There is a real contrast between how David and his general Joab deal with adversity and adversaries. David forgives and Joab buries the hatchet...in whomever is bothering him.
Here David forgives Shimei, the man who once taunted him, [2 Sam. 19:18-23] while Joab murders Amasa, the man David gave Joab's job to. Again, he kills through trickery, calling Amasa over -- "Joab said to Amasa, 'How are you my brother?' Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground." [2 Sam. 20:9, 10]
I don't know why I've never read Joab as being such a despicable person before. I guess I just assumed because of his association with David as his general that he was basically good. I see him now in vivid contrast Joab's heart and David's heart. How and why did David allow Joab to continue to lead? Did David forgive so easily because of the guilt he carried in his own heart? Was it because Joab knew the order that David had given to have Uriah killed so he could marry Bathsheba? Did Joab hold this knowledge over David?
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