the kings that were come kept them by themselves in the field. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was before him and after, he chose out of all the youth of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians. And the rest of the people he delivered unto Abishai his brother, that they should put themselves in array against the children of Ammon, and said, "If the Syrians be too strong for me, succor me, and if the children of Ammon be too good for thee, I will help thee. Pluck up thine heart and let us play the men for our people's sake, and for the cities of our God, and the LORD to do what seemeth him best." And Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh to the Syrians, to fight, and they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they ran away likewise, from Abishai his brother and gat them into the city. And Joab came to Jerusalem.
Joab » captivity return
Joab » Son of david's sister » Kills amasa
And one of Joab's men that stood by him said, "What is he that he would be as Joab, and what is he that would be unto David instead of Joab?" And Amasa lay wallowing in blood in the midst of the way. And there was a man that saw all the people stand still. And when he saw that all that came by him stood still, he rolled Amasa out of the way into the field and cast a cloth upon him. And as soon as he was tumbled out of the way, all the people went after Joab to follow after Sheba the son of Bichri.
Joab » Son of david's sister » Opposes the numbering of the people
Joab » Son of david's sister » Replaced by amasa as commander of david's army
Joab » Son of david's sister » Supports adonijah as successor to david
Joab » Son of david's sister » Barley field of, burned by absalom
And Absalom said to Joab, "Behold, I sent for thee desiring thee to come; because I would have sent thee to the king, for to say wherefore I am come from Geshur. It had been as good for me to have bidden there still. Now therefore let me come to the king's presence, or else if there be any trespass in me, kill me." And Joab went to the king and told him. And he sent for Absalom; which, when he was come, fell to the ground on his face before the king. And the king kissed him.
Joab » Son of david's sister » Causes sheba to be put to death
Abel is one of the quietest and faithfullest cities that are in Israel. And thou goest about to destroy a city that is as a mother in Israel. Why devourest thou the inheritance of the LORD?" And Joab answered and said, "God forbid! God forbid it me, that I should either devour or destroy it. The matter is not so: But there is a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, which hath lifted up his hand against king David. Deliver us him only, and I will depart from the city." And the woman said unto Joab, "Behold, his head shall be thrown through the wall to thee." And then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they smote off the head of Sheba son of Bichri, and cast it to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they scattered from the city every man to his tent, and Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
Joab » Son of david's sister » Procures the return of absalom to jerusalem
And when the wife of Tekoa was come to speak with the king, she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance and said, "Help me, O king." And the king said unto her, "What aileth thee?" And she answered, "I am a widow, and mine husband is dead. And thy handmaid had two sons which fought together in the fields where was no man to go between them, and the one slew the other. And behold, the whole kindred arose against thy handmaid and said, 'Deliver us him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the soul of his brother whom he slew: for he will destroy the heir also.' And so they shall quench my sparkle which is left that he shall stir up neither name or issue upon the earth unto my husband." And the king said unto the wife, "Go home to thine house, and I will give a charge for thee." And the woman of Tekoa said unto the king, "My lord king, the trespass be on me and on my father's house, and the king and his seat be guiltless." And then said the king, "If any man say ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall no more trouble thee." Then said she, "Let the king remember his LORD God, that the next of the blood gather not on heaps together to destroy, and that they slay not my son." And he said, "As sure as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son's head fall to the earth." Then the woman said, "Let thine handmaid speak one word more unto my lord the king." And he said, "Say on." And the woman said, "Wherefore then hast thou determined on this same manner against the people of God? - That the king should speak this thing and be faulty therein, so that the king should not fetch home again his banished. For we must needs die, and perish as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again: and God will not take away the life, but find the means that the banished be not utterly expelled from him. And now, concerning that, I am come to speak of this thing unto the king my lord in the presence of the people. Thy handmaid thought, 'Surely I will speak unto the king; peradventure the king will hear the request of his handmaid. And the king shall hear his handmaid and deliver her out of the hand of the man that would have destroyed me and my son also out of the inheritance of God.' Then thine handmaid said, 'I pray God that the word of my lord the king may be immutable. For my lord the king is as an angel of God, in hearing of good or bad.' And therefore the LORD thy God be with thee." Then the king answered and said unto the woman, "Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee." And the woman said, "Let my lord the king say on." Then said the king, "Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this matter?" And the woman answered, and said, "As sure as thy soul liveth, my lord king, it is neither on the righthand nor on the left that my lord the king hath spoken. For thy servant Joab he bade me, and he put all these words even in the mouth of thine handmaid. And the turning of my tale another way, that made thy servant Joab. And so I see that my lord is wise, even as an angel of God, to understand all things that are in the earth." Then said the king to Joab, "Behold, I am content to do this thing. Go therefore fetch home the lad Absalom." And Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself and blessed the king and said, "Now thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in the sight of my lord the king in that he hath fulfilled the request of his servant." And so Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. Then said the king, "Let him turn to his own house, but see that he come not in my presence." And so Absalom went to his own house, but came not in the king's presence.
Joab » Son of david's sister » Killed by benaiah, under solomon's order
And the LORD bring his blood upon his own head, for he smote two men righteouser and better than he, and slew them with the sword; my father unwitting: even Abner the son of Ner captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether captain of the host of Judah. And their blood return upon the head of Joab and on the head of his seed forever. And prosperity be unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, and unto his seat, of the LORD forever." And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and smote him and slew him and buried him in his own house in the wilderness.
Joab » Son of david's sister » Censures david for lamenting the death of absalom
And the king hid his face and cried with a loud voice, "My son Absalom, Absalom my son my son." And Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life and the lives of thy sons and daughters, and the lives of thy wives and concubines: in that thou lovest thine enemies and hatest thy friends. Thou hast declared this day that thou carest neither for thy lords nor servants. For this day I do perceive, if Absalom had lived, and all we died this day, that then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore up and come out, and speak kindly unto thy servants, I swear by the LORD, except thou come out, there will not tarry one man with thee this night. And that will be worse unto thee, than all the evil that fell on thee from thine youth unto this hour." Then the king arose and sat down in the Gate. And it was told unto all the people, how the king sat in the Gate. And then all the people came before the king. But Israel fled every man to his tent.