Joab, the son of Zeruiah, David's sister, is a prominent military leader in the history of Israel, known for his strategic prowess and loyalty to King David. As the commander of David's army, Joab played a crucial role in several military campaigns, including the defeat of the Ammonites, a significant event in the biblical narrative.

The conflict with the Ammonites began when Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, died, and his son Hanun ascended to the throne. David sought to show kindness to Hanun, as Nahash had been loyal to him. However, the Ammonite princes misinterpreted David's intentions, suspecting espionage, and humiliated his envoys by shaving off half their beards and cutting their garments (2 Samuel 10:1-5).

In response to this insult, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men to confront the Ammonites. The Ammonites, realizing the gravity of their actions, hired Aramean mercenaries to bolster their forces. Joab, demonstrating his tactical acumen, divided his troops, placing his brother Abishai in charge of one division to face the Ammonites, while he led the other against the Arameans (2 Samuel 10:6-10).

Joab's strategy was marked by his faith and courage. He encouraged his troops with a call to bravery and trust in God's will: "Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight" (2 Samuel 10:12). This reliance on divine providence, coupled with military skill, led to a decisive victory. The Arameans fled before Joab, and when the Ammonites saw their allies retreating, they too fled from Abishai and retreated into their city (2 Samuel 10:13-14).

The defeat of the Ammonites was not only a military triumph but also a testament to Joab's leadership and the favor of God upon Israel. Joab's actions in this campaign solidified his reputation as a formidable commander and a key figure in David's reign. His ability to inspire his men and execute complex military maneuvers was instrumental in securing Israel's borders and maintaining peace during David's rule.

Joab's victory over the Ammonites is a significant episode in the biblical account, illustrating the themes of loyalty, divine justice, and the importance of wise leadership. His role in this event underscores the complex interplay of human agency and divine intervention in the unfolding history of Israel.2 Samuel 10:7-14
And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
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1 Chronicles 19:6-15
And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.
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The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Philistines and the Hebrew kingdom"Saul, David, Solomon, the ... to have revenged the
violation of his sister Dinah by ... it, and after his death, Joshua, son of Nun ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

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