“Better he kill me than I learn his ways. Better he kill me than I become as he is. I shall not practice the ways that cause kings to go mad. I will not throw spears, nor will I allow hatred to grow in my heart. I will not avenge. I will not destroy the Lord’s anointed. Not now. Not ever!” Joab could not handle such a senseless answer. He stormed out into the dark. That night men went to bed on cold, wet stone and muttered about their leader’s distorted, masochistic views of relationships to kings