II SAMUEL 20:4-13

 Q: Joab killed Abner, Absalom, and Amasa. It appears he suffered no real consequences for these murders. In fact, he continued as David's military commander and trusted advisor. Why?

Joab is a treacherous and ambitious character who could, however, on occasion act generously (II Samuel 12:26-31) and give sound theological advice to David (II Samuel 24:2-4). David's relationship to Joab is thus also a complicated one. On the one hand, the two were blood relations (Joab was David's nephew), and Joab was a valued advisor and army commander. In addition, Joab was the one David used to carry out his plot against Uriah; so they were co-conspirators. One could even surmise that Joab's action in killing Absalom (and even Abner) was not punished more harshly by David because David realized its necessity even though he could not bring himself to actually order it done. All of these are contributing factors helping to explain why David kept Joab in power, partially to do his dirty work for him.

On the other hand, Joab's actions did not get David's wholehearted approval. In II Samuel 3:31-39, David pronounces a curse on Abner's murderer, and David replaces Joab as commander after Absalom's murder (but reinstates him later). David eventually turns decisively away from Joab on his death bed when he instructs Solomon to requite Joab and several others for their treachery (I Kings 2:5-9). This has been viewed by some as yet another example of David utilizing others to do unpleasant deeds that he did not want to be directly associated with.

Solomon carries out David's request soon afterward (I Kings 3:28-33) and Joab finally receives his well-deserved fate. Thus, we can see that the timing of God's perfect justice is not ours, and we may not even see it fulfilled until the Last Judgment.