The story goes that after a particularly nasty fall, Joab needed his sword repaired. Sounds simple enough, right? He heads to the armorer, but as soon as the artisan lays eyes on the weapon, he’s taken aback. Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews tells us that he’d never seen anything like it. Now, this isn't just about a cool design. This sword is special, imbued with some serious mojo.
So, the armorer gets to work, forging a new sword. But here’s the kicker: it snaps in two the moment Joab grips it! Unbelievable, right? He tries again, and again, and again. A second sword, a third sword – all failures. Finally, after much effort, he manages to create one that can withstand Joab’s strength.
But the story doesn't end there. Joab, being Joab, asks the smith a rather loaded question: "Whom would you like me to slay with this sword?" Talk about putting someone on the spot! The smith, without realizing who he’s talking to, replies, "Joab, the general of the Israelitish king." Ouch.
Joab, without missing a beat, reveals himself. The armorer, understandably astonished, turns to look. And in a flash, Joab dispatches him so swiftly that, according to the Legends, the poor guy doesn't even realize what’s happening! Harsh? Maybe. Efficient? Definitely.
What follows is a scene straight out of an action movie. Joab, now armed and (presumably) even more dangerous, encounters five hundred Amalekite warriors on his way. And guess what? He takes them all down. Every single one. Not one survives to tell the tale. Now that's a general you want on your side.
The aftermath? Well, rumors begin to swirl. People whisper that Asmodeus, the king of demons – a powerful figure we encounter in other tales as well – is on a rampage, slaying people left and right. They're looking for a supernatural explanation for what really happened. It’s a classic case of mistaking the extraordinary for the demonic.
Think about that for a moment. How often do we misinterpret events, attributing them to something far-fetched when the reality is simply… extraordinary? And what does it say about Joab, that his actions are so powerful, so decisive, that they are mistaken for the work of a demon? Food for thought, isn't it?