2 Samuel 20:23 Meaning: Why Is Joab Still in Charge?

The name Joab means “Yahweh is father.” Here, he is described as being “over all the army of Israel.” The Hebrew word for “over” is el, which often carries the sense of “toward” or “against.” It suggests authority and direction. Joab had reclaimed his position through violence and political maneuvering, yet his name reminds us that God ultimately holds all authority.

Benaiah means “Yahweh has built.” He was in charge of the Cherethites and Pelethites. These are foreign mercenaries, probably Cretan and Philistine, who served as David’s personal guard. Benaiah would later remain loyal to Solomon. His name points to God building a faithful leader, even in the midst of court intrigue.

The terms Cherethites and Pelethites appear together often. The Cherethites may be linked to “executioners,” the Pelethites to “couriers.” They were David’s most trusted warriors, likely his elite bodyguard. Their presence here shows that even under a compromised commander, the kingdom had a core of loyal forces.

Commentators across traditions notice the tension in this verse. Matthew Henry (Presbyterian) observes that Joab kept his position because he was “too great to be displaced.” Barnes (Protestant) points out that this list comes at a fresh start of David’s reign after the rebellion. Gill (Baptist) offers two possibilities: either David had never truly removed Joab, or he reinstated him because of his popularity and recent success. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown (Protestant) say David found he “possessed not the power of removing Joab,” so he had to “wink at the murder of Amasa.” The common thread is that even a king after God’s own heart sometimes had to make peace with imperfect leaders for the sake of national stability.

Some readers assume that because Joab is listed as commander, David must have fully approved of his murder of Amasa. In fact, the commentators note that David was likely forced into this decision. Joab had just crushed Sheba's rebellion and had widespread support in the army. Removing him could have sparked another uprising. The silence of the text here is telling. It does not say David rewarded Joab; it simply states the new political reality. This verse shows us that even godly leaders sometimes have to work within broken systems.

This verse invites you to hold two things at once. On one hand, you can trust that God is sovereign over every government, workplace, and family, even when the people in charge are deeply flawed. On the other hand, you don't have to pretend that everything is fine. David could not remove Joab, but the Bible does not cover up the story of how Joab got his job back. You might be in a situation where a leader or a colleague got a position unjustly. Or you might be that leader yourself, carrying guilt about how you rose to power. This verse gives you permission to name the tension and still trust the God who works through it all. He is not surprised by human politics. He can use even this for His purposes.