2 Samuel 2:13

Joab the son of Zeruiah The eldest of David's three nephews, the son of his sister Zeruiah (1 Chronicles 2:16). Next to the king himself he occupies the most conspicuous position in the history of David's reign. Already he appears to have acted as commander-in-chief of the army, though his formal appointment to that post was the reward of his valour at the capture of Jebus (1 Chronicles 11:6; 2 Samuel 8:16). In this capacity he (a) conducted the war against the Syrians and Ammonites (2 Samuel 10:7); (b) completed the conquest of Edom (1 Kings 11:15-16); (c) defeated the Ammonites in a second war, and took their capital (2 Samuel 11:1; 2 Samuel 12:26).

With a too ready subservience he carried out David's plan for getting rid of Uriah (2 Samuel 11:14 ff.), a service which increased his influence over David, by giving him the possession of his guilty secret. (See Blunt's Undesigned Coincidences, Part II. ch. II.) We find Him scheming to secure the restoration of Absalom to David's favour (2 Samuel 14), yet remaining loyal to David in Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 18:2).

The vindictive unscrupulousness of his character is illustrated by his murder of Abner in revenge for the death of Asahel (2 Samuel 3:27); of Absalom, in spite of David's express command (2 Samuel 18:14); of Amasa, who was appointed to supersede him (2 Samuel 20:10).

Too valuable to be dispensed with, too fierce to be controlled, he was a continual source of vexation to David (2 Samuel 3:39), who gave Solomon a dying charge not to leave his crimes unpunished (1 Kings 2:5-6). His complicity in Adonijah's rebellion filled up the measure of his iniquity, and he met a traitor's death in spite of his taking sanctuary at the altar in Gibeon (1 Kings 2:28-34).

by the pool of Gibeon "A few rods from the village [of El-Jib, just below the top of the ridge towards the north, is a fine fountain of water. It is in a cave excavated in and under the high rock, so as to form a large subterranean reservoir. Not far below it, among the olive trees, are the remains of another open reservoir, perhaps 120 feet in length by 100 in breadth." Robinson, Bibl. Res.I. 455. The "pool of Gibeon" may well be the waters of this fountain and reservoir. It is again referred to in Jeremiah 41:12 as "the great waters that are in Gibeon."

they sat down i.e. halted and encamped.