I’ve been reading about Joab and Abner recently, fascinated by their parallel lives.
Old Testament generals, they led King David’s and King Saul’s armies.
Blood poured from both mens’ hands–including that of each others’ relatives.
But who were they and how did God use them?
Relatives of Saul and David
The son of Ner, Abner was King Saul’s cousin. Grandsons of Abiel, the men grew up in the Benjamite lands north of Jerusalem. They obviously descended from the line of Benjamin–the youngest of the twelve tribes of Israel.
We don’t know why the tallest man in Israel at the time, Saul, chose his cousin to command his armies. Perhaps Abner also stood head and shoulders above most Israelites?
Meanwhile King David chose Joab, the son of his sister Zeruiah, to lead his army.
Abner sleeps. (Wikimedia Commons)
It’s interesting to note the text does not mention Joab’s father, causing some to speculate Zeruiah held a special place in King David’s heart.
Joab’s two brothers also played important roles in King David’s army. Joab first appears in 1 Samuel 26, where he’s mentioned as the younger brother of Abishai.
(In 1 Samuel 26, Abishai, not Joab, is the brave nephew who travels with David into Saul’s camp at night. David and Abishai both stepped over the guards surrounding King Saul, including a sleeping Abner.)
Given the two generals’ courage and willingness to spill blood, perhaps it’s not surprising the two kings chose to keep Joab and Abner close and easily commandable!
Joab and Abner, David and Saul; they all knew each other
Arguably the four most important men of their time, they all knew each other.
When Saul asked who killed Goliath, General Abner presented David.
Abner also attended the dinner when Saul first noticed David missing–because David knew King Saul sought his death.
As general of King David’s armies, Joab spent years hiding with David in the desert while King Saul sought to kill his rival.
He’s first mentioned in connection with Abner in 2 Samuel 2 when Abner killed Joab’s younger brother Asahel.
It’s a curious passage. Asahel pursued Abner–to kill him–and Abner killed Asahel in self-defense. Abner kept telling Asahel to leave off, “because how will I face your brother Joab?”
Indeed.
Joab and Abner: blood thirsty men
Two strong, able, talented, devoted men rivaled each other in blood thirst.
Countless men fell at their swords, as well as under their command.
Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Abner after he killed Asahel. Arguing the murder was in self-defense, Abner urged the men to leave off.
Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”
2 Samuel 2:25-27 NKJV
The avenging brothers stopped at Abner’s words, thought about it, and left off.
Perhaps they could live in peace?
Peace might have been possible after King Saul’s death on Mt. Gilboa, but generals are proud.
How did it all end?
Abner backed King Saul’s son Ishbosheth rather than David. War continued between the two kings for control of Israel. Joab and Abner led the armies.
In his attempt to consolidate power in Ishbosheth’s kingdom, Abner took the late King Saul’s concubine as his own.
Perceiving this action as a threat to his power, Ishbosheth challenged him.
That was enough for Abner. He “quit” his job and went over to King David’s side.
David welcomed him.
Joab did not.
Perhaps Joab perceived a threat in his leadership, but the Scriptures indicate Joab sought revenge for Asahael’s death many years before.
Hebron was a city of refuge. Abner was safe inside the walls from blood-guilt by Jewish law.
Besides, King David had welcomed Abner.
One day, Joab and Abner met just outside Hebron’s gates, and Joab murdered him.
In his anger with Joab and his grief at Abner’s death, King David arranged for Abner’s burial in Hebron. You can still visit Abner’s grave today.
In one of his last pieces of advice to Solomon, King David told him to kill Joab following David’s death.
The two generals fought and left behind many bodies. Ultimately, they killed each other both directly and indirectly.
It’s hard to be the relative of a king.
Tweetables
Joab and Abner; blood shedders for Kings David and Saul. Click to Tweet
The parallel lives of Joab and Abner in the Old Testament. Click to Tweet
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