Writer’s Diary November 2024

I haven’t sent out anything in my diary for more than 4 years. It’s time to start again but, given that the series Terror on Every Side! (ToES) is complete, I’ll rename it to Writer’s Diary….

November is upon us again and once again I’m aiming to write 50,000 words in the 30 days of the month. 1,667 words per day. As a result, the writing diary has begun again.

During November in the last two years I have written adventure stories related to the COVID pandemic. One has been published as Beyond the Western Margin and the other is still in the works. This month, however, I am going back to writing Bible-based fiction, concentrating on the life of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, King David’s sister.

The target length of the complete story is 90,000-100,000 words, but this is very unlikely to be completed in November.

Joab is a controversial character. We know both much and little about him. He appears in many events during the life of David, but there is little or no detail of the motivation that drives his actions. As a result, the judgement of his motives will often depend on a reader’s pre-conceived idea of the man rather than any attempt at impartial assessment.

In my experience, this mainly results in dismissal of the man as godless, cruel and vindictive. The main reason for this conclusion appears to be that David (a man after God’s own heart – 1 Samuel 13:14) expresses a negative opinion of Joab on a few occasions. However, it must be remembered that although David does make critical comments about Joab and his brother Abishai, he also kept them in command of his army for about 40 years, an unlikely situation if David’s opinion of them had been completely negative.

When one also considers David’s fulsome comments about Saul (2 Samuel 1:19-24), Abner (2 Samuel 3:33-39; 1 Kings 2:32), Absalom (2 Samuel 18:5, 33; 19:1-4) and Amasa (1 Kings 2:32) despite the fact that each of these men was willing to fight against God’s anointed whenever it suited them, one has to wonder about David’s off-the-cuff comments about people at times.

One has to wonder just how accurate Joab’s assessment of David was when he said to him, “you love those who hate you and hate those who love you” (2 Samuel 19:6).

David was often generous with enemies, but could be harsh at times with loyal helpers and friends.

Not only so, but the vengeful attitude shown by David towards Shimei at the end of his life (1 Kings 2:8-9) – despite having earlier forgiven him (2 Samuel 16:5-14; 19:16-23) – is in stark contrast to the generous nature shown by David in so many earlier situations.

As with all of us, David was not a fixed character from the start to the end of his life. He lived and grew and even failed at times, although it is very clear that after David’s death, God esteemed him more highly than any other king of Israel or Judah.

David was the youngest son in his family (1 Chronicles 2:13-15). We also know of two sisters: Zeruiah and Abigail (1 Chronicles 2:16). Zeruiah may have been the elder since she is listed first in 1 Chronicles 2:16 and Abigail is described as the sister of Zeruiah in 2 Samuel 17:25.

Since Zeruiah’s sons were important leaders in David’s army quite early in his reign, it is quite likely that they were not much younger than David and consequently, that Zeruiah was quite a lot older than David. This cannot be proved.

We do not know the name of Zeruiah’s husband, but we know that he was dead before Asahel was killed in the battle between David and Abner after the death of Saul. Asahel was buried in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem (2 Samuel 2:32). On this basis, we can also assume that Zeruiah, her husband and her sons all lived in Bethlehem, as David also did.

Zeruiah had three sons: Joab, Abishai and Asahel but we are not told their birth order.

1 Chronicles 2 mostly lists children in birth order (although the sons of Jacob have are not completely in order) and verse 16 lists Zeruiah’s sons in this order: Abishai, Joab and Asahel.

The three are also listed in 2 Samuel 2:18 in the following order: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. At this time, it is clear that Joab is the leader of David’s men, so importance rather than age may have caused him to be placed first in the list.

I have assumed that the order given in 1 Chronicles 2:16 is their birth order: Abishai, Joab and Asahel.

Both Abishai and Asahel are listed in David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:18, 24; 1 Chronicles 11:20, 26; see also 2 Samuel 21:17 and 1 Chronicles 18:12). Joab is absent from the list.

Joab won a position of leadership over David’s army by getting into Jebus/Jerusalem first (1 Chronicles 11:6), but this is the only act of individual bravery attributed to him.

Generally Joab is mentioned as a leader of the army rather than a soldier, although he did kill Abner (with Abishai’s help), Amasa and Absalom (with help from his men).

Based on the above, I have assumed that Abishai is the oldest, Joab 2 years younger and Asahel 2 years younger again.

As to the age difference between David and Zeruiah’s sons, we are not told, but their importance in David’s army and his mighty heroes suggests that they were probably not much younger than he. There is no mention of them in Saul’s army or amongst David’s men before the death of Saul. However, the fact that Asahel was included in the mighty men when he was killed before David became king over all Israel shows that he must have been involved in various battles before that time. We are not given any details as to what actions qualified him to be included in the mighty men.

Based on this scanty information, I have decided to make Joab 7 years younger than David, and Zeruiah about 14 or 15 years older than David.

As a side issue, all of Zeruiah’s sons were probably close to David’s mighty men, which included Uriah the Hittite, Joab’s armour-bearer, Naharai of Beeroth (2 Samuel 23:37; 2 Chronicles 11:39), and Eliam (probably the father of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:3)) and son of Ahithophel of Giloh (Ahithophel was David’s counsellor – 2 Samuel 15:12).

Selected times/ages based on my assumption that Joab was 7 years younger than David:

• David kills Goliath at 17. Joab 10.
• David then as musical therapist (roughly a year) and rising through ranks of Saul’s army 17-23. Forced to run away at 23 and spends about 6 months hiding and trying to find safety in Gath.
• Goes to Cave of Adullam when 23, family come soon because of Saul’s persecution and threats. Other people gather over next year. David 24, Joab 17.
• 6 years spent on the run with the last 16 months in Philistine country. David 24-30, Joab 17-23.
• Saul dies, Ish-bosheth/Abner rule. David becomes king in Hebron shortly afterwards at age 30 (Joab 23). 2 Samuel 5:5 says David king 7.5 years over Judah in Hebron and 33 years over Israel and Judah in Jerusalem.
• After about 18 months, Abner fights David’s men at Gibeon. David 32, Joab 25 as leader of David’s men.
• 2+ years after Saul’s death, Abner betrays Ish-bosheth and both are killed (David 32-33, Joab 25-26)
• Negotiation to make David king. Suggest there is agreement while David is still in Hebron. Changeover time between Hebron and Jerusalem?
• David takes Jebus at 34. Joab (27), becomes chief and commander and builds up walls, etc. Need for palace. Allow 3 years for the work to make city ready for David to rule from.
• David becomes king in Jerusalem at 37 (Joab 30)

More on the events of the lives of David and Joab later.