“ JOAB (Heb. “Yah [weh] is a father”) , in the Bible, the son of Zeruiah, David’s sister (1 Chron. ii. 16) . His brothers were Asahel and Abishai. All three were renowned warriors and played a prominent part in David’s history. Abishai on one occasion saved the king’s life from a Philistine giant (2 Sam. xxi. 17) , and Joab as warrior and statesman was directly responsible for much of David’s success. ”