ABNER; ASAHEL.) (2) Avenges Asahel. Joab smothered for a time his resentment against the shedder of his brother's blood ; but it being whetted by the natural rivalry af position between him and Abner, he afterwards made it the instrument of his policy by treacherously, in the act of friendly communi cation, slaying Abner at the very time when the services of the latter to David, to whom he had then turned, had rendered him a most dangerous rival to Joab in power and influence (2 Sam. iii : 22-27). That Abner had at first suspected that Joab would take the position of blood-avenger (see BLOOD-REVENGE) is clear, frorn the apprehen sion which he expressed (2 Sam. ii :22) ; but that he thought that Joab had, under all the circum stances, abandoned this position, is shown by the unsuspecting readiness with which he went aside with him (2 Sam. iii :26, 27) ; and that Joab placed his murderous act on the footing of ven geance for his brother's blood, is plainly stated in 2 Sam. iii :3o; by which it also appears that the other brother, Abishai, shared in some way in the deed and its responsibilities. At the same time, as Abner was perfectly justified in slaying Asaliel to save his own life, it is very doubtful if Joab would ever have asserted his right of blood-revenge, if Abner had not appeared likely to endanger his influence with David. The king, much as Ile reprobated the act, knew that it had a sort of excuse in the old customs of blood-re venge, and he stood habitually too much in awe of his impetuous and able nephew to bring him to punishment, or even to displace him from his command. 'I am this day weak,' he said, 'though anointed king, and these men. thc sons of Zeruiah, be too hard for me' (2 Sam. iii :39).
(3) Appointed to Chief Command. Desirous probably of making some atonement before David and the public for this atrocity, in a way which at the same time was most likely to prove effect ual—namely, by some daring exploit, he was the first to mount to the assault at the storming of the fortress on Mount Zion, which had .remained so long in the hands of the Jebusites. By this service lie acquired the chief command of the army of all Israel, of which David was by this time king (2 Sam. v :6-1o).
(4) Serves David Faithfully. it is not neces sary to trace the subsequent acts of Joab, seeing that they are in fact the public acts of the king lie served. And he served him faithfully.
Although he knew his power over David, and often treated him with little ceremony, there can bc no doubt that he was most truly devoted to Iiis interests, and sometimes rendered him good service even against his own will, as in the affair at Mahanaim (2 Sam. xix :5-8).
As Joab was on good terms with Absalom, and had taken pains to bring about a reconcilia tion between him and his father, we may sct the higher value upon his firm adhesion to David when Absalom revolted, and upon his stern sense of duty to the king—from whom he expected no thanks—displayed in putting an end to the war by the slaughter of this favorite son, when all others shrank from the responsibility of doing the king a service against his own will (2 Sam.
xviii:1-14). In like manner, when David un happily resolved to number the people, Joab dis cerned the evil and remonstrated against it, and although he did not venture to disobey, Ile per formcd the duty tardily and reluctantly, to afford the king an opportunity of reconsidering the mat ter, and took no pains to conceal how odious the measure was to him (2 Sam. xxiv :1-4)• (5) Military Exploits. His great war was that against Ammon, which he conducted in person. It was divided into three campaigns : (a) The first was against the allied forces of Syria and Ammon. He attacked and defeated thc Syrians, whilst his brother Abishai did the samc for the Ammonites. The Syrians rallied with their kin dred tribes from beyond the Euphrates, and were finally routed by David himself. (See HADA REZER.) (b) The second was against Edom. The decisive victory was gained by David himself in the "valley of salt," and celebrated by a triumphal monument (2 Sam. yin :13). But Joab had the charge of carrying out the victory, and remained for six months, extirpating the male population, whom Ile thcn buried in the tombs of Petra (i Kings xi:15, 16). So long was the terror of his name preserved that only when the fugitive prince of Edorn, in the Egyptian court, heard that "David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead," did he venture to return to his OW11 country (ch. xi :2t, 22). (e) The third was against the Ammonites. They were again left to Joab (2 Sam. x :7-19). He went against them at the beginning of the next year "at thc time when kings go out to battle"—to the siege of Rabbah. The ark was sent with him, and the whole ariny was encamped in booths or huts round the beleaguered city (2 Sam. xi :1, it). After a sortie of the inhabitants, which caused some loss to the Jewish army, Joab took thc lower city on the river, and then with true loyalty sent to urge David to come and take the citadel, Rab bah, lest the glory of the capture should pass from thc king to his general (2 Sam. xii:26-28). (Smith, Bib. Diet.) (6) Ingratitude of David. David was cer tainly ungrateful for the service of Joab, when, in order to conciliate the powerful party which had supported Absalom, Ile offered thc command of the host to Amasa, who had commanded the army of Absalom (2 Sam. xix :13).