1 Chronicles 11:4-6
And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David. And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.
MATTHEW POOLE (1624-1679): Before this Joab was one of David’s chief captains, 2 Samuel 3:22,23, and general of the forces of Judah; but now he is made captain-general of all the forces of Israel and Judah.
THE EDITOR: To be “captain of the host of Israel,” was Joab’s heart desire, the position that he coveted above all else. But David didn’t just hand that exalted rank to him. This was David’s first military campaign as king over “all Israel,” and he had many “mighty and valiant” men in his army, as seen from 1 Chronicles 11:10-47; Joab would have to merit this promotion in competition with every other valiant soldier of Israel. Perhaps David made that condition in a vain hope of freeing himself from Joab’s unruly domineering behaviour.
ADAM CLARKE (1760-1832): Joab was a good soldier, but in every respect a bad man, and a dangerous subject.
ALEXANDER WHYTE (1836-1921): After his own contemptuous way, Joab was always true to David—that is, he made short work of anyone else who was false to David. And he performed some splendid services both as a soldier and a statesman in the extension and consolidation of David’s kingdom.
THE EDITOR: After taking Jerusalem, several wars followed against the many enemies that bordered Israel: first, three battles against the Philistines, 2 Samuel 5 to 2 Samuel 8:1; next, the Moabites, and Hadadezer, the Syrian king of Zobah; then the Syrians of Damascus who aided Hadadezer, 2 Samuel 8:1-5. In all these campaigns, David took the field himself, “and the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.” But Joab, and his brother Abishai, a man no less fearsome, played significant roles; against the Edomites, Abishai slew 18,000 men; on another occasion, he slew 300 men with his spear.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): We read particularly that Joab smote every male in Edom, 1 Kings 11:15,16.
THOMAS ADAMS (1583-1656): Joab is heartened, and hardened with blood.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): He was confessedly a great soldier, and one that had so much religion in him as to dedicate of his spoils to the house of God, 1 Chronicles 26:28.
THE EDITOR: David gratefully dedicated much spoil from his campaigns and tribute money to the house of the Lord, knowing the Author of his victories, 2 Samuel 8:10-12. Joab also dedicated a portion of his spoils, 1 Chronicles 26:26-28. But Joab’s later conduct suggests that his dedication was a customary religious formalism, rather than any true heart gratitude to the God of Israel, even as respectable pagans paid temple tributes to appease the gods of their state religion. After the Ammonite king died, David sent peace ambassadors to comfort his son, the new king.
ALEXANDER MacLAREN (1826-1910): David’s friendly embassy was suspected of covering hostile intentions, 2 Samuel 10:1-6. Those who have no kindness in their own hearts are slow to believe kindness in others. ‘What does he want to get by it?’ is the question put by cynical ‘shrewd men.’ But the Ammonites need not have rejected David’s overtures so insolently as by shaving half his ambassadors’ beards and docking their robes. The insult meant war.
THE EDITOR: Now David “sent Joab, and all the host, the mighty men,” against the Ammonites, who also had hired Syrian mercenaries to aid them against Israel, 2 Samuel 10:8.
MATTHEW HENRY: Joab found the enemy so well prepared that his conduct and courage were never so tried as now. The enemy disposed themselves into two bodies, one of Ammonites, which were posted at the gate of the city; the Syrians were posted at a distance in the field, to charge the forces of Israel in the flank or rear, while the Ammonites charged them in the front. Joab was soon aware of the design, and accordingly divided his forces.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): Joab was an able warrior.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): He “chose of all the choice men of Israel;” the most eminent for strength, and valour, and military skill, who had been tried and were famous for warlike exploits, “and put them in array against the Syrians,” who might be the strongest party, and the best soldiers—though being but mercenaries, if hard beset, would sooner give way, as he might suppose, upon which the Ammonites would do the same, 2 Samuel 10:9.
MATTHEW HENRY: The rest of the forces he put under command of Abishai his brother, to engage the Ammonites. He prudently arranges the matter with Abishai, that which part soever was borne hard upon, the other should come in to its assistance. He supposes the worst, that one of them should be obliged to give back; and in that case, upon a signal given, the other should send a detachment to relieve it.
ALEXANDER MacLAREN: Danger awoke the best in Joab. Fierce and truculent as he often was, he had a hero’s mettle in him, and in that dark hour he flamed like a pillar of light. His ringing words to his brother as they parted, not knowing if they would ever meet again, are like a clarion call.
MATTHEW HENRY: Joab’s speech before the battle is not long, but pertinent, and brave. “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good,” 2 Samuel 10:12. God and our country was the word. He piously leaves the issue with God: “When we have done our part, according to the duty of our place, let the Lord do that which seemeth to him good.”
JOHN GILL: This Joab said, not only to encourage Abishai and himself, but in the hearing of the rest of the officers of the army, and many of the people, to hearten them to the battle; who might be somewhat intimidated with the number of their enemies, and the position they were in, being before and behind them; and therefore he thought proper to make such a speech to them to animate them.
ADAM CLARKE: This is a very fine military address, equal to anything in ancient or modern times.
THE EDITOR: Joab’s perceptive assessment of the character of his enemies proved right.
MATTHEW POOLE: Joab prudently falls upon the Syrians first, because they were but mercenaries, and not concerned so much in the success as the Ammonites were, whose interest lay at stake; and therefore not likely to venture too far in their defence. “And they fled before him,” 2 Samuel 10:13.
MATTHEW HENRY: Then the Ammonites were routed by Abishai; the Ammonites seem not to have fought at all, but, upon the retreat of the Syrians, to have fled into the city.
JOHN GILL: Joab did not stay to lay siege to their city, the season of the year not being proper for it, winter drawing near, “so Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem” in triumph, to report to David the victory he had obtained, 2 Samuel 10:14.
THE EDITOR: But the war was not over. When the Syrians regrouped, David “gathered all Israel together,” crossed over the Jordan River, and inflicted such a devastating defeat on them that they “made peace with Israel—so the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more,” 2 Samuel 10:15-19. Now the fighting paused for winter, with the Ammonites remaining undefeated in Rabbah.
