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.
- JOAH Jehovah his brother; i.e., helper. (1.) One of the sons of
Obed-edom (1 Chronicles 26:4), a Korhite porter.
(2.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1 Chronicles 6:21), probably the
same as Ethan (42).
(3.) The son of Asaph, and “recorder” (q.v.) or chronicler to King
Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37).
(4.) Son of Joahaz, and “recorder” (q.v.) or keeper of the state archives
under King Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:8).