What other biblical figures showed similar bravery as Joab in 1 Chronicles 11:6? A snapshot of Joab’s fearless act 1 Chronicles 11:6: “Now David had said, ‘Whoever is first to kill a Jebusite will become chief and commander.’ Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he became chief.” Joab hears the challenge, rushes the fortified city, and secures the position before anyone else moves. Scripture presents him as a man who acts immediately, trusting that bold obedience will win both the battle and the honor God allows. Others who stepped forward with comparable courage • Joshua – Joshua 1:9; 6:12-20 – Leads Israel across the Jordan and marches around Jericho, confident that the Lord will topple walls no human force could breach. – Displays the same readiness to be first into danger that Joab shows at Jerusalem. • Caleb – Numbers 13:30; 14:24 – Silences a fearful crowd and urges an immediate assault on Canaan. – Forty-five years later, still eager for the high country held by giants (Joshua 14:12-14). • Jonathan – 1 Samuel 14:6-14 – Climbs a cliff with only his armor-bearer, strikes the Philistine garrison, and sparks a national victory. – His phrase “Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few” captures the same faith-driven daring that Joab embodies. • David – 1 Samuel 17:45-50 – Runs toward Goliath when seasoned warriors shrink back. – Like Joab, pioneers the offensive move that turns the tide. • Gideon – Judges 7:9-22 – Leads three hundred men with torches and trumpets against a vast Midianite army. – Acts immediately after God’s midnight command, showing initiative reminiscent of Joab’s rooftop ascent. • Deborah and Barak – Judges 4:6-10; 5:12 – Mobilize ten thousand against Sisera’s iron chariots. – Deborah’s call “Arise” prompts a swift downhill charge, reflecting Joab-like leadership in the face of superior weaponry. • Benaiah and the other mighty men – 1 Chronicles 11:12-25 – Eleazar holds a field alone after the army retreats. – Shammah defends lentils against a troop. – Benaiah “went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion” and struck down giants of Moab. – These exploits occur in the same chapter, setting a pattern of brave initiatives parallel to Joab’s. • Esther – Esther 4:16 – Risks royal wrath to plead for her people, declaring “If I perish, I perish.” – Though not on a battlefield, she shows the same decisive willingness to confront lethal danger for covenant purposes. • Daniel – Daniel 6:10-23 – Opens his windows toward Jerusalem and prays despite a law designed to bring death by lions. – Maintains fearless obedience under threat, similar in resolve to Joab’s rooftop assault. • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – Daniel 3:16-18, 24-27 – Stand before Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace, declaring God’s power to save and refusing compromise. – Their courageous stand mirrors Joab’s refusal to wait for safer circumstances. • Paul – Acts 21:13; 23:11; 2 Timothy 4:16-17 – Walks into Jerusalem knowing chains await, speaks before governors and kings, and finishes his race unashamed. – Models New-Covenant bravery rooted in the same trust that moved Joab centuries earlier. Key themes that unite these examples • Immediate obedience even when the stakes are life and death. • Confidence that the Lord grants victory, not human strength alone. • Willingness to lead from the front, inspiring others to follow. • Commitment to God’s purposes above personal safety. The record of Scripture shows Joab in good company. From Joshua’s crossing to Paul’s courtroom testimony, God consistently works through men and women who step forward first, trusting Him to accomplish what courage alone never could. |
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