Joash

A very common Hebrew name of which at least six individuals are known in the Old Testament (for King Joash of Judah click here, and for King Joash of Israel click here).

1. Joash, of the clan of Abiezer, the father of the judge Gideon (Judg 6:11) who very bravely defended the action of his son when the latter broke down Baal's altar and cut down the Asherah and the town's people demanded that he surrender his son to be killed (6:29-31).

2-3. At least two of the large number of persons serving under David were named Joash. The first was one of the group of warriors, "able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed," and kinsmen of Saul, who came over to David's side in the conflict between the two (1 Chron 12:3); the other was his steward incharge of "the supplies of olive oil" (1 Chron 27:28). No other information is available about them.

4-5. The names of two individuals listed in the genealogy of Judah in 1 Chron: the son of Shelah son of Judah (4:22), and the son of Beker (7:8).