Original Word: יוֹאָב
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yow'ab
Pronunciation: yo-AV
Phonetic Spelling: (yo-awb')
KJV: Joab
NASB: Joab, Joab's
Word Origin: [from H3068 (יְהוֹוָה - LORD) and H1 (אָב - father)]

1. Jehovah-fathered
2. Joab, the name of three Israelites

Joab

From Yhovah and 'ab; Jehovah-fathered; Joab, the name of three Israelites -- Joab.

see HEBREW Yhovah

see HEBREW 'ab

Word Origin
from Yhvh and ab
Definition
"the LORD is father," three Isr.
NASB Translation
Joab (136), Joab's (8).

יוֺאָב proper name, masculine (׳י is father; compare אֲבִיָּהוּ, אֱלִיאָב, אֲבִיאֵל & references) —

1 David's sister's son & captain of his host (ᵐ5 Ἰωαβ) 1 Samuel 26:6; 2 Samuel 2:13 100t. 2Samuel (also 2 Samuel 20:6 for ᵑ0 אֲבִישַׁי compare ᵑ6 We Dr); 1 Kings 1:7 14t. 1Kings; 1 Chronicles 2:16 22t. 1Chronicles; Psalm 60:2.

2 a descendant of Judah 1 Chronicles 4:14 (but ᵐ5 B ᵐ5^L Ἰωβαβ).

3 a family-name after the exile Ezra 2:6 = Nehemiah 7:11 (ᵐ5 Ἰωβαβ, Ἰωαβ) Ezra 8:9 (ᵐ5 Ἰωαβ).

Occurrences in Scripture

The name יֹואָב (Joab) appears about one-hundred-forty-five times across the historical books, chiefly in 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 1 Chronicles. The dominant figure is Joab son of Zeruiah; several lesser-known men and a geographical feature also bear the name.

Lineage and Early Life

Joab, along with his brothers Abishai and Asahel, was a son of Zeruiah, David’s sister (1 Chronicles 2:16). Consequently he was both nephew and loyal subject to David. Nothing is stated of his childhood, but he first enters the narrative as a seasoned warrior at Hebron after Saul’s death (2 Samuel 2).

Commander of David’s Army

Soon after David’s accession to the throne of Judah, Joab became “commander of the army” (2 Samuel 2:13). When David moved to Jerusalem, Joab’s preeminence was formally secured; “Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief” (1 Chronicles 11:6).

Key Military Exploits

• Securing the kingdom during the civil war with Saul’s house (2 Samuel 2–3).
• Routing Ammon and Aram: “Joab advanced to engage the Arameans… and they fled before him” (2 Samuel 10:13).
• Besieging Rabbah, then yielding the honor to David (2 Samuel 12:26-31).
• Crushing Edom in the Valley of Salt (1 Kings 11:15-16; 1 Chronicles 18:12).
• Quelling Sheba’s rebellion by investing Abel Beth Maacah (2 Samuel 20:6-22).

His repeated victories consolidated David’s realm “from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates” (1 Chronicles 18:3).

Acts of Zeal and Violence

Scripture records several killings for which Joab was later charged with bloodguilt (1 Kings 2:5):

1. Abner at Hebron in retaliatory vengeance for Asahel (2 Samuel 3:27).
2. Absalom, despite David’s explicit command to “deal gently with the young man” (2 Samuel 18:5,14-15).
3. Amasa, whom David had appointed over the army in Joab’s place (2 Samuel 20:9-10).

Political Counsel and Influence

Joab was more than a warrior; he shaped policy:
• He employed the wise woman of Tekoa to reconcile David and the banished Absalom (2 Samuel 14:1-24).
• He unsuccessfully opposed David’s census yet executed the order once the king insisted (2 Samuel 24:2-4).
• After Absalom’s death he boldly confronted David for excessive mourning, urging him to “go out and speak comfort to your servants” (2 Samuel 19:7).

Relationship with David

Their bond blended loyalty, frankness, and tension. Joab served David faithfully on the battlefield but resisted anything he considered detrimental to the kingdom—including David’s personal sentiments. David valued Joab’s prowess yet never fully trusted his motives, as seen in the king’s final charge to Solomon (1 Kings 2:5-6).

Downfall and Death

In David’s old age Joab sided with Adonijah’s attempted succession (1 Kings 1:7), placing himself in opposition to the divinely proclaimed choice of Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:9-10). When Solomon assumed the throne, Joab sought asylum at the altar, but “Benaiah struck him down, and he died” (1 Kings 2:34). Thus the sword he had so often wielded returned upon his own head (1 Kings 2:32).

Other Men Named Joab

1. A descendant of Caleb through Kenaz, associated with Craftsmen’s Valley (1 Chronicles 4:14).
2. A son or head of a Levitical family returning from exile with Ezra (Ezra 8:9; cf. Ezra 2:6; Nehemiah 7:11).
3. A gatekeeper in the days of David—as “Obed-edom and their relatives, the sons of Joab” (1 Chronicles 26:28).
4. One listed among David’s mighty men (1 Chronicles 11:36) is likely a scribe’s duplication, not the commander.

Geographical Reference: Valley of Joab

The “Valley of Jehoshaphat” is also called the “Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley)” where Absalom erected his pillar “in the King’s Valley” (2 Samuel 18:18). Later Jewish tradition links this depression east of Jerusalem with Joab’s military encampments, explaining the toponym “Valley of Joab” in some manuscripts (cf. 2 Samuel 18:17, LXX).

Theological and Practical Lessons

1. God can employ flawed instruments to accomplish righteous purposes; Joab’s victories fulfilled divine promises to Abraham concerning the land (Genesis 15:18).
2. Human zeal without submission to God’s moral law reaps judgment; Joab’s unchecked vengeance brought divine retribution (Numbers 35:33; 1 Kings 2:31-33).
3. True security lies in obedience, not in ritual refuge; clasping the altar could not shield Joab once guilt was exposed (Exodus 21:14).

Representative References

2 Samuel 2; 3:27; 10:9-14; 11:6-17; 12:26-31; 14:1-24; 18:14-15; 19:7; 20:9-13; 24:2-4

1 Kings 1:7; 2:5-6,28-34

1 Chronicles 11:6; 18:12-15

Ezra 8:9

בְּיוֹאָ֛ב ביואב וְיוֹאָ֑ב וְיוֹאָ֕ב וְיוֹאָ֖ב וְיוֹאָ֗ב וְיוֹאָ֛ב וְיוֹאָ֞ב וְיוֹאָ֥ב וְיוֹאָ֨ב וְיוֹאָב֙ וּלְיֹאָ֖ב וּלְיוֹאָ֖ב ויואב וליאב וליואב י֠וֹאָב יוֹאָ֑ב יוֹאָ֔ב יוֹאָ֖ב יוֹאָ֗ב יוֹאָ֛ב יוֹאָ֜ב יוֹאָ֡ב יוֹאָ֣ב יוֹאָ֣ב ׀ יוֹאָ֤ב יוֹאָ֥ב יוֹאָ֨ב יוֹאָֽב׃ יוֹאָב֙ יוֹאָב֩ יואב יואב׃ לְיוֹאָ֑ב לְיוֹאָ֖ב לְיוֹאָב֙ ליואב bə·yō·w·’āḇ beyoAv bəyōw’āḇ lə·yō·w·’āḇ leyoAv ləyōw’āḇ ū·lə·yō·’āḇ ū·lə·yō·w·’āḇ ūləyō’āḇ uleyoAv ūləyōw’āḇ veyoAv wə·yō·w·’āḇ wəyōw’āḇ yō·w·’āḇ yoAv yoo yōw’āḇInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts