David's nephew and the commander of his army for the whole reign — indispensable, loyal in his fashion, and repeatedly a murderer: of Abner, of Absalom against explicit orders, and of Amasa. He is also the man David used to have Uriah killed. In 1 Kings 1 he backs Adonijah, and in chapter 2 he dies holding the horns of the altar, on David's deathbed instructions.