(fl. 10th cent BCE)
Israelite commander-in-chief, nephew of David. When David became king, Joab was appointed head of the army. He defeated the Ammonites and led the campaign against Absalom. During the revolt of Sheba, son of Bichri, he was replaced as commander-in- chief by Amasa, whom he later murdered. He supported Adonijah's claim to succeed David, and was put to death by Solomon in accordance with David's wishes (II Samuel 2-3, 10-11, 14, 17-21; I Kings 1-2; II Chronicles 11:18-21, 27).
Dictionary of Jewish Biography. Dan Cohn-Sherbok.