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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadGreater Men and Women of the Bible by James Hastings: 309. Joab
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Literature
Banks, L. A., The Sinner and His Friends (1907), 221.
Bosanquet, C., “The Man after God's Own Heart” (1875), 291.
Burrell, D. J., The Religion of the Future, 89.
Davidson, J. T., Sure to Succeed (1888), 31.
Fleming, J. D., Israel's Golden Age (1907), 81, 104, 107, 125.
Foakes-Jackson, F. J., The Biblical History of the Hebrews (1903), 176.
Maclaren, A., Expositions: 2 Samuel, etc. (1906), 73, 148.
Moffatt, J., Reasons and Reasons (1911), 95.
Ottley, R. L., A Short History of the Hebrews (1901), 136.
Purves, G. T., Faith and Life (1902), 235.
Simpson, J. G., Great Ideas of Religion (1912), 229.
Spurgeon, C. H., Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, x. (1865), No. 563; xxxi. (1885), No. 1826.
Stanley, A. P., Lectures on the History of the Jewish Church, ii. (1889) 85.
Taylor, W. M., David, King of Israel (1894), 150, 207, 233, 263.
Waller, C. H., The Names on the Gates of Pearl (1903), 297.
Whitham, A. R., Old Testament History (1912), 238.
Whyte, A., Bible Characters: Gideon to Absalom (1898), 226.
Wray, J. J., Honey in the Comb (1887), 13.
Christian World Pulpit, xxxix. (1891) 205 (J. K. Campbell); lxiv. (1903) 3 (S. Horton).
Dictionary of the Bible, ii. (1899) 658 (J. A. Selbie).
Joab the captain of the host.- 1Ki_1:19.
2. Joab was David's sister's son, but was much of an age with David, and that, no doubt, helps to account for a good deal that went on between the uncle and the nephew. Joab was a stern, haughty, imperious, revengeful man-a man of strength, and a successful leader of armies. On the occasion of the conquest of the city of Jerusalem he was appointed by David to lead the army, and he displayed such bravery and such splendid gifts of leadership that he remained at the head of the armies of David for more than thirty years. He was a courageous man, and not only could fight himself, but could inspire others; and he possessed that dogged perseverance which never knows when it is beaten, but rises out of the ashes of defeat to fight once more and to conquer.
3. David's brothers never quite forgave him for being greater than themselves. Abner and the rest could not forget that scene in the vale of Succoth, when David by one supreme act of faith and courage became the nation's idol. Saul's was not the only heart which felt the pang of jealousy that day. But among those who stood staunch and true to David was his nephew, Joab. He was jealous and vindictive, but he was fiercely loyal to the king, faithful always among the faithless. And David at the beginning of his reign thought much of his young kinsman, this brave, dashing soldier, who could always be depended upon to give a good account of himself. But Joab had the defects of his qualities: he was selfish, ambitious, with a nature of stone and iron; there was no light and shade in his character; he never suffered himself to be thwarted, but bore all down by the violence of his temper.
4. Joab had had unusual opportunities to become an intelligently religious man. He associated for three decades with King David, who, with all his follies and sins, was deeply religious. He was David's counsellor. He knew all that was in David's heart. No man could know David so intimately without being convinced of the intense sincerity of the man and of his true faith in God. Undoubtedly he often attended David in the worship of the sanctuary; but it had no influence upon him. For thirty years he lived close to David, knew of all the interposition of God's providence on behalf of his people, and yet his heart continued to grow hard and stubborn and cruel. His spirit became more vindictive as age crept on him. He became more revengeful, and, having the power, he used it for his own advancement. He lived a godless life despite godly examples and influences all around him.