Joab יוֹאָב
Ancestor of a family that returned from Babylonian exile
Who is Joab in the Bible?
Joab was the ancestor of a family that returned to Judah following the Babylonian exile, as documented in Ezra 2:6 and Nehemiah 7:11. His descendants are listed among the Jewish exiles who journeyed back to Jerusalem and resettled in the surrounding towns, with Ezra recording 2,812 members of his family and Nehemiah listing 2,818. Though little is known about Joab himself, his family's inclusion in the registry of returnees underscores the significance of genealogical records in establishing the identity and continuity of the post-exilic Jewish community. The slight variation in the numbers between the two accounts may reflect different census points or counting methods during the restoration period.
Biography
Joab is mentioned in Ezr.2.6 and Neh.7.11 as the ancestor of a family that returned to Judah from Babylonian exile. The descendants of Joab are listed among the returnees who settled in Jerusalem and the surrounding towns. The count of Joab's descendants varies slightly between the two passages, with Ezra recording 2,812 and Nehemiah listing 2,818.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 2 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 2:6
"the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,812;"
Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 7:11
"the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818;"
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יוֹאָב |