Joab

Commander of David’s army and David’s nephew. He was a skilled fighter, but he was also a cruel man. He killed Abner, the commander of an opposing army, who was trying to make peace with David. When Absalom, David’s son, led a rebellion against David, David ordered that Absalom not be harmed. Joab killed him anyway. David then made Amasa (probably Joab’s cousin) commander of his army instead of Joab. Joab pretended to be Amasa’s friend—and then one day suddenly stabbed him to death. When David was dying, Joab supported Adonijah as the next king instead of Solomon. After Solomon was made king, he ordered Joab to be killed.