Why did Joab refuse the reward for killing Absalom in 2 Samuel 18:11? Setting the Scene • David’s explicit order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai was clear: “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake” (2 Samuel 18:5). • After Absalom is discovered hanging from an oak by his hair, a soldier tells Joab what he has seen (18:10). • Joab responds, “If you saw him, why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a warrior’s belt!” (18:11). Why the Reward Was Refused The unnamed soldier immediately turns Joab’s offer down (18:12–13). His reasons reveal why any faithful Israelite—Joab included—had every cause to reject such payment: 1. Loyalty to the king’s command • “We all heard the king command you… ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake’ ” (18:12). • Obedience to rightful authority is a recurring biblical principle (Romans 13:1; Ephesians 6:5). Disregarding David’s words would be open rebellion. 2. Reverence for the king’s son • Absalom, though a rebel, was still “the king’s son.” As David himself once refused to harm Saul because he was “the LORD’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6), the soldier refuses to harm Absalom, David’s anointed offspring (cf. 1 Samuel 26:9). 3. Self-preservation and common sense • “Otherwise I would be committing treachery against my own life… the king would find out, and you yourself would stand aloof” (18:13, paraphrased). • The man knows Joab’s history—Joab will not shield him once David discovers the disobedience (compare Joab’s treatment of Uriah in 2 Samuel 11). 4. Inner commitment to God’s moral law • Exodus 20:13 forbids murder. While warfare allowed killing in battle, David’s order removed any battlefield justification for striking Absalom defenseless in a tree. • The soldier’s conscience, informed by God’s law, outweighs financial gain (Proverbs 16:8). Joab’s Contrast • Joab rejects the king’s instruction, drives three javelins into Absalom (18:14), and then has armor-bearers finish the job (18:15). • By acting, Joab forfeits any moral high ground and exposes himself to David’s wrath (19:1–8). • Yet Joab keeps his money—he never pays a reward because no subordinate will disobey the king for him. Key Takeaways • Money cannot buy disobedience from a heart committed to God and the king. • True faithfulness safeguards respect for authority, reverence for God’s anointed, and obedience to God’s law—even when personal advancement is on the line (Luke 16:10). • Joab’s rash offer underscores the danger of letting expediency override reverence; the unnamed soldier’s refusal models principled obedience, courage, and integrity. |
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